As a Grammy voting member now for 9 years, wouldn't it be great to be able to vote in a Progressive Rock category for my 10th year in NARAS?

Over the years I have seen Progressive artists try and fit into the current categories with little or no success. The year I joined NARAS, I also started the Progressive Rock Hall of Fame to finally recognize these truly amazing musicians. Our first year the Inductees were: Yes, Kansas, Gentle Giant, UK & King Crimson. We also handed out other awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Steve Walsh

Progressive Rock Album of the Year: Fear of a Blank Planet - Porcupine Tree

Progressive Rock Artist of the Year: Rush

Progressive Rock Recording Engineer of the Year: Alan Parsons

Progressive Rock Producer of the Year: Alan Simon

Progressive Rock Song of the Year: Circle of Life - Jon Anderson written by Alan Simon

Best New Progressive Rock Artist: Tarja Turunen

Best Female Progressive Rock Vocalist: Loreena McKennitt

Best Male Progressive Rock Vocalist: Justin Hayward

Best Progressive Rock Metal Album: 10,000 Days -Tool

Best Progressive Rock Instrumental Performance: Piece of the Pi - Jordan Rudess

Best Progressive Hard Rock Album: Systematic Chaos - Dream Theater

Best Progressive Country Album: Heartbeat of Love - Richie Furay

Best Progressive Acoustic Album: Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best Progressive Jazz Album: Return to the Emerald Beyond - Mahavishnu Project

Best Progressive Rock Movie Soundtrack: Peter Gabriel

Progressive Rock Indie Album of the Year: Doomsday Afternoon - Phideaux

Progressive Rock Indie Artist of the Year: Magic Pie

Progressive Rock Indie Song of the Year: Empower - Tribe of Eden

Best New Progressive Rock Indie Artist: Touchstone

Best Female Progressive Rock Indie Vocalist: Susie Bogdanowicz

Best Male Progressive Rock Indie Vocalist: John Young

Best Progressive Rock Instrumental Indie Performance: Stella - Speechless

Best Progressive Hard Rock Indie Album: Henceforth - Henceforth

We continued onward for 5 years with a great advisory board of industry leaders. Our other inductees over the years included:

2009 - Camel, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jethro Tull

2010 - Emerson, Lake and Palmer, the Moody Blues, Frank Zappa, Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Strawbs

2011 - Rush, Hawkwind, The Move, Renaissance, Aphrodite's Child

2012 - Egg, Procol Harum, Spirit, Marillion, Traffic

Hardly any of these iconic artists have won Grammys, except I remember Jethro Tull in the Metal Category one year - the only thing metal about them seems to be Ian Anderson's flute.

After 5 years, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame decided they wanted to take us over, as we were getting a lot of attention. Our old website http://www.progressiverockhalloffame.com is redirected to them, even to this day. Within moments of their takeover they inducted their 1st Progressive Artist, Rush. Which is a start but much more is needed.

Over my years with NARAS I have seen many improvements and a few setbacks, but have hope that the NARAS community will embrace quality music like Progressive Rock. The time is right for a new category, that will restore my faith in the music industry.

Thanks for fighting the good fight,

Laurie Larson