Grammy goes to Carolina

If you care, by now you've heard all about the nominations for the major categories of this year's Grammy Awards, which were announced Wednesday night. If you're curious about local ties to this year's field of nominees, that's why I'm here:

Shelby native Earl Scruggs scored for best bluegrass album with "Live at the Ryman." Former Chapel Hill denizen James Taylor earned two nominations, for best male pop vocal performance and best pop vocal album, for his standards album "Covers."

Marshville native Randy Travis scored in best country album for "Around the Bend." And UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus Lewis Black, who performed at the new Durham Performing Arts Center Wednesday night, picked up a nomination for best comedy album for "Anticipation."

A number of North Carolina musicians played key support roles in nominated works. High Point "American Idol" winner Fantasia shared best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals with Jennifer Hudson for "I'm His Only Woman." Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton also has featured billing on Al Green's "You've Got the Love I Need," nominated for best traditional R&B vocal performance.

Riley Baugus, a banjo player from Winston-Salem, played on a track on Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Raising Sand" -- nominated for album of the year and best contemporary folk/Americana album. In the latter category, one of the other nominees is Rodney Crowell's "Sex & Gasoline," released on Triangle-based Yep Roc Records (which had its first Grammy win last year).

9th Wonder, former deejay/producer for local hip-hop stars Little Brother, produced singer Erykah Badu's single "Honey." It earned a nod in the category of best short form music video.

Finally, technology developed at Raleigh-based Zenph Studios played a part in the nominations for best instrumental arrangement and best large jazz ensemble album. "Yesterdays," as played by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band on their “Act Your Age” album, employs Zenph's software technology to create a re-performance by the late jazz great Art Tatum.

The Grammy Awards will be presented on Feb. 8.