Marcus Johnson, Maxwell, Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston Up For NAACP Awards
Several artists currently getting airplay on the Smooth Jazz Network have received nominations for the 41st annual NAACP Image Awards.
In the Outstanding Jazz Album category, pianist Marcus Johnson was recognized for his Poetically Justified CD. A song from that CD, “Chillaxin’,” is being played on the Smooth Jazz Network’s yoursmoothjazz.com and on the New Music Hour with Maria Lopez. Johnson will be competing against the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride & Inside Straight, and Vanessa Williams, the latter nominated for her The Real Thing CD. That CD features the former Smooth Jazz Top 20 hit “Just Friends.” Williams is also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in ABC’s Ugly Betty.
Maxwell, whose Grammy-nominated instrumental song “Phoenix Rise” is the Feedback Track this week on the Smooth Jazz Top 20, is nominated for Outstanding Male Artist and Outstanding Album for his BlackSummer’s Night CD. His song “Pretty Wings” is nominated in both the Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Song categories.
Alicia Keys was nominated several times – for Outstanding Female Artist; Outstanding Song for “Empire State of Mind” with Jay-Z; Outstanding Duo with Jay-Z; Outstanding Music Video for “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart”; and Outstanding Album for The Element of Freedom. One song from that CD, “Doesn’t Mean Anything,” is currently on the Smooth Jazz Top 20.
Whitney Houston earned a nomination as Outstanding Female Artist. Whitney’s latest, I Look to You, features the former Smooth Jazz Top 20 hit of the same name. That song is also nominated for Outstanding Music Video.
The 41st NAACP Image Awards, which honors individuals and projects promoting diversity in the arts in recording, television, motion pictures and literature, will air February 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.