This post may be a little late and debateable but is needed to get the point out to people. The recent Grammy awards that were held in February had some great winners but some could be considered not as good. The category of "Zydeco & Cajun Music" had the winner of Chubby Carriere who was pitted among some of the greats and the others seemed to be alot better but lost to him. The Grammy awards are supposed to be the "Superbowl" of music but his music is not as good as the others. Does this mean that he is comparable to Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, or even Michael Jackson? Not likely. When the awards were in the Folk category it was harder to get one. The greats like Queen Ida & Rockin Sidney won Grammy awards in the past but they had to work hard to even get noticed. Not even Percy Sledge ever got a Grammy even though his song won one for Michael Bolton.
All that this post is saying is that this Grammy given to him seems like a joke. There are much better musicians deserving of the award in the "Zydeco & Cajun Music" category. Should it be the "Cajun & Zydeco Music" category? Kind of seems that Cajun music comes first but the push to get a Grammy was done by the players of Zydeco music, therefore they put their style of music first.
Grammy awards are supposed to be given to the "Champion" of music in a category but this one was a rigged fight and does not hold as much prestige as winning one once did.

Hello .. er, "SAD"

Are you just venting or seeking other's thoughts
as well?

Here's my free two-cents worth (and I must have said
this a jillion times in my life now)

Being the "music-business" is not about music .. it's
about entertainment.

If people were seeking the highest quality music, our
AM radios would be filled with Beethoven’s 9-th
symphony and likely jazz. But the majority of us
listen to what we are entertained by.

NOT TO SAY THAT WE DON'T FIND HIGH QUALITY TALENT ENTERTAINING.

One of the reasons that I used to enjoy watching
Simon Cowell's critiques on American Idol is that he
was watching for marketability first, talent secondly
and that's the way people generally purchase.

I shall now dismount from my soapbox

PS: "Somebody Scream!"

I don't waste my time on the Grammy's, Noble, Oscar's, or any of the other thousands of award shows. If I like it, I buy it. Those shows have always been fashion over function so to speak.
Le Piquant

Well said Nick. I think you've spoken for most of us here. Alot of what "SAD" mentioned is old news to us and we've seen this time again.

Grammy's aren't the Superbowl they once were. It takes knowing people to win those... as well as playing music. That's why this category, while exciting, isn't all that impressive to us down here (ah-la SoLa). It is an entertainment/popularity-contest award, not a music award.

Cajun or Zydeco first, doesn't really matter.

....ok, i'm done..... next please!

WF

Totally agree Nick.

If folks wanted pure pure quality they'd stay home with the headphones on listening to music....they want a day/night out, a chance to meet folks, socialise, eat, drink and enjoy the music and dance if they can.

The accuracy and note perfect factor isn't generally necessary ( although we should always strive for perfection )..the folks are there for a whole lot of other reasons.

How many good musos have you seen who play extremely well, but have the stage presence of a life sized cardboard cutout of themselves ? I can name plenty..competent musos that's for sure ..but hey, as boring as bat-##it !

Once you take the decision to play your music in public you immediately becoome a performance musician as distinct from a recording studio session type musician...or a 'legend in your own lounge room'musician..LOL..
If you're going 'out there' to play you better have something else going for you other than competence in playing.


Go to a Chubby Carrier gig..you'll never forget it...and , man, you'll be entertained AND amazed by the musical competence of the band.

And Chubby and the Band have done the hard yards..they deserve some recognition.

Chubby and band are great entertainers, plain & simple.

They also do a lot of good original stuff and not too much cover, which to me shows creativity.

Saw him last at 'A Taste of New Orleans' here in San Antone back during Fiesta of 2008. He played in the rain to all of us brave enough to get drenched.

Got me hooked on "Goin' 80 on 90".

Check out the award ceremony on link # 1. No pretention there, period:


JB

You are correct in the statement of they "aren't the Superbowl they once were." My point exactly to why it isn't all that impressive to anyone here in SoLa. So why did they give him one? Who knows, it is not a music award anymore, just a joke to the once prestigous award it used to be.
Cajun should be first since it was there before Zydeco was even a thought.

Have to disagree on one point. Don't think it's set up any different now than it ever was. Regardless of the genre or the category, the 'winner' always seems to go to the 'safe' nominee. Look at all the people snubbed over the years, but got a lifetime acheivement award later down the road. It is what it is - a coule hours of entertainment on tv. Gives the coach potatoes something to watch and makes the nominees feel good. BTW, this isn't a dig at Chubby at all. Im sure he puts his heart and soul into what he does, but not that familiar with his work. Just pointing out that as far as the Grammys are concerned, he fit into the niche they seem to look for.
Steve

Great video, JB. I like Chubby, and I'm glad he won a Grammy . . . though if I was the one picking, he would've been the least likely of the bunch to get it.

I'm just sorry everyone of the nominees couldn't get one! And a whole lot more LA musicians besides . . .

Here's my take on it. I'm glad Chubby won because he payed his dues. There are a lot of folks in Louisiana who have never heard of him because he's mostly touring out of LA and he's a great entertainer who really does a great job promoting zydeco to the masses.

Now with that said I also think it would have been great to have DL win it as the man is a legend and certainly deserves it. I'd love for him to get a Grammy before he passes on. I can only imagine his acceptance speech LOL

As for the comment about Cajun being first I'd say that would be correct but the one's who fought to get the category were Terrence Simien (a zydeco musician) & his wife & I was glad he got the first one.

My point is that I'd like to see the older ones who paved the way to get these Grammy's (not saying I don't want the one's like PLB etc to get one). They are the ones who deserve it, because without a lot of them you wouldn't have a lot of what you hear today. It's about giving respect to those who earned it.

You said it, Tony.

Thanks for the reply. I was doing both, venting and wanting replies for this topic. You are right it is about entertainment not really talent but if this was the case then the "Pants on the Ground" guy on Ameican Idol would have got to be on the show.

My take on it: I don't care one bit about how prestigious the Grammys are and what its value is. Any way that Cajun and Zydeco music can get out, the better. The Grammys are an organization. But if people see Chubby win and decide to listen to Cajun/Zydeco, then this is a good thing no matter what.

I could care less about what the Grammy's think as well, BUT Chubby is flat-out a major entertainer who tours his a$$ off. People love him, including myself. He's got an amazingly tight band backing him (they are all super bada$$ players) and if anyone is worthy of a Gram, it's Chub. The boy is on fire, bringing Louisianaism and schism wherever he performs. Gets my nod, for shure. Plus, he's one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet. He'll give you the time of day and much more, unlike the majority of the zydeco elites.

I don't know what you're talking about, you've always given me the time of day, and it was always good.