Musicians call on Grammys to offer Jewish music category

• Published date: 03 March 2023
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

Joanie Leeds, a children's musician and Grammy winner in New York City, and Mikey Pauker, a self-described "devotional rock" artist from California, are working on a formal proposal to add "best Jewish music album" to the list of Grammys awarded each year. They plan to submit their proposal to the Recording Academy, the body that governs the Grammys, by March 1

In the past, albums of what is traditionally considered to be Jewish music have been nominated in a variety of categories, including best contemporary world music. The Klezmatics' "Wonder Wheel" album won in that category in 2006, and some referred to the award as "the first Jewish Grammy."

But musicians who produce albums of Jewish music often find themselves caught between categories, Leeds said. The global category is not a fit for American musicians, and categories for religious music, even if expanded, are also not an easy fit, she said.

"'Jewish' is complicated, because it's not just a religion like Christianity," Leeds said. "It's also a culture."

To strengthen their proposal, the pair consulted with rabbis and...