The 51st Annual Grammy Awards

As a lover of many kinds of music you'd think The Grammy Awards would be a big favorite, but many times I'm not a lover of the musical performances. Tonight I was delighted with the second musical number of Justin Timberlake with the Reverend Al Green along with Boyz II Men and our own, Keith Urban showcasing his guitar prowess. Their rendition of Al's hit - "Let's Stay Together," was very enjoyable. It's what my friend, Cappo, calls "playing music." Play and enjoy! Seems like everyone was doing just that. Yeah, yeah, the word was it was a sub in number, but maybe that was why it seemed fun, not over rehearsed. (Keith also showed up in the Bo Diddley tribute!)

Moving on through the program, when the Reverend Green joined Duffy to announce "Song of the Year" it was sweet to hear Al Green kick off "Moon River" and then see the legend, Andy Williams in the audience. As for their rendition of S&G's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," please do not ever do that (or attempt that) again. That is one of my absolutely favorite songs of all time and that just was very hurtful.

It's unfortunate the sound was so bad because I was looking forward to Kid Rock's "All Summer Long." That song just kicks! It has me thinking, John Cougar Mellencamp's "Cherry Bomb" for flavor and of course it's inspiration, Skynrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," and the get down of the Doobie's "Blackwater." Love, love, love that. Probably because it makes me want to dance like I was in college again. Ha!

No other genre has the best ticket seller in music than country music. Kenny Chesney, I will say, did country music right when he performed acoustically. He was introduced by Morgan Freeman who highlighted his presentation with a statement that although Chesney sold out venues he still believed it began with a song. Bravo for that.

Songwriters are heralded no where else like they are in country music. Not since the golden era of composers in the 40s has the song been so celebrated as it is by the country music industry. Rich in lyric and melody, country music, if listened to with open heart and soul will prove its value of what it has to offer.

Lifetime Grammy Awards went to the incomparable, Brenda Lee and also the one and only Dean Martin.

In the best pop male vocalist John Mayer won for "Say", although I was torn between my generation performers, Paul McCartney and James Taylor, and the kickin' Kid Rock because of "All Summer Long."

That takes me to James Taylor's project COVERS that came out last September. I went to AOL music and listened to his version of the Glen Campbell classic, "Wichita Lineman." I'm an absolutely devoted James Taylor fan, but I remember with pain when people thought the young and talented country singer, Wade Hayes, should not have done a cover, which was "Wichita Lineman." I loved Campbell's version, but truly was taken with Wade's version and thought it so sad it was pulled because a few critics felt it should be. Fans did not voice the same sentiment and last time I checked the music was for them. Ahh, well all is done, but I'll take up a banner for someone who wants to sing a great song, especially when they do right by it. I went in search on YouTube to see if it existed and lo and behold it did (see below). Bravo, Wade!

Shoot me if you don't like Neil Diamond. I'm a victim of my generation. Neil Diamond was absolutely "it" when I was in Junior High. "Sweet Caroline," was just the song along with "Cracklin' Rosie" and . I saw him in concert with my best friend years later and he was hilarious. He stood on his piano in his tight pants and a woman right down front had her binoculars directly on him. He got her attention and asked, "WHAT are you looking at?" He laughed and pointed to those in the rafters, "they need binoculars, but you are right in front of me." She was totally embarrassed and it was great. I also have the LP soundtrack to the Jazz Singer.

Those we lost this year, that I will miss: funny and talented Jerry Reed, the incomparable Eddy Arnold, Dan Fogelberg...

COUNTRY AWARDS

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
Nominees: Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood
WINNER: Last Name - Carrie Underwood from: Carnival Ride [19/Arista/Arista Nashville]

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
Nominees included Trace Adkins, James Otto, George Strait and Jamey Johnson
WINNER: Letter To Me - Brad Paisley from: 5th Gear [Arista Nashville]

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
Nominees: Brooks and Dunn, Lady Antebellu, Rascal Flatts and the who? The Steel Drivers
WINNER: Stay - Sugarland from: Enjoy The Ride

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)
Nominees: Chesney and Strait; Strait and Loveless; Sugarland, Jake Owen and Little Big Town and Yearwood/Urban
WINNER: Killing The Blues - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss from: Raising Sand[Rounder]

Best Country Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
EDITORIAL - Is it ok for Cherryholmes III on Skaggs Family Records and Jerry Douglas, et.al. on Koch and Bela Fleck on Rounder and Pat Metheny with Jerry Douglas and Bruce Hornsby to be nominated - sure, but just look WHO won!
WINNER: Cluster Pluck - Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner from Brad's "Play" project[Arista Nashville]

Best Country Song (A Songwriter(s) Award)
(Artist names appear in parentheses.)
Nominees: Gorley/Regan for Dig Two Graves sang by Randy Travis; Clawson/Criswell/Kirby for I Saw God Today sang by George Strait; Jamey Johnson/Miller/Otto for In Color sang by Jamey Johnson; Gorley/Miller for You're Gonna Miss This sang by Trace Adkins
WINNER: Stay - Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland) - from: Enjoy The Ride [Mercury Records; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing]

Best Country Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)
Nominees: That Lonesome Song - Jamey Johnson; Sleepless Nights - Patty Loveless; Around the Bend - Randy Travis and Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love - Trisha Yearwood
WINNER: Troubadour - King George Strait (ok, here is me jumping up and down, yelling yippee and my cats looking at me like I'm totally insane - which I usually am when you say "George Strait") CAN YOU BELIEVE HE HAS NEVER WON A GRAMMY - ABOUT TIME!!!!


OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

ANDY WILLIAMS

Andy Williams (one of my mother's favorites) was born in Iowa and grew up in Ohio (bless his midwestern soul). As a pop or "easy listening" icon he had his own variety show from 1962 -1971 which would explain my knowledge of this performer since that period was the heart of my childhood. With 18 gold albums and 3 platinums, Williams didn't have a hit with Moon River, but was always associated with classic written by the incredible, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. Williams was asked to sing the song (from the movie "Breakfast at Tiffanys" with Audrey Hepburn) at the Oscars in 1962. "The Days of Wine and Roses" another Mancini/Mercer collaboration was sung by Andy and won the Oscar the next year. Of course as a teenager in 1970, "Where Do I Begin," from Love Story was well known and never forgotten (the movie or the song). He may well be the best known of a long list that performed "The Impossible Dream" (from Man of La Mancha) since it was featured in a Honda commercial.

Interestingly, Williams who was on the Cadence Label, eventually acquired the masters from that label including label mates, The Everly Brothers and eventually started another label to rerelease material. The label, Barnaby, also had several hits with country humorist and gifted musician, Ray Stevens. In 1970, the label released Jimmy Buffet's first project.

From 1971 - 1977, Williams hosted the Grammys. His brother Don (who at the time managed Ray Stevens) invited Andy to Branson, Missouri in 1991 and soon Andy Williams opened the Moon River Theater. Both the Theater, his home in Branson and in California have been featured in Architectural Digest as he is an avid collector of art.


OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Check out what nominee Lee Ann Womack considers 10 great country songs that won Grammys at CMT.com (direct link)