Dylan Thomas up for Grammy

Dylan Thomas died aged 39 in 1953

Poet and writer Dylan Thomas has been nominated for a US Grammy award, in the year which marks the 50th anniversary of his death.

An album of Thomas reading of some of his famous works could scoop the Best Historical Album award in the ceremony on 23 February.

Best Historical Album nominations

Artie Shaw: Self Portrait

The Complete Okeh And Brunswick Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer And Jack Teagarden Sessions (1924-36)

Dylan Thomas: The Caedmon Collection

The Genius of the Electric Guitar

Screamin' and Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton

The Grammys are the biggest awards in the music world, and other artists up for prizes in the 104 categories include Kylie Minogue, Eminem, Nelly, and Avril Lavigne.

Meanwhile, celebrations to mark the anniversary of Thomas's death have started with a photographic exhibition in Swansea.

The poet died in a hotel room in New York on November 9 1953, aged 39.

The Caedmon collection is an 11-CD set published by Harper Collins.

It includes Thomas reading his play Under Milk Wood, and poetry Fern Hill and Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.

A spokesman for the Dylan Thomas Society said he was not surprised at the nomination because of the importance of the material.

"It was a landmark because in 1953 there hadn't been much recording of readings of poetry," said Gilbert Bennett, one of the society's vice-presidents.

"That focused attention on the art of reading poetry," he added.

Famous photographers

Celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Thomas's death are taking place throughout the year in Swansea.

There will be a different exhibition each month, which gives us the chance to show a lot of items

Dave Wooley, Dylan Thomas centre

About 20 black-and-white pictures, some by world-famous photographers, are the first in a series of displays at the Dylan Thomas centre.

Dave Wooley, arts officer at the Dylan Thomas centre and the co-ordinator of the year-long festival, said the pictures were taken over a number of years.

"There is one showing him as a very young boy right up to quite late," he said.

Mr Wooley said the photographs marked the start of 12 months of changing displays at the centre.

"There will be a different exhibition each month, which gives us the chance to show a lot of items - many of which are kept in stores.

"There are different kinds of interpretations of Dylan and his work, including some contemporary pieces," he said.

Other events include a community project called Deaths and Entrances, a Dylan the Actor exhibition at the Dylan Thomas theatre and a series of plays, readings and exhibitions at a variety of venues.

Filming on a new movie about Thomas's life, entitled The Map of Love, will also start, starring Dougray Scott.