Apparently, it’s Grammy time, also known as the time of year when they give awards to banal pop albums that I have never even heard of. Even so, when they announce the nominees, I always check the list to see if there are any worth getting excited about (not that I...

"Jingle Bells" was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, and was originally titled "One Horse Open Sleigh." Although the exact history of the song is debatable, there is a plaque commemorating the "Birthplace of 'Jingle Bells'" in Medford, Mass., as well as a claim in Savannah, Ga., that the...

This year's Grammy® Award nominations were announced yesterday for the 51st Annual Grammy® Awards ceremony and, as unlikely as it seems, the organization seems to have mostly gotten it right this time around. Sadly, blues music receives little or no respect from The Recording Academy, evidenced by the fact that...