Aim Records artists nominated for
2 Grammys
First time for an Australian independent label
Congratulations to Cubanismo & Terrance Simien
In a first for Aim Records from Byron Bay in NSW – the label owned by Bluesfest director Peter Noble – two of its artists have been nominated for Grammys in the 50th annual Grammy Awards held in February 2008.
Cubanismo have earned a nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album for their release, Greetings From Havana (Aim Records). While Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience have picked up a nomination for Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album for their Live! Worldwide (Aim Records) release.
Both these albums are distributed in Australia by Aim’s local distributor The Planet Company / MGM.
Aim Records CEO, and Bluesfest director Peter Noble said, “We believe this is history in the making – the first time any absolutely independent Australian record label has been nominated for a single Grammy, let alone two! It’s certainly a first for an Australian blues and roots focused label.”
The distinction being made is that Aim Records is a purely independent label – with no affiliation or licensing agreements with major labels in Australia or overseas. Aim Records uses various independent distributors in global territories.
Aim Records was established in 1981 with a focus on blues, roots, jazz, soul and world music styles. Some of the label’s recent releases include albums from Marva Wright (After the Levees Broke on which all the musicians involved were displaced from Hurricane Katrina), the Skatalites and Eric Burdon. The label has also spent time sourcing classic blues recordings, re-issuing fantastic music by the likes of Frankie Lee Sims, Earl King and Professor Longhair.
Peter Noble continued, “We are so proud of these incredible albums nominated today. Terrance Simien’s live album so well captures his amazing performances – and in fact Terrance and his wife Cynthia have been instrumental in helping to create this, the first ever Grammy category for Cajun and Zydeco music, so it’s only fitting that Terrance has been nominated.
“With so many restrictions on Cuban music playing to audiences in the US at the moment, Cubanismo’s nomination is also probably the most important thing to happen for Cuban music in 5 years, since these restrictions began. It really is a great record.”
Aim artists Cubanismo and Terrance Simien have both played at the International East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival in recent years – and now join 2008 festival big names John Fogerty, Keith Urban and Patty Griffin in being nominated for the 50th Grammy awards.
Cubanismo is considered by many to be the finest traditional Cuban/Latin jazz band in the world today. They are and have been at the forefront of the Cuban music revival for over a decade. In the past 25 years Terrance Simien and his Zydeco band mates have toured the globe playing their infectious style of music, covering millions of miles across more than 30 countries.
The 50th annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 10, 2008.
For more information on Bluesfest, please visit: www.bluesfest.com.au
AIM: info@aiminternational.com