The pop vocal group Pentatonix ought to be thrilled that there's a Grammy category for "Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella." For the second year in a row, the group featuring three members from Arlington won in the category — this time for the arrangement of their holiday recording, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."
Arlington singers Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying and Kirstin Maldonado weren't at Monday's pre-telecast Grammy ceremony to accept the award because they were prepping to appear during the main event. But their co-arranger and winner Ben Bram came to the podium. "To me arranging is creating magic within the limitations of an ensemble," Bram said. "Arranging for these five singers is immensely satisfying."
• Another local ensemble, the Denton jazz collective Snarky Puppy, took home a trophy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, which went to their collaborative project with the Netherlands' Metropole Orkest.
• Fort Worth gospel star Kirk Franklin, who could be seen Saturday night mixing it up with Kanye West on SNL, made it to the stage of the early ceremony when he won for Best Gospel Performance Song with "Wanna Be Happy?"
• Dallas' Liz Rose was one of three writers who accepted the award for Best Country Song, for their part in Little Big Town's "Girl Crush."
• Fort Worth's Leon Bridges was a strong contender in the Best R&B Album for his 2015 release, Coming Home, but the Grammy went to D'Angelo and the Vanguard's Black Messiah. Burleson's Kelly Clarkson lost out to Taylor Swift for Best Pop Vocal Album and to Ed Sheeran for Best Pop Vocal Solo Performance.
