During the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014, Snarky Puppy and Lalah Hathaway, Grammy winners for Best R&B Performance for "Something," celebrate their trophy on stage at the pre-telecast show in Los Angeles.
Nine-time Grammy-nominated John Beasley, right, will write a commission piece for the Denton High School Lab Band 1 for the 100th anniversary of the Bronco band program in 2023. Denton High School associate band director Jesse Woolery, left, asked Beasley to write the piece.
This story has been updated to include more alumni and faculty nominated.
Thanksgiving approaches, and with it, nominations for the 65th annual Grammy Awards.
As usual, University of North Texas alumni are among the luminaries from pop to jazz.
Norah Jones, shown performing in Los Angeles in 2019, is up for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in the 65th Grammy Awards.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP file photo
“Once again, we are excited to see our College of Music family nominated for Grammy Awards in 2023,” College of Music Dean John W. Richmond said. “The Grammys are easily the best known, recognized, and coveted affirmations of achievement in the world of professional music recordings. We are delighted to see that our alumni and our faculty are under consideration once again, affirming our uncompromising commitment to excellence in the music profession.”
Norah Jones, who studied at UNT, nabbed a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her I Dream of Christmas (Extended) record. She's up against artists who sell out stadiums: Michael Bublé (Higher); Kelly Clarkson (When Christmas Comes Around); Arlington a cappella juggernaut Pentatonix (Evergreen) and Diana Ross (Thank You).
During the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014, Snarky Puppy and Lalah Hathaway, Grammy winners for Best R&B Performance for "Something," celebrate their trophy on stage at the pre-telecast show in Los Angeles.
Getty Images file photo
Denton's homegrown jazz, funk and R&B fusion act Snarky Puppy, with UNT alumni Michael League, Shaun Martin, Justin Stanton, Chris Bullock and Mike Maher, is nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Empire Central, and is in the running with another UNT alumnus Jeff Coffin (Between Dreaming and Joy); Domi & JD Beck (Not Tight); Grant Geissman (Blooz) and Brad Mehldau (Jacob's Ladder).
Maren Morris performs at House of Blues in Dallas in 2017.
Dallas Morning News file photo
Alumna Maren Morris keeps up her Grammy nomination streak with three bids. She's nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for "Circles Around This Town." She's in the category with Kelsea Ballerini ("Heartfirst"); Zach Bryan ("Something in the Orange"); Miranda Lambert ("In His Arms"); and Willie Nelson ("Live Forever"). Morris is also nominated for Best Country Song for the same track, vying for the golden gramophone along with Luke Combs ("Doin' This"); Taylor Swift ("I Bet You Think About Me"); Miranda Lambert ("If I Was a Cowboy"); Willie Nelson ("I'll Love You Till the Day I Die")'; and Cody Johnson ("Til You Can't"). Finally, Morris is nominated for Best Country Album for Humble Quest. She's nominated alongside Luke Combs (Growin' Up); Miranda Lambert (Palamino); Ashley McBryde (Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville) and Willie Nelson (A Beautiful Time).
In the Best New Artist category, UNT alumnus Tobe Nwigwe is nominated following the 2022 release of his album moMINTS. Nwigwe shares the nomination with Anitta, Omar Apollo, DOMi & JD Beck, Muni Long, Samara Joy, Latto, Måneskin, Molly Tuttle and Wet Leg.
Nine-time Grammy-nominated John Beasley, right, will write a commission piece for the Denton High School Lab Band 1 for the 100th anniversary of the Bronco band program in 2023. Denton High School associate band director Jesse Woolery, left, asked Beasley to write the piece.
Courtesy photo
UNT alumni are routinely recognized in jazz categories. Alumnus John Beasley is nominated in two jazz categories, Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Cherokee/Koko" and Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for Bird Lives. Beasley also earned a nomination for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for “Scrapple From the Apple.”
UNT College of Music faculty member and jazz vocalist Rosana Eckert has earned her third nomination, this time for Best Arrangement (Instrumental or A Cappella) on "How Deep is Your Love" by the group Kings Return. Eckert is a producer on the track, and UNT alumnus and nominee Vaughn Faison is a member of the group. The ensemble recorded an a cappella rendition of the Bee Gees' song.
In the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category, Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows is among the nominees with Architecture of Storms. College of Music faculty member Philip Dizack appears on the nominated album playing the trumpet.
Alumna Latonia Moore is among the nominees for Best Opera Recording for the Metropolitan Opera's Fire Shut Up in My Bones. She shares the nomination with the Metropolitan Opera's Aucoin: Eurydice and the Boston Modern Opera's The Life and Times of Malcolm X.
