Drake, Shawn Mendes, Diana Krall among Canadians up for Grammys

Canadian superstar Drake emerged as one of the leading artists at the Grammy Awards nominations on Friday, picking up seven nods, many of them in key categories.

The recognition for work on his 2018 double-album Scorpion,as well as contributions to other rappers' tracks, comes after the Toronto-raised performer boycotted last year's Grammys by choosing not to submit anything from his previous release, More Life.

Drake's change of heart this year helped Scorpionpick up nominations in several top categories album, record and song of the year for God's Plan.

Shawn Mendes emerged with the first Grammy nominations of his career. The pop singer, raised in Pickering, Ont., was named in two categories song of the year for In My Bloodand best pop vocal album.Songwriter Geoffrey Warburton, who also hails from Pickering, shares the In My Bloodsong nomination with Mendes.

In two categories, Drake will compete with himself for the golden gramophone. His song God's Planis also vying for best rap performance against Travis Scott's Sicko Mode,a track where Drake appears as a guest.He's also nominated twice in the rap song category, where God's Planand Sicko Modeare among the contenders for the award given to the songwriters.

Several of Drake's associates also landed Grammy recognition.Boi-1da, born Matthew Samuels in Toronto, was nominated as producer for his body of work this year, which includes songs with Drake, Cardi B, G-Eazy, and Beyonc and Jay-Z. Samuels also received two nominations in the best rap song category as a songwriter on Eminem's Lucky Youand Jay Rock's Win.

Noah Shebib, another one of Drake's collaborators, is recognized with four nominations for songs from the Scorpionalbum.

Meanwhile, jazz artist Diana Krallwas also a double nominee for new work with Tony Bennett. The Nanaimo, B.C. singer and Bennett's rendition of 'S Wonderful is up for best pop duo performance, while their Love is Here to Stayis in the running for traditional pop vocal album.

Nods for Daniel Caesar, James Ehnes

In other categories, Toronto's Daniel Caesar appeared in the R&B performance category for the second consecutive year, this time for the song Best Part,a duet with California-based singer H.E.R.

Jim (Kimo) West, who was born in Toronto and is known as Weird AlYankovic's guitarist, is nominated for Moku Maluhia - Peaceful Islandin the new age album category.

Brandon, Man.-raised violinist James Ehnes is nominated for classical instrumental solo for his concerto Kernis, while Toronto-born conductor Peter Oundjian also received a nod for classical compendium.

Violinist Christina Day Martinson, from Saskatchewan, is nominated in the classical instrumental solo category for Biber: The Mystery Sonataswith the Boston Baroque. Meanwhile Montreal's Marc-Andr Hamelin is achamber music/small ensemble performance nominee for Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Concerto for Two Pianos.

Led by University of Toronto professor AnnaShternshis, the archival music projectThe Lost Songs of World War IIis in the running for world music album.

Toronto music scholar and past Grammy-winner Rob Bowman is part of the team behind best historical album contenderAny Other Way, a compilation of music by 1960s soul singerJackie Shane.

The 2019Grammyswill be awarded at the StaplesCenterin Los Angeles on Feb. 10.