Bruno Mars, as an individual artist and as a part of the Smeezington producing group, was nominated for six 2011 Grammy awards ranging from Song of the Year to non-classical Producer of the Year. Other Asian Americans were nominated for Rap Song of the Year and for classical music performances. Sadly, a category where many Asian and Pacific Islanders were eligible to win Grammy awards was eliminated, as the Hawaiian Music Category was merged into a new category.
Mars produced hits for Asian Americans like Rocketeer and If I Was You for the Far East Movement. Ryan Buendia, who we have interviewed here before, was nominated in the Best Rap Song Category for his work on Chris Brown’s song, Look at Me Now. He had been previously nominated in 2009 as DJ Replay for his work with the Black Eyed Peas.
Chinese American conductor Lan Shui was nominated in the category of Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his work on Chinese Recorder Concertos – East Meets West. He is currently a conductor in Singapore. While she isn’t Asian American, Yuja Wang does spend a lot of time in the US and was nominated in the same category for Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18; Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini.
Sadly, one Grammy category where Asian Pacific Americans usually win was eliminated. The Hawaiian Music Best Album category, along with the Native American Music Category and others, were merged into the Best Regional Roots Music Album Category. George Kahumoku, Jr.’s Wao Akua – The Forest of the Gods did manage to get nominated in the new condensed category.
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