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JUNE 7, 2000

"It's about time!" exclaimed Arigon Starr, upon learning of the announcement of a new Native American music category in the GRAMMY awards.

Starr, also known as The Diva to her many fans throughout Indian Country, is no stranger to awards. A multiple nominee in 1999's Native American Music Awards, the Kickapoo / Creek Nation artist and her band took home the NAMMY for "Best Independent Recording" for their debut effort Meet the Diva.

"The new category is long overdue," said Starr on Tuesday. "It will bring more recognition to Native music." Starr herself is about to get more recognition, heading out later this month to tour the country in support of her latest effort, Wind-Up.

Equally excited about the announcement are the Native American Music Awards. Not only have they honored Native musicians for the past two years through the NAMMYs, Indian Country's GRAMMY equivalent, the group made the official proposal for the new category.

"We are ecstatic and elated regarding the recent announcement of a newly established Native American music category in the Grammies," said the NAMA Board of Directors in a statement on Tuesday.

Along with industry leaders including Tom Bee of SOAR Records, NAMA led the push to establish the new category. Their campaign helped convince the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the group responsible for the GRAMMYs, to approve the category at their recent annual meeting, held in May.

Adam Sandler, Vice President of Communications for the Academy, said Native American music is "significant across the country." He said the Academy recognizes the great diversity of artists, but also realizes the limitations of a single award.

"It's both a blessing and a curse that the new category encompasses a wide range of music," said Sandler on Tuesday.

Predictably, one see might traditional flute player R. Carlos Nakai go up against blues rockers Indigenous for the award, but until the nominations come for next year's ceremony, there's no telling who might be considered for the new award. Nakai himself was nominated twice for the 2000 awards, although both in the same category.

Regarding the great diversity, Sandler said the Academy will wait and see how the awards progress over the coming years. And given the uniqueness of the new category, the Academy is creating a special committee to screen upcoming entries.

So while music lovers probably won't see a "Best Female Native Artist" or "Best Male Native Artist" category anytime soon, they have the NAMMYs to look forward to this year.

Nominations for the 3rd Annual Awards Ceremony are due out this summer and if last year's awards which were held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are any indication, the NAMMYs are bound to continue rocking long into the future, honoring the many different styles and genres of Native American music.

Relevant Links:
The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS): www.grammy.com
The Native American Music Awards: www.nativeamericanmusic.com

Wind-Up
"We love WIND-UP!" -- Gregg McVicar, Host, Earthsongs

Starrwatcher Online: www.arigonstarr.com