Several Baha'is are making a joyful noise in the music world. Red Grammer, a popular children’s music performer and award-winning singer-composer, recently received a Grammy Award nomination in the best musical album for children category for “BeBop Your Best!" Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of best jazz vocal album for “I’m With the Band.”

“My God, My Adored One,” written by Van Gilmer, director of music at the Baha’i House of Worship of North America in Wilmette, Ill., won “Best Gospel Song” in the recent 2006 Independent Music Awards.

Red Grammer’s CD, subtitled "Music to Build Character By," features uplifting songs such as "Truthfulness," "Integrity" and "Kindness." His recordings are used by teachers to communicate themes of caring, excellence, diversity and other virtues. Also a “grownups” recording artist, Grammer was Glenn Yarborough's replacement in the renowned folk trio The Limeliters.

Named 2005 Vocalist of the Year by JazzWeek and called a “serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level" by The New York Times, Tierney Sutton has recorded six CDs and collaborated with jazz notables Natalie Cole, Diana Krall and Ray Charles. “I’m with the Band” is Sutton’s first live recording and features never-before- recorded material from throughout her career.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be televised Wednesday, Feb. 8, on CBS.

Van Gilmer’s song, which is based on a prayer by Baha’u’llah, is on the Boston Praise Collective’s CD “From Exile to Exaltation.” It is sung by celebrated Baha'i singer Rachael Price, along with Cris Criscitiello and Zahyia Rolle.

“I’m very pleased to have received the award and thrilled that Rachael sang the winning number,” Mr. Gilmer says. “It’s encouraging to know the song was judged by those who are not Baha'i and to get songs based on Baha'i scripture out into the public.”
“My God, My Adored One” is on the Dissonance Resolved label, which was co-founded by Baha'i Katharine Day.

“The label was started for this project,” Ms. Day says. “It’s hard to put together nine artists of all genres and make the transitions work, but it fell together easily.” To order “From Exile to Exaltation,” please go to www.dissonanceresolved.com.

For information on the Independent Music Awards and to listen to “My God, My Adored One,” go to www.musiciansatlas.com/pages/jukebox2006.asp