There are some familiar names with Minnesota connections among the nominees for the 2016 Grammy awards, but one new name stands out: Allan Kingdom. The St. Paul rapper, who's only 21, is a finalist for two Grammys for his collaboration with Kanye West on "All Day." The piece is nominated for best rap performance and best rap song.
Also known locally from the electronic R&B quartet the Stand4rd, Kingdom (real name: Allan Kyariga) is listed as one of West's collaborators on "All Day" alongside Theophilus London and rap upstart Paul McCartney. The collaboration has taken the Woodbury High School graduate around the globe to perform it with West at the Brit Awards and the Billboard Music Awards.
Stephen Paulus, who died in October 2014, received his first Grammy nomination last year. He earned one more this year, for best contemporary classical composition for "Prayers & Remembrances."
Bob Dylan received two nods: best historical album for "The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11" with the Band, and best traditional pop vocal album for his Sinatra tribute, "Shadows in the Night."
New York jazz composer/conductor/arranger Maria Schneider, a five-time winner who grew up in Windom, Minn., is a candidate for two Grammys, best large jazz ensemble album for "The Thompson Fields" and best arrangement for vocal and instrumental for David Bowie's "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)."
Nashville banjo star Abigail Washburn, a graduate of Edina High School, shared two noms with husband Bela Fleck for best American roots performance and best folk album for "Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn." New York jazz chanteuse Karrin Allyson, who spent her salad days in the Twin Cities, got a nod for best jazz vocal album for "Many A New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein."
Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider
