The Studio City-based Jewish Music Group received a big boost in getting its niche product before a broader audience after one of the label’s artists won a Grammy award Sunday. The Klezmatics won for best album in the Contemporary World Music category for their “Wonder Wheel” album, a collaboration of music by the New York City-based band for lyrics written by the late folk music icon Woody Guthrie. In the 10 hours after winning the Grammy, Jewish Music Group President David McLees said he received 30 congratulatory emails from those in the entertainment industry. “It seems there is a real embracing of the Jewish Music Group label and Jewish music as a genre,” McLees said. It was a real shock to have won considering The Klezmatics were up against established acts in the World Music category, McLees said. “I am the more experienced veteran so I had no expectation we would win,” said McLees who has twice been nominated for a Grammy as a producer but never won. “I always thought there was a shot but I was prepared for disappointment.” Founded in 2005 by McLees and Richard Foos, both music industry veterans who worked together at Rhino Records and the Warner Music Group, the Jewish Music Group has released 30 albums and has eight acts actively recording new material.
