QUICK TAKES - June 6, 2009
The waltz is over for America’s Polka King, Jimmy Sturr, not to mention every other squeezebox-loving, oompah-dancing fanatic who followed the Grammy Awards each year just to learn whether Sturr would collect yet another trophy for best polka album of the year.
Moving to ensure that its awards show remains what it called “pertinent within the current musical landscape,” the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has eliminated its best polka album category. Sturr had won the competition 18 times in the last 24 years.
“Sure I feel a little bad, but I’m grateful, man,” said the 58-year-old musician. “The academy did a lot, not only recognizing me but recognizing polka music.”
He said he has no plans to stop entering the Grammys, and will nominate his next album in whatever category he is allowed to. An academy official said that would be the folk music category.
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