Industry Helps Children’s Hospital With Concert, Tennis Tourney

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Members of the music industry are working together to raise much-needed funds for the Center for Child Development at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. They are organizing the 37th annual Music City Tennis Invitational, scheduled for on April 24-25 at Vanderbilt University, and a special pre-tournament concert taking place this Thursday, Feb. 4 at the Bluebird Cafe. Award-winning artists and songwriters performing at the 9 PM concert include Chris Wallin, David Ball, Jim Collins and Thom Shepherd. Reservations can be made at the Bluebird website, www.bluebirdcafe.com or by calling the Bluebird at 615-383-1461.  Tickets are $15.

The MCTI tennis tournament regularly recruits recording artists, celebrities, songwriters and music executives. It is the only fundraiser that directly benefits the Center for Child Development at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The Center provides screening, evaluation and referral services for children who are developmentally delayed or who suffer from such conditions as autism, intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.

Since publisher Wesley Rose and Helen Farmer of the American Cancer Society founded the MCTI in 1973, it has raised $1,189,556. MCTI is the longest-running music-related charity tennis tournament in the country. The tournament is open to tennis players of all levels. Registration for one player is $235, or $195 for United States Professional Tennis Association’s (USTA) members. More information on sponsorship, volunteer opportunities, and player registration can be found at www.musiccitytennis.com. MCTI was recognized as the USTA Southern Charity Tennis Event of the Year for 2008 and the USTA 2008 Charity Tennis Event of the Year.

MCTI committee members (L-R): Patsy Bradley, MCTI Co-Chair; Bill Riddle, MCTI Co-Chair & Tournament Director; Kathy Ashworth, MCTI committee member; Phran Galante, MCTI Co-Chair; and Richard Falken, MCTI committee member.

Music City Shines At Grammys

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Taylor Swift winning Album of the Year.

Taylor Swift won Album of the Year at last night's Grammys.

Taylor Swift is thrilled she gets to take her trophy for Album of the Year back to Nashville, she said accepting the top Grammy last night (1/31) at the L.A. Staples Center. She is now the prize’s youngest winner and only solo country female winner in history. Swift won four Grammys, leading a show that had numerous moments highlighting the talent exploding out of Music City.

During the pre-telecast, which many of the other major stars skipped, Swift was on hand to proudly pick up Grammys for Best Country Song for “White Horse” with co-writer Liz Rose, Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album for Fearless. During the telecast, which was all about star pairings and medleys, Swift sang with Fleetwood Mac diva Stevie Nicks.

Local rock stars Kings of Leon were surprised to take home Record of the Year for their monster hit “Use Somebody,” which also won Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by A Duo or Group with Vocals.

Zac Brown Band. Photo from Grammy.com/Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Zac Brown Band triumphed with the all-genre Best New Artist award, and a roaring performance featuring Leon Russell.

R&B pop star Beyonce was the top winner, with six awards.

Jennifer Nettles and Bon Jovi reunited for a performance including their hit “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” and the fan-voted selection “Livin’ On A Prayer.”

Carrie Underwood teamed with the likes of Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, and Smokie Robinson for a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. She and Randy Travis won Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “I Told You So.” It was the first time three-time winner Travis wasn’t able to accept his Grammy in person; he was stuck at home in Santa Fe, NM due to the inclement weather.

Lady Antebellum, whose new album is burning up this week’s sales tally, scored a performance slot and a trophy for Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals for “I Run To You.” Lady A’s Capitol labelmate Keith Urban also took home Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “Sweet Thing.”

Kings of Leon. Photo from Grammy.com/Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Nashville’s acclaimed guitar player Harold Bradley was honored with a Trustees Award, as was longtime CMA Awards and Grammy Awards producer Walter Miller. And Loretta Lynn received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Steve Wariner won the Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance for “Producer’s Medley,” from his Chet Atkins tribute album.

Jason Crabb garnered the Grammy for Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album for his self-titled debut, which he produced with Tommy Sims and Norro Wilson.

The new award for Best Americana Album went to Levon Helm’s Electric Dirt. Steve Martin walked away with Best Bluegrass Album for The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo. And Steve Earle took home Best Contemporary Folk Album for Townes.

Country winners
Best Female Country Vocal Performance “White Horse,” Taylor Swift
Best Male Country Vocal Performance “Sweet Thing,” Keith Urban
Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals “I Run To You,” Lady Antebellum
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals “I Told You So,” Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis
Best Country Instrumental Performance “Producer’s Medley,” Steve Wariner
Best Country Song “White Horse,” Liz Rose and Taylor Swift songwriters
Best Country Album Fearless, Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records

Overall categories
Record Of The Year “Use Somebody,” Kings Of Leon
Album Of The Year Fearless, Taylor Swift.
Song Of The Year “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” Beyonce
Best New Artist Zac Brown Band

Other winners with Nashville connections
Best Americana Album Electric Dirt, Levon Helm
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals “Use Somebody,” Kings Of Leon
Best Rock Song “Use Somebody,” Kings Of Leon
Best Gospel Performance “Wait On The Lord,” Donnie McClurkin ft. Karen Clark Sheard
Best Gospel Song “God In Me,” Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary Featuring Kierra “KiKi” Sheard)
Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album Live Revelations, Third Day
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album The Power of One, Israel Houghton
Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album Jason Crabb, Jason Crabb
Best Traditional Gospel Album Oh Happy Day, (Various Artists) Bill Hearn, Ken Levitan, Ken Pennell, Jack Rovner & Cedric Thompson, producers
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album Audience Of One, Heather Headley
Best Bluegrass Album The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo, Steve Martin
Best Contemporary Folk Album Townes, Steve Earle
Best Native American Music Album Spirit Wind North, Bill Miller
Best Contemporary World Music Album Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 — Africa Sessions, Béla Fleck
Producer of the Year (Classical) Steven Epstein, for works including A Dylan Thomas Trilogy (Leonard Slatkin, George Mabry, Sir Thomas Allen, Nashville Symphony Chorus & Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra) “Journey To The New World,” Sharon Isbin (with Joan Baez and Mark O’Connor)
Best Classical Crossover Album Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs Of Joy And Peace, Yo-Yo Ma (with Odair Assad, Sergio Assad, Chris Botti, Dave Brubeck, Matt Brubeck, John Clayton, Paquito d’Rivera, Renée Fleming, Diana Krall, Alison Krauss, Natalie McMaster, Edgar Meyer, Cristina Pato, Joshua Redman, Jake Shimabukuro, Silk Road Ensemble, James Taylor, Chris Thile, Wu Tong, Alon Yavnai and Amelia Zirin-Brown)