Alvin's and his older brother Phil's early fascination with traditional American musical forms led to their formation of the seminal L.A. combo the Blasters, which released four widely acclaimed albums combining the band's gritty r&b-drenched rock & roll sound with Dave's gritty, richly evocative lyrics. Since going solo in 1987, Alvin has further enriched his reputation as a gifted musical storyteller, while his compositions have been covered by a wide array of artists, including Dwight Yoakam, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, Kelly Willis and Marshall Crenshaw.

As its title suggests, Public Domain finds Alvin revisiting a variety of traditional material, reinventing folk numbers originally popularized by Woody Guthrie, Blind Willie McTell and the Carter Family. "All these songs sort of shaped how I write songs and listen to music," Alvin explains. "When I was a teenager, my brother and I used to search out old records, just looking for something that excited us more than the bulk of what was on the radio. Little did we know that we were discovering America's folk music."

Country singer and BMI songwriter Faith Hill was a big winner at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards, presented February 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Hill, a first time winner, took home Grammys for Best Country Album (Breathe), Best Female Country Vocal Performance ("Breathe") and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals ("Let's Make Love" with husband Tim McGraw).

Controversial rapper Eminem, whose over-hyped performance with Elton John brought the audience to its feet, also made his presence known with two wins in rap categories, including Best Rap Album for his Marshall Mathers LP and Best Rap Solo Performance for "The Real Slim Shady." He was also recognized for his featured performance on producer Dr. Dre's "Forget About Dre."

BMI songwriter and lengend, Paul Simon was honored with the MusicCares Man of the Year award.

Other notable winners included veteran singer Shelby Lynne who won for Best New Artist, noting that it took "13 years and six albums to get here," as well as the Foo Fighters, Shakira, Toni Braxton, Macy Gray, B.B. King, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Sting and Creed.

BMI's 2001 Grammy Winners (Alphabetically)

Dave Alvin
Best Traditional Folk Album
Public Domain - Songs From The Wild Land

Asleep At The Wheel
Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal
"Cherokee Maiden"

Baha Men
Best Dance Recording
"Who Let The Dogs Out"

Beach Boys
Lifetime Achievement Award

Beenie Man
Best Reggae Album
Art And Life

Steve Berkowitz
Best Historical Album
Louis Armstrong: The Complete Hot Five And Hot Seven Recordings

Toni Braxton
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"He Wasn't Man Enough"

Alison Brown
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Leaving Cottondale" (with Béla Fleck)

Eric Clapton
Best Traditional Blues Album
Riding With the King (with B.B. King)

Chick Corea
Best Instrumental Arrangement
"Spain For Sextet & Orchestra"

Sheryl Crow
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
"There Goes The Neighborhood"

George Crumb
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
"George Crumb: 70th Birthday Album, Star-Child"

Eminem
Best Rap Solo Performance
"The Real Slim Shady"
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group
"Forget About Dre"
Best Rap Album
The Marshall Mathers LP

Brian Eno
Record of the Year
"Beautiful Day"

Gloria Estefan
Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album
Alma Caribeña

Béla Fleck
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Leaving Cottondale" (with Alison Brown)
Best Contemporary Jazz Album (w/Flecktones)
Outbound

Foo Fighters
Best Rock Album
There Is Nothing Left To Lose
Best Short Form Music Video
"Learn To Fly"

Faith Hill
Best Country Album
Breathe
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
"Breathe"
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (with Tim McGraw)
"Let's Make Love"

Fred Jerkins III
Best R&B Song
"Say My Name"

Macy Gray
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
"I Try"

Rodney Jerkins
Best R&B Song
"Say My Name"

Shelby Lynne
Best New Artist

Jars of Clay
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
If I Left The Zoo

Elton John
Best Musical Show Album
Elton John And Tim Rice's Aida

Michael Kamen
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
"The Call Of The Ktulu" - Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

B.B. King
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
"Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)"
Best Traditional Blues Album
Riding With The King (with Eric Clapton)

The Legends
Best Tejano Album
�Qué Es Música Tejana?

John Lennon
Best Long Form Music Video
"Gimme Some Truth - The Making Of John Lennon's Imagine Album"

Joe Lovano
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
52^nd Street Themes

Taj Mahal
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Shoutin' In Key

Arif Mardin
Trustees Award

Tim McGraw
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (with Faith Hill)
"Let's Make Love"

Pat Metheny
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
"(Go) Get It"

Edgar Meyer
Best Classical Crossover Album
Appalachian Journey

Chris Montan
Best Musical Show Album
Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida

Thomas Newman
Best Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual
Media
American Beauty

Mark O'Connor
Best Classical Crossover Album
Appalachian Journey

Eddie Palmieri
Best Salsa Album
Masterpiece/Obra Maestra

Dolly Parton
Best Bluegrass Album
The Grass Is Blue

Rage Against The Machine
Best Hard Rock Performance
"Guerilla Radio"

Tim Rice
Best Musical Show Album
Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida

Riders In The Sky
Best Musical Album for Children
Woody's Roundup Featuring Riders In The Sky

Brian Setzer Orchestra
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
"Caravan"

Shakira
Best Latin Pop Album
Shakira - MTV Unplugged

Tia Sillers
Best Country Song
"I Hope You Dance"

Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti (Creed)
Best Rock Song
"With Arms Wide Open"

Sting
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
"She Walks This Earth"

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album
Touched By A Polka

Temptations
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album
Ear-Resistable

The Who
Lifetime Achievement Award

John Williams
Best Instrumental Composition
"Theme From Angela's Ashes"]]> 2001-02-21T18:00:00-05:00