POLL: Who Should Win Best American Roots Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards?
Best American Roots Performance is a relatively new Grammy Awards category: It was added in 2015, with Rosanne Cash taking home the inaugural trophy. Who do you think will add the award to their collection this year?
The Best American Roots Performance category encompasses Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk and other forms of regional roots music and is open to singles or tracks from solo artists, duos, groups and other collaborations. The category's first 2016 nominee is Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn's "And Am I Born to Die," originally written by minister Charles Wesley 250 years ago. Washburn first heard the song at Doc Watson's memorial service in 2012 and turned it into a gorgeous cover that pairs her vocals with her husband's banjo playing.
"Born to Play Guitar" is the title track from Buddy Guy's 2015 album. The 79-year-old blues master leads the record with this song, and his distinctive voice rings loud among the other contenders in this Grammy Awards category.
The Milk Carton Kids debuted their third record, Monterey, in May; it was inspired by their time on the road. "City of Our Lady," which the duo has performed on Conan, is just two minutes long but packs a punch.
Speaking of punch, the Punch Brothers' "Julep," off The Phosphorescent Blues, tells fans that "heaven is a julep on the porch." The track picked up two Grammy Awards nods this year, and the album itself earned one.
Mavis Staples' “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” is from her 2015 album Your Good Fortune. It was originally recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1927 and was also covered by the likes of Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, B.B King and more.
Who should win Best American Roots Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards? Vote below as often as once an hour until 11:59PM ET on Feb. 11; we’ll tabulate the results and use them for our winners predictions.
The 2016 Grammy Awards will air live on CBS on Feb. 15 beginning at 8PM ET.
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