Grammy

Cesaria Evora, 70, who started singing as a teenager in the bayside bars of Cape Verde in the 1950s and won a Grammy in 2003 after she took her African islands music to stages across the world, died Saturday. Ms. Evora, known as the "Barefoot Diva" because she always performed without shoes, died in the Baptista de Sousa Hospital in Mindelo, on her native island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde, her label Lusafrica said in a statement on its website. Ms. Evora retired in September because of health problems.

Manuel Galban, 80, a Grammy-winning Cuban guitarist who rose to international fame as a member of the Buena Vista Social Club, died Thursday of a heart attack in Havana. "It is a very sad day for Cuban music and fans of Cuban Music," said Daniel Florestano, longtime manager of both Mr. Galban and the Buena Vista Social Club, in a statement issued by Mr. Galban's publicist. "Galban's enormous impact worldwide with his unique guitar sound and warm smile will be missed by many. " Born in Gibara, in the eastern province of Holguin, Mr. Galban made his professional debut in 1944, according to the statement.

If we're to count as our own the Grammy nominations for Wyomissing-raised Taylor Swift - the no-longer-teenage country-pop princess has seven - then artists connected with the Philadelphia area had a pretty amazing 2009 when it came to being acknowledged by the Recording Academy. But even without Swift's nods - which include album, record, and song of the year - it's still been a pretty good year, Grammy-wise, for area musicians. The surprise leader among local talent is soul singer Musiq Soulchild, who's up for three awards.

Just a year ago, rap wasn't given enough credit to be included in the broadcast portion of the Grammy awards. This year, the best rap performance award will rate as one of the most coveted and hotly contested Grammys, with good reason. For the past six months, rap and rap-laced tracks have hogged half the slots in the black music top 10. Rap is driving a major share of the youth- oriented, pre-recorded music business, rivaled only in popularity by hard rock/heavy metal. One of tonight's nominated rap artists, Tone Loc, already is down in the books for scoring the second biggest-selling single of all time with "Wild Thing" (trailing after, you should pardon the expression, "White Christmas")

That the revised edition of "The New Trouser Press Record Guide" hit book shelves around Grammy time had more to do with scheduling in the publishing business than a marketing plan. But the coincidence was fine with the book's editor, Ira Robbins. "I don't mind the symbolism," Robbins said of the book's Grammy-time release. Although entries on Grammy winners and nominees such as Tracy Chapman, U2, Sting, Jane's Addiction, Iggy Pop and Metallica are featured in the book, there are thousands of records by other artists in the book that will never receive a Grammy, let alone a place on the mainstream charts.

When Mark Sottnick recently won his second Grammy for best children's recording, two important fans were cheering his victory from their Secane living room. The special fans were Florence and Erin Sottnick, Mark's parents, who still live in the Cedar Lane home where the Grammy winner spent his childhood. "I liked growing up just outside of Philadelphia and playing ball with Phillies second-base player George (Sparky) Anderson who lived just around the block and today manages the Tigers," said Sottnick, 43. Anderson used to play with the neighborhood kids on his days off, he said.

Coming through the "Hurricane" of that not-so-well-received release, soulful R&B singer Eric Benet sounded strong and joyful on 2008's critically acclaimed "Love & Life. " He dropped his latest single, "Sometimes I Cry," this August, and the Milwaukee native is gearing up to release his fifth studio album, "Lost in Time. " "Love & Life" earned him Grammy nods for best R&B album and best male R&B vocal for "You're the Only One. " The album was also his highest-charting release, making its way up to the 11th spot on the Billboard Hot 200. Although he headlines this show, he joins Fantasia later this fall on her Back to Me tour.

Gospel great Shirley Caesar was once asked to sign a rhythm and blues contract. She was told she would become a big star. Bigger than Aretha Franklin. But Caesar told the major record company that she was taken. Not by another record company, but by the Man she sings about. And that's what Caesar is all about: Gospel. Dubbed the "First Lady of Gospel," Caesar will perform tonight at this summer's second Gospelrama at the Dell East. On stage with Caesar will be Dorothy Norwood, whose recent hit single, "He's a Battleaxe," was nominated for a Grammy.

Philly's music contingent brought home Grammys by the carload from New York last night as DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince won best rap performance by duo or group and Boyz II Men claimed best R&B performance by vocal duo or group. Philly's eternal bluebell of happinesss, Patti LaBelle, seven times nominated but never before victorious at the Grammys, finally tied for best R& B female vocal honors in a unique, unexpected award shared with Lisa Fischer (former backup singer to Luther Vandross and the Rolling Stones.

Make no mistake about it. Music is Noah Farber's life. The junior at the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts says he's been playing and thinking about music "since before I could even talk. " Farber, a tall 17-year-old with a mop of jet-black hair, mustered his ambitions and overcame a little foot-shuffling shyness yesterday to share his dreams with a few of the music industry's muckety-mucks gathered at the high school. After all, he had the ear of record executive Kenneth Gamble, songwriter Julie Gold, rapper DJ Jazzy Jeff, jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and manager Joanne Rile.