Los Lobos was awarded ‘Best Americana Album’ for their 2021 studio album Native Sons at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday April 3. It is their fourth Grammy Award win.
Recent visitor to Australia, Cedric Burnside, won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album while Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, who is appearing at Bluesfest next week, won the Contemporary Blues Album category for album 662, beating The Black Keys and Steve Cropper. In his acceptance speech, Ingram thanked “God, my family, my manager and Alligator Records.”
Los Lobos’ 13-song Native Sons was produced by the band in East Los Angeles and found them performing a selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage.
Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin accepted the award on behalf of the band, saying “The concept of this record was gratitude. It was a thank you to the city that we started in and the artists and records that inspired us to try to make a living out of this. I think it’s an important concept. I just want to thank everybody that had anything to do with our career. Next year will be 50 years. It’s amazing to think about. These things never get old, so thank you very much.”
Los Lobos will launch another leg of their extensive Native Sons tour this Friday in Santa Maria, CA. The tour features two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheater on July 29th and 30th, as well a hometown show at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles on August 19th as a part of the “Wheels of Soul Tour” alongside the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Please see all dates below.
Los Lobos Still Are: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitars) – Louie Pérez, Jr. (vocals, guitars) – Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitars, bass, Hammond B3 organ) – Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass) – Steve Berlin (saxes, midisax, keyboards)
Winners in other categories of interest were:
- Jon Batiste for winning Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance with “Cry.”
- Béla Fleck (My Bluegrass Heart) for Best Bluegrass Album
- Cedric Burnside (I Be Trying) for Best Traditional Blues Album
- Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (662) for Best Contemporary Blues Album
- Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi (They’re Calling Me Home) for Best Folk Album
- Kalani Pe’a (Kau Ka Pe’a) for Best Regional Roots Music Album.
- Chris Stapleton for Best Country Solo Performance (“You Should Probably Leave”
- Chris Stapleton for Best Country Song (“Cold”) with songwriters Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon and Chris Stapleton
- Chris Stapleton for Best Country Album (Starting Over)
- Joni Mitchell for Best Historical Album (Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol 1: The Early Years [1963-1967]
Album Of The Year: We Are – Jon Batiste
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: Humpty Dumpty – Chick Corea, soloist
Track from: Akoustic Band Live (Chick Corea, John Patitucci & Dave Weckl)
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Songwrights Apothecary Lab – Esperanza Spalding
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Skyline – Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette & Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: For Jimmy, Wes And Oliver – Christian McBride Big Band
Best Latin Jazz Album: Mirror Mirror – Eliane Elias With Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés
Best Reggae Album: Beauty In The Silence – Soja
Best Global Music Album: Mother Nature – Angelique Kidjo
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: The United States Vs. Billie Holiday
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: The Queen’s Gambit / Soul (Tie)
Best Instrumental Composition: Eberhard – Lyle Mays, composer (Lyle Mays)
Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition
Best Album Notes: The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia And RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-1966 (Ricky Riccardi, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)
Best Music Video: Freedom – Jon Batiste
Best Music Film: Summer Of Soul (Various Artists)