Hawaiʻi’s Beamer and Kekauoha Among Grammy Nominees

Album cover, Keola Beamer, Malama Ko Aloha. Courtesy image.

By Wendy Osher

Maui resident Keola Beamer was nominated last night for a Grammy Award for his album Malama Ko Aloha.

The album was among the nominees in the best regional roots music album category.

The category was created last year to accommodate around 30 categories that were dropped as part of a restructuring effort.

The new, broader category includes traditional music recorded regionally from Hawaii, Native Americans, polka, zydeco, and Cajun genres.

Also making the list of nominees in the same category was Oʻahu’s Weldon Kekauoha, who was nominated for Pilialoha.

Other artists nominated in the category this year are: Radmilla Cody for Shi Kéyah – Songs For The People; Corey Ledet With Anthony Dopsie, Dwayne Dopsie And André Thierry for Nothin’ But The Best; and Wayne Toups, Steve Riley & Wilson Savoy for The Band Courtbouillon.

The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

Last year, George Kahumoku was nominated as the lone Hawaiian in the category for Best Regional Roots Music Album for Wao Akua – The Forest Of The Gods, from Daniel Ho Creations.  The category was won by the Rebirth Brass Band for the album Rebirth Of New Orleans.