The Good, The Bad and The Tone Deaf - The History of the Grammys

All rights reserved to the academy - don't sue me

This past weekend was the Grammy Awards - the mostly American music industry getting together to celebrate their industry's best. Managed by the Recording Academy, the first awards show was in 1959, a year (as all are) of great changes in the world. For example, the Dalia Lama fled the Chinese invasion of his home, Fidel Castro names himself Cuba's premier, and Alaska became a state. Among all this, on May 4th at the Beverly Hilton, the Na­tion­al Academy of Re­cord­ing Arts and Sci­ences handed out 28 Grammys.

Guess who was a big winner with three Grammys?

It's ok - Peter Gunn won best Album

There was a serious snit that a rock and roll album for kids won. And they were cartoons, not real musicians. Here are Some other winners of 1959.

Excepting the Chipmunks, the Grammys have played it safe for most of their run. With a few exceptions. The 1990 win of Milli Vanilli, who only lipped synced their music. They lost their Grammys after this was revealed. Blame it on the rain, or the fact that people weren't that stupid.

What ticks me off is...

The modern media and listeners have definitely forgotten there is more to the awards than just the top 10 pop songs. I know - rock and roll was in it's infancy then so of course they celebrated jazz. Popular music has changed, but why am I being spoon fed Rhianna and that horrific man Robin Thicke? At least Daft Punk won for Best Album.

What about the jazz, children's, classical and other genre musicians? Very little coverage. Very annoying for anyone who listens to something other than top 40 while they write or take a bath. (My preference is still Ella or a little Nina Simone)

So, in an effort to remedy that, here are some of the artist who won the awards we didn't hear about. The full list is at Forbes. A special nod to one:

Best Children's Album :

Throw A Penny In The Wishing Well by Canada's own Jennifer Gasoi