Dave Grohl's Grammy Acceptance Speech

"To me this award means a lot because it shows that the human element of music is what's important. Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing for people to do... It's not about being perfect, it's not about sounding absolutely correct, it's not about what goes on in a computer. It's about what goes on in here [your heart] and what goes on in here [your head]." 

- Dave Grohl, after accepting Grammy award

Read more about his speech here.

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The Civil Wars Up Close

If you aren't familiar with The Civil Wars, you should be. I mean, it's not 1861 anymore. Here's a photo of them performing at the recent Grammy Block Party here in Nashville:



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Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames - "Yeh, Yeh!"

Last weekend Brittany and I were driving up to Malibu, CA, when this fun song came on the radio. It's interesting how the melody just follows what seems like the saxophone line, but I think it's what makes the song so catchy.

Have fun, and feel free to dance. (The music doesn't start on the video for a few seconds, until after the record starts spinning.)

And the Grammy Goes To...

Below is an article that I wrote a couple days ago for one of my hometown newspapers in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

See it on The News-Sentinel's website here.

Tonight, at the 53rd Grammy Awards, I heard the phrase “and the Grammy goes to” 108 times. The day’s events began with the pre-telecast ceremony, where 98 of the awards were given (the televised portion only includes the final 10 most popular awards). We anxiously awaited the categories in which Ricky Skaggs’ album, Mosaic (the album on which I had written eight songs), had been nominated. We were left sitting in our seats when his name wasn’t announced.

It was fascinating to realize that for every one person giving a speech, thanking everyone who has helped along the way, four more people pocket their lists of thank- yous in hopes of another chance, another year. For every five people nominated in a category, thousands more worked day in and day out with hopes of garnering a nod from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

One of my favorite moments of the day was during the pre-telecast ceremony. Gospel legend Mavis Staples, who was sitting only a few seats away from us, won a Grammy for the first time in her career. While the moderators had repeatedly encouraged recipients to pare down their words for time’s sake, I (along with every other person in the room) would have gladly given Staples all the time in the world for her tears of joy and words of genuine thankfulness.

I was also thoroughly entertained by the televised portion, specifically Mumford & Sons’ driving live performance, Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” (written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas) and the fact that it was Esperanza Spalding, not Justin Bieber, who walked on stage to accept the award for “Best New Artist.”

Overall, my wife and I drove away feeling two things: inspiration and pride. Inspiration because we saw true art performed and celebrated tonight, and pride because so much of that art has its roots in Nashville. I’m looking forward to getting on a plane tomorrow morning, albeit at 7:00 a.m., and getting back to the job I love: writing music. If all goes well, it won’t be too long before I hear my name complete the golden phrase, “and the Grammy goes to.”

53rd Grammy Awards!

This weekend my wife and I have the opportunity to attend the 53rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. It's going to be a great time to network and celebrate the creative efforts of 2010.

Specifically (aside from Skaggs' Mosaic), I'm rooting for "The House That Built Me" (written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin) and Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs' album, God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise.

Below are a couple articles from this past week about the process of Mosaic coming together (click the pictures to read articles). Thanks to both Fort Wayne newspapers!

Keep writing,

Ben

Congrats to Ricky!

Ricky's recent album Mosaic has been nominated for two Grammy awards - Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year, along with it's song "Return to Sender" (written by Gordon Kennedy) for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year. We'll find out if it wins February 13th!

Ricky Skaggs Discusses Grammy-Nominated "Mosaic"