SHREVEPORT NAMES AT GRAMMY AWARDS- The music world paid tribute to the best of their best at the 2023 Grammy Awards It was the 65th show that took place at the Crypto-dot-com Arena in Los Angeles. And some former Shreveport-natives received recognition.
Shreveport-born John Beasley won the Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for “Scrapple from the Apple”, featured on his album "Bird Lives", a nod to the legendary saxophonist Charley Parker. Beasley said the project was created over nine-months in Germany during the Covid Pandemic and he took a moment to acknowledge those who have helped shape his career.
“I’d like to thank all my fellow musicians, my brothers and sisters in music all over the world,” Beasley said. “I’d like to give this to my father who taught me everything I know about arranging, thank you very much.”
John Beasley was born in Shreveport into a family of musicians, His family moved to Texas and at age eight he took up the piano. Beasley also won a Grammy in 2021 for Best Arrangement, Instrumental. He is a very much sought-after composer and has worked such artists as Miles, Davis, Chaka Khan, Steely Dan and Carly Simon.
Two other former Shreveporters were nominated for Grammy’s: Brian Blade for Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. And Byrd High School graduate Kendria Browder who is known as "child" was nominated for Video of the Year for directing Doja Cat's "Woman".
