Who do local radio jocks think are Grammy worthy?

By Malcolm Venable
The Virginian-Pilot

IT'S GRAMMY TIME once again, so in the spirit of celebrating local expertise, we tapped some of Hampton Roads' radio jocks to give us their predictions in the most popular categories. (Sorry, polka fans.)

Shaggy from Z104(WNVZ-FM/104.5)

Record of the Year
Nominees: "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey; "Feel Good Inc.," Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul; "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day; "Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani; "Gold Digger," Kanye West.

Shaggy: "Hollaback Girl" was the one song that no matter what age, race or gender you are, you caught yourself singing that hook.

Album of the Year
Nominees: "The Emancipation Of Mimi," Mariah Carey; "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," Paul McCartney; "Love. Angel. Music. Baby," Gwen Stefani; "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," U2; "Late Registration," Kanye West.

Shaggy: You have to love a comeback album, and this is one of Mariah's best albums to date. Even though she probably didn't write most of her songs, hey, it's the millennium. Who writes their own music anymore?

Best New Artist
Nominees: Ciara, Fall Out Boy, Keane, John Legend, SugarLand

Shaggy: John Legend is our Marvin Gaye. It's by far the best R&B album of the year and, in my standings, the best album all around.

Mark McKay, The Eagle (WGH-FM/97.3)

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Nominees: "The Connection," Emmylou Harris; "Mississippi Girl," Faith Hill; "All Jacked Up," Gretchen Wilson; "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," Lee Ann Womack; "Georgia Rain," Trisha Yearwood

McKay: Given the Grammys' track record, I'm shocked that four of five nominees were actually hit songs. Given said track record, I'm tempted to think the one "non-hit" (Emmylou) will win, but give this one to Lee Ann Womack.

Best Country Song
Nominees: "Alcohol," Brad Paisley; "All Jacked Up," Gretchen Wilson; "Bless the Broken Road," Rascal Flatts; "I Hope," Dixie Chicks; "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," Lee Ann Womack

McKay: Again, only one "non-hit" song (the Chicks, which was a Katrina benefit), which is a pleasant surprise. Grammy tends to favor critics' choices, which would mean either Brad Paisley or Lee Ann Womack, but I think Rascal Flatts' song was too huge to ignore.

Best Country Album
Nominees: "Fireflies," Faith Hill; "Lonely Runs Both Ways," Alison Krauss and Union Station; "Time Well Wasted," Brad Paisley; "All Jacked Up," Gretchen Wilson; "Jasper County," Trisha Yearwood.

McKay: For my money, Brad Paisley's CD was one of last year's best, and would get my vote. Sadly, Grammy didn't ask my opinion. They love Alison Krauss (and rightfully so - she's an incredible talent), but her CD really should be in the Bluegrass or Americana categories.

Pavar Snipe, 103 Jamz (WOWI-FM/102.9)
Best Rap Solo Performance
Nominees: "Testify," Common; "Mockingbird," Eminem; "Disco Inferno," 50 Cent; "Number One Spot," Ludacris; "U Don't Know Me," T.I.; "Gold Digger," Kanye West.

Snipe: OK, I'm sure I heard "Gold Digger" less than 178,259.31 times last year, but I'm still not sick of it. Kanye West and Jamie made a great song, and it gets my vote. Actually, I'm convinced Kanye could make a song with William Hung, and I'd still be inclined to prance to the dance floor, snapping my fingers and slinging my neck violently to the right. The man may be conceited, but you've got to love a guy with an ego large enough to eclipse the sun. Or maybe you don't.

Best Rap Album
Nominees: "Be," Common; "The Cookbook," Missy Elliott; "Encore," Eminem; "The Massacre," 50 Cent; "Late Registration," Kanye West.

Snipe: Kanye West will win . My pick is Common, because the entire album is a representation of what I wish more hip-hop was like. Common delivers lyrical content that flows like rhythmic poetry - and that's hip-hop.

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Nominees: "1,2 Step," Ciara featuring Missy Elliott; "They Say," Common featuring John Legend and Kanye West; "Soldier," Destiny's Child featuring T.I. and Lil Wayne; "Numb/Encore," Jay-Z featuring Linkin Park; "Rich Girl," Gwen Stefani featuring Eve.

Snipe: Missy Elliot is one of only a few women representing hip-hop these days, so I've got to give her respect for that. Newcomer Ciara has really proven herself a star in her own right. Together these two ladies made a song I turned up in my car every time I heard it. I'm not too impressed with the other songs in this category, with the exception of Common's "They Say," so my vote is for this instructional dance ditty.

Harvey "Big Bird" Kojan,program director for FM 99 (WNOR/98.7)
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
The nominees: "Speed of Sound," Coldplay; "Best of You," Foo Fighters; "Do You Want To," Franz Ferdinand; "All These Things That I've Done," The Killers; "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," U2.

Kojan: U2 should win, and they will. Man, what a weird mix of nominees. "Best of You" is solid, but there are better songs on the CD. Franz Ferdinand and The Killers are closer to pop and/or alternative than rock. Coldplay could challenge, but ultimately this will be another case where the "old" guys should and will prevail.

Best Hard Rock Performance
The nominees: "Doesn't Remind Me," Audioslave; "The Hand That Feeds," Nine Inch Nails; "Tin Pan Valley," Robert Plant; "Little Sister," Queens of the Stone Age; "B.Y.O.B.," System of a Down.

Kojan: Should be a no-brainer. System of a Down's quirky, catchy, lyrically explosive ditty was our most requested song of the year, and their controversial politics should appeal to the bleeding-heart liberal bias of the Grammy panel.

Paul Shugrue, "Out of the Box" (WHRV-FM/89.5)

Best Alternative Music Album
Nominees: "Funeral," The Arcade Fire; "Guero," Beck; "Plans," Death Cab For Cutie; "You Could Have It So Much Better," Franz Ferdinand; "Get Behind Me Satan," The White Stripes

Shugrue: For my tastes this is the best and only category of legitimate music. The rest pander to the masses while the artists in this category are bringing fresh, new ideas to today's music. It's a tossup between the Beck and Death Cab albums, but, because Beck won in 2000, I'd give it to the band with the great album but the worst name in rock.

Best Electronic/Dance Album<
Nominees: "Push the Button," The Chemical Brothers; "Human After All," Daft Punk; "Palookaville," Fatboy Slim; "Minimum-Maximum," Kraftwerk; "LCD Soundsystem," LCD Soundsystem.

Shugrue: This may be the first time one band has a song about another band in the same category. For that reason, I'd give it to LCD Soundsystem, if only for the irresistible rock/dance tune "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House."

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
Nominees: "Revolution," Eric Clapton; "Shine It All Around," Robert Plant; "Devils & Dust," Bruce Springsteen; "This Is How a Heart Breaks," Rob Thomas; "The Painter," Neil Young.

Shugrue: What is this, the old guys' category? They're all over 55 (after all, Rob Thomas is really Phil Collins reincarnated). I give the award to Neil Young because he's my all-time favorite artist, and he just keeps getting better. Imagine all these artists in the same nursing home. That would be one heck of a jam session in the common room.

Big Dose, KISS-FM (WKUS/105.3)

Best Urban/Alternative Performance Nominees: "SupaStar," Floetry; "Dirty Harry," Gorillaz featuring Bootie Brown; "Dust," Van Hunt; "Welcome to Jamrock," Damian Marley; "Ghetto Rock," Mos Def.

Big Dose: Marley will win, because he's a Marley. Seriously, "Jamrock" burst upon the scene and set records for sales and airplay. Great song. Maybe winning will give Damian a chance to shave. Who knows?

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Nominees: "Mine Again," Mariah Carey; "Summertime," Fantasia; "A House Is Not a Home," Aretha Franklin; "If I Was Your Woman," Alicia Keys; "Stay With You," John Legend.

Big Dose: If I was a betting man, and I'm not, Alicia Keys may take an "L" to Mimi. Look at the name of the song: "Mine Again." By the time this category rolls around, she'll already have four or five statues. I just hope she can breathe in whatever she's wearing. Be proud of your figure!

Best R&B Album
Nominees: "Illumination," Earth, Wind and Fire; "Free Yourself," Fantasia; "Unplugged," Alicia Keys; "Get Lifted," John Legend; "A Time to Love," Stevie Wonder.

Big Dose: As incredible as "A Time to Love" is, unfortunately, Stevie Wonder won't walk away with his 800th Grammy. I choose Fantasia. A long shot, but at least when Fantasia accepts her Grammy, she'll have a long list (that she can actually read) of people to thank.

Dale Murray, STAR 94.1 (WXEZ-FM 94.1)

Best Gospel Performance
Nominees: "Be Blessed," Yolanda Adams; "Looking for You," Kirk Franklin; "I Call You Faithful," Donnie McClurkin; "Lift Him Up," Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship Choir; "Pray," CeCe Winans

Murray: Few artists can boast the consistency of sales, radio airplay and concert appearances that Yolanda has achieved over the course of her career. "Be Blessed" is a song that creates a sea of ripples even in the souls of nonbelievers. Yolanda Adams should win in this category.

Best Gospel Song
Nominees: "Again I Say Rejoice," Israel & New Breed; "Be Blessed," Yolanda Adams; "Heaven," Mary Mary; "Lift Him Up," Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir; "We Must Praise," J Moss

Murray: Mary Mary offer up their best, which keeps getting better. My prediction: Mary Mary will most likely pick up this Grammy. However, my personal favorite is "Again I Say Rejoice" from Israel and New Breed. Lead singer Israel Houghton is a guy who's rightfully nabbing industry props as a gifted arranger and producer.

Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
Nominees: "Day by Day," Yolanda Adams; "Mary Mary," Mary Mary; "The J Moss Project," J Moss; "Dream," BeBe Winans; "Purified," CeCe Winans

Murrary: This is a tough call. Throw in two-part-perfect-harmony duo Mary Mary and siblings from gospel's first family of song, BeBe and CeCe Winans, and the decision is downright difficult. However, while I think BeBe Winans will pick up this Grammy, my vote goes to J. Moss. His unmistakable vocal style is surpassed only by his phenomenal stage presence. "The J Moss Project" is the personification of gospel music.

Larry "LeKool" Hollowell, Hot 91 (WNSB-FM/91.1)

Contemporary Jazz Album
Nominees: "Keystone," Dave Douglas; "Soulgrass," Bill Evans; "The Way Up," Pat Metheny Group; "The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel," Meshell Ndegeocello; "Momentum," Joshua Redman Elastic Band

Hollowell: Pat Metheny's album "The Way Up" is the big winner. Even though there are a couple of strong competitors here, the judges will be swayed by the over 30-year run of consistency, creativity and dedication to excellence that Pat has demonstrated during his remarkable career.

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Nominees: "'Round Midnight," Alan Broadbent; "Away," Ravi Coltrane; "The Source," Herbie Hancock; "A Love Supreme - Acknowledgement," Branford Marsalis; "Why Was I Born?" Sonny Rollins

Hollowell: This is the most subjective and nearly impossible category of them all, but Sonny Rollins takes the statue. Few can construct a solo like he can, and even fewer can rival his harmonic inventiveness, passion, fire and discipline.

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Nominees: "Flow," Terence Blanchard; "Lyric," Billy Childs Ensemble; "Live at the House of Tribes," Wynton Marsalis; "Beyond the Sound Barrier," Wayne Shorter Quartet; "What Now?" Kenny Wheeler With Dave Holland, Chris Potter & John Taylor

Hollowell: The Wayne Shorter Quartet gets to open the champagne and celebrate. Since the mid-'50s, Wayne Shorter has been in the vanguard of contemporary jazz. Wayne comes from a far-off place: no, not Newark, N.J., someplace farther out than that. He's a giant in his genre.

Reach Malcolm Venable at (757) 446-2662 or malcolm.venable@pilotonline.com.