31-01-2025
Northeast Ohio artists hope to add to rich Grammys history
The 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday could mark a pivotal moment for artists from Northeast Ohio.
Why it matters: The Grammys is considered music's biggest night, where a big win or memorable performance can launch careers or give them a major boost.
The intrigue: Among those nominated are Cleveland native Durand Bernarr (Best Progressive R&B Album) and Akron's The Black Keys (Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song).
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is also vying for his third career win in the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media category for the movie "Challengers."
Several Northeast Ohio artists, including multiple Cleveland Institute of Music alums, also received nominations in classical music categories.
Flashback: Should any of them win, they'll join these Northeast Ohio acts that had big moments at the Grammys:
1983: Groundbreaking Cleveland R&B group The Moonglows performs "Ten Commandments of Love."
1986: "America's Polka King" and Cleveland native Frankie Yankovic is awarded the first-ever Grammy for Best Polka Recording.
1989: Cleveland native Tracy Chapman becomes a Grammy darling, winning three awards including Best New Artist.
1992: Cleveland native Marc Cohn, singer of "Walking in Memphis," wins Best New Artist.
1993: Nine Inch Nails wins its first Grammy in the Best Metal Performance category for "Wish."
1997: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony wins Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Tha Crossroads," the group's tribute to late rapper Eazy-E.
2001: Cleveland jazz legend Joe Lovano's "52nd Street Themes" wins Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.
2008: Gerald Levert, who grew up in Shaker Heights, posthumously wins Best Traditional R&B Performance for "In My Songs."
The same night, blues legend Robert Lockwood Jr., who lived in Cleveland for most of his life, posthumously wins Best Traditional Blues Album.
2012: Rapper Kid Cudi wins two Grammys for his work on Kanye West's "All of the Lights."
2013: Reznor (along with Atticus Ross) wins his first of two individual Grammys for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
Reznor would win the award again for the soundtrack to Pixar's "Soul" in 2022.
2013: The Black Keys win three awards and deliver a standout performance of "Lonely Boy" from the upper deck of Los Angeles' Staples Center.
2024: Chapman joins country star Luke Combs for a performance of "Fast Car," her Grammy-winning 1988 song that Combs covered in 2023.
