Pictured after the performance are Doyle Davis, co-owner Grimey's Music; legendary funk/soul drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie; Landslide Records President Michael Rothschild; Gary Bennett; publicist Mark Pucci; and BMI's Kay Clary.

Bennett, who penned most of the album's songs, co-fronted and was a founding member of Grammy nominated country band BR549. During his tenure, the group sold over 500,000 albums and toured the world, headlining shows as well as opening for such artists as Bob Dylan, George Jones, Merle Haggard, The Black Crowes and Brian Setzer.]]> 2006-02-28T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/4020 Artists, Goldspot, Lauper, Cyndi, Orbison, Roy, Setzer, Brian, Simon, Paul, Musical Styles, Pop, Rock, Musicworld, On The Scene Few have captured artistic honesty, musical purity, and sheer songcraft as LA’s Goldspot do on their full-length debut Tally Of The Yes Men, an inspired melding of decades of rock and pop influences with the melodic sensibilities of traditional Indian music. Imagine Paul Simon heading to Mumbai to record his next record and listening to the Cure on the flight and you’re getting close.

Siddhartha (founder, lead singer/songwriter of Goldspot) is quick to pay tribute to his early influences: “I grew up listening to whatever my parents had in their cassette decks - Mohd. Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh - these were great Indian playback singers from the 1940’s and 50’s. The melodies were brilliant. And then one day when I was 14, I figured out that if you flipped the switch on the stereo from ‘tape’ to ‘radio’ you could hear music with English words. That’s when I heard R.E.M.’s “Green,” and it was my first introduction to Western music.”

Goldspot thrives on Siddhartha’s creative chemistry with drummer and co-writer Ramy Antoun. “Sid would come to me with demos of the songs that he had recorded in his apartment, and we would finish them together.”

“We both have similar backgrounds,” notes Siddhartha, referring to his Indian upbringing and Ramy’s formative years in Egypt. “There’s a lot of connection on that level,” confirms Ramy.

Hence Goldspot’s relentless yet delicate melodic prowess, and what they term their “Bollywood” undertones within Western guitar-pop templates. “Indian music from the early 20th Century is very much a part of who I am and a very big part of how I write,” Siddhartha expands. “That music’s based completely in melody – you can barely hear the music, all you hear is the vocal melodies, which are so strong that you remember them. Our influences extend from Mohd. Rafi, to Roy Orbison, to the Smiths.”

Goldspot came to the attention of Russ Rieger, a long time friend of Ramy’s. As a former top executive at Maverick REeords and London Records, Rieger worked with a vast array of artists including Prodigy, Deftones, DJ Shadow, Meatpuppets and Portishead.  As a manager, Rieger worked with the Replacements, the Del Fuegos, Cyndi Lauper and Prong. When he started his own label, Union Records, Goldspot was an obvious choice for his roster.

Tally Of The Yes Men (a title inspired by Siddhartha’s time in a cubicle-confined office job) didn’t come easily, but for the best of reasons, says Siddhartha, who spent endless hours co-producing the disc with Ramy and veteran Beach Boys/Brian Setzer engineer Jeff Peters, “we took our time, because we wanted everything we put into the music to have a purpose.”

The results are worth the wait, as Tally Of The Yes Men is one of those rare records that’s has both instant appeal and listening longevity, accessible hooks and authentic artistry, all revolving around Siddhartha’s remarkable ear for melody and Ramy’s driving pulse. “Bollywood” flavors permeate the record: the xylophone post-chorus interludes of “Rewind”; the strings in the bridge of “The Guard”; and the subtlety and phrasing of Siddhartha’s vocals.

Opening track “Rewind” proved pivotal to the album’s timbre. “That song was a defining moment for the record,” Ramy explains, and it was “Rewind” that caught the ear of L.A.’s taste-shaping KCRW DJ Nic Harcourt, who put the track in regular rotation. Other stations soon followed suit and Goldspot’s live crowds swelled.

Seth McLain, who’d been second engineer on the album, joined the live line-up, as did Siddhartha’s friend Derek Horst, and Sergio Andrade, a friend of Ramy’s. On stage Goldspot breathe energy, warmth and connection into their tunes, while remaining remarkably faithful to Tally Of The Yes Men’s involved intricacies and signature nuances.

“Our goal is to play everywhere,” enthuses Siddhartha.  “When you spend a year and a half in the studio trying to create something, then you’re up on stage actually performing it, you can’t think of anything except how much you love the music ... I think the most natural form of how any of us exist is in the performance setting.”

A triumphant residency at Hollywood’s Hotel Cafe confirmed that Goldspot’s quality is prevailing. Yet Siddhartha’s un-fazed by the sudden sense of expectation:  “I don’t have any fears for the future, because this is the first time that I feel completely at ease and completely comforted by the fact that this is the most honest representation of who we are and our artistry.”

Simple as that.

Goldspot are featured in BMI’s Podcast #3.  See it hear first.

Evanescence

The White Stripes

Rock band Evanescence also topped this year's list, picking up five nominations including Best New Artist and Best Rock Album for their multi-platinum breakthrough release, Fallen. Other five-time nominees were rapper Eminem and the late Warren Zevon. Also receiving multiple nods were Willie Nelson, Jack White of The White Stripes (three with his band and one individual), and classical composer Jose Serebrier with four each and Christina Aguilera with three, including Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her smash hit, "Beautiful."

Willie Nelson

Eminem

Warren Zevon

The 46th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2004, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m. on the East and West Coasts.

BMI's Grammy Nominees

SIX NOMINATIONS
Pharrell Williams

FIVE NOMINATIONS
Eminem
Evanescence
Chad Hugo
Warren Zevon

FOUR NOMINATIONS
Willie Nelson
José Serebrier
The White Stripes

THREE NOMINATIONS
Christina Aguilera
Jeff Bass
Michael Brecker
Chick Corea
Anthony Hamilton
Alison Krauss
Lil' Kim
Shania Twain

TWO NOMINATIONS
Audioslave
Black Eyed Peas
Jorge Calderón
Ry Cooder
Foo Fighters
Fountains of Wayne
Aretha Franklin
Rich Harrison
Heather Headley
Bishop T.D. Jakes
Toby Keith
R. Kelly
k.d. lang (SOCAN)
The Matrix
Martina McBride
Aaron Neville
Nickelback (SOCAN)
Pink
Neal Pogue
Earl Scruggs
Wayne Shorter
Snoop Dogg
Sting (PRS)
Union Station
Doc Watson
will.i.am
John Williams
Lucinda Williams

ONE NOMINATION
Mirwais Ahmadzaï
Akwid
Allman Brothers Band
Audio Adrenaline
Marcia Ball
Luther Barnes & the Sunset Jubilaires
Buju Banton (PRS)
Mark Batson
Steve Berkowitz
Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Carla Bley Big Band
Blind Boys of Alabama
Blue Highway
Michelle Branch
Randy Brecker
Brooks & Dunn
David Bowie (PRS)
Joe Budden
Jimmy Buffett
Martin Buttrich (GEMA)
Café Tacuba
Michel Camilo
Cam'Ron
Caribbean Jazz Project
Rosanne Cash
Stanley Clarke
Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater
The Crabb Family
The Crusaders
Sam Cooke
Adrian Cosentini
Diamond Rio
Ani DiFranco
Reggie Dozier
Jimmy Douglass
Eagles
Fred Ebb
Kurt Elling
Scotty Emerick
The Flaming Lips
Floetry
Bill Frisell
Kenny G
Vince Gill
Gorillaz (PRS)
Percy Gray, Jr.
Buddy Guy
Eddie Gonzalez
Jimmy Gonzalez y El Grupo Mazz
Pat Green
Stephan Haeri
William Hamilton
Roy Hargrove
Faith Hill
Dave Holland Quintet
Eric Idle (PRS)
India
Intocable
Jane's Addiction
Etta James
Keith Jarrett
Jars of Clay
Norah Jones
The Jordanaires
John Kander
Peter Kater
John P. Kee
Garrison Keillor
Kitaro (JASRAC)
Korn
Dave Koz
Nathaniel Kunkel
Patti LaBelle
Amel Larrieux
Glenn Lewis
Mark Levine
Linkin Park
The Light Crust Doughboys
Lonestar
Irving Lorenzo
Patty Loveless
Luis Miguel
Timo Maas (GEMA)
Marilyn Manson
Masters at Work
Donnie McClurkin
Del McCoury Band
Tim McGraw
Sarah McLachlan (SOCAN)
Jim McNeely
Joel McNeely
Pat Metheny
Bette Midler
Ismael Miranda
Molotov
Joel Moss
Newsboys
Bob Norberg
Les Nubians (SACEM)
The Oak Ridge Boys
Walter Ostanek (SOCAN)
Joe Pace
Dolly Parton
Nicholas Payton
Ray Price
Queens of the Stone Age
Eugene Record
Relient K
Don Rollins
Roomful of Blues
The Roots
Scott Rouse
David Sanborn
Pete Seeger
The Sensational Nightingales
Thomas Z. Shepard
Brian Setzer Orchestra
Sean Smith
Luciana Souza
Los Straitjackets
Micheal Strange, Jr.
Jimmy Sturr
Howard Tate
Susan Tedeschi
Télépopmusik (SACEM)
Jacky Terrasson
Los Tigres Del Norte
Los Tucanes De Tijuana
Caetano Veloso
Rhonda Vincent
Redd Volkaert
Muddy Waters
Charlie Wilson
Gerald Wilson Orchestra
Kim Wilson
Vickie Winans
George Winston
Wayne Wonder
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Yerba Buena
Maury Yeston
Yellowjackets

Country singer and BMI songwriter Faith Hill was a big winner at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards, presented February 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Hill, a first time winner, took home Grammys for Best Country Album (Breathe), Best Female Country Vocal Performance ("Breathe") and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals ("Let's Make Love" with husband Tim McGraw).

Controversial rapper Eminem, whose over-hyped performance with Elton John brought the audience to its feet, also made his presence known with two wins in rap categories, including Best Rap Album for his Marshall Mathers LP and Best Rap Solo Performance for "The Real Slim Shady." He was also recognized for his featured performance on producer Dr. Dre's "Forget About Dre."

BMI songwriter and lengend, Paul Simon was honored with the MusicCares Man of the Year award.

Other notable winners included veteran singer Shelby Lynne who won for Best New Artist, noting that it took "13 years and six albums to get here," as well as the Foo Fighters, Shakira, Toni Braxton, Macy Gray, B.B. King, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Sting and Creed.

BMI's 2001 Grammy Winners (Alphabetically)

Dave Alvin
Best Traditional Folk Album
Public Domain - Songs From The Wild Land

Asleep At The Wheel
Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal
"Cherokee Maiden"

Baha Men
Best Dance Recording
"Who Let The Dogs Out"

Beach Boys
Lifetime Achievement Award

Beenie Man
Best Reggae Album
Art And Life

Steve Berkowitz
Best Historical Album
Louis Armstrong: The Complete Hot Five And Hot Seven Recordings

Toni Braxton
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"He Wasn't Man Enough"

Alison Brown
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Leaving Cottondale" (with Béla Fleck)

Eric Clapton
Best Traditional Blues Album
Riding With the King (with B.B. King)

Chick Corea
Best Instrumental Arrangement
"Spain For Sextet & Orchestra"

Sheryl Crow
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
"There Goes The Neighborhood"

George Crumb
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
"George Crumb: 70th Birthday Album, Star-Child"

Eminem
Best Rap Solo Performance
"The Real Slim Shady"
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group
"Forget About Dre"
Best Rap Album
The Marshall Mathers LP

Brian Eno
Record of the Year
"Beautiful Day"

Gloria Estefan
Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album
Alma Caribeña

Béla Fleck
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Leaving Cottondale" (with Alison Brown)
Best Contemporary Jazz Album (w/Flecktones)
Outbound

Foo Fighters
Best Rock Album
There Is Nothing Left To Lose
Best Short Form Music Video
"Learn To Fly"

Faith Hill
Best Country Album
Breathe
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
"Breathe"
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (with Tim McGraw)
"Let's Make Love"

Fred Jerkins III
Best R&B Song
"Say My Name"

Macy Gray
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
"I Try"

Rodney Jerkins
Best R&B Song
"Say My Name"

Shelby Lynne
Best New Artist

Jars of Clay
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
If I Left The Zoo

Elton John
Best Musical Show Album
Elton John And Tim Rice's Aida

Michael Kamen
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
"The Call Of The Ktulu" - Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

B.B. King
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
"Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)"
Best Traditional Blues Album
Riding With The King (with Eric Clapton)

The Legends
Best Tejano Album
�Qué Es Música Tejana?

John Lennon
Best Long Form Music Video
"Gimme Some Truth - The Making Of John Lennon's Imagine Album"

Joe Lovano
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
52^nd Street Themes

Taj Mahal
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Shoutin' In Key

Arif Mardin
Trustees Award

Tim McGraw
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (with Faith Hill)
"Let's Make Love"

Pat Metheny
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
"(Go) Get It"

Edgar Meyer
Best Classical Crossover Album
Appalachian Journey

Chris Montan
Best Musical Show Album
Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida

Thomas Newman
Best Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual
Media
American Beauty

Mark O'Connor
Best Classical Crossover Album
Appalachian Journey

Eddie Palmieri
Best Salsa Album
Masterpiece/Obra Maestra

Dolly Parton
Best Bluegrass Album
The Grass Is Blue

Rage Against The Machine
Best Hard Rock Performance
"Guerilla Radio"

Tim Rice
Best Musical Show Album
Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida

Riders In The Sky
Best Musical Album for Children
Woody's Roundup Featuring Riders In The Sky

Brian Setzer Orchestra
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
"Caravan"

Shakira
Best Latin Pop Album
Shakira - MTV Unplugged

Tia Sillers
Best Country Song
"I Hope You Dance"

Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti (Creed)
Best Rock Song
"With Arms Wide Open"

Sting
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
"She Walks This Earth"

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album
Touched By A Polka

Temptations
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album
Ear-Resistable

The Who
Lifetime Achievement Award

John Williams
Best Instrumental Composition
"Theme From Angela's Ashes"]]> 2001-02-21T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/233567 Artists, Presley, Elvis, Setzer, Brian, Musical Styles, Blues, Rock, Musicworld, Hitmaker Talk about chutzpah. On their new Interscope Records album Vavoom!, the Brian Setzer Orchestra overhauls the big-band classic "In the Mood." Retitled "Gettin' in the Mood," the band appoints the traditional instrumental with sleek lyrics and a jazzy rap interlude. The track puts a rocking new spin on postwar pop and Setzer as the most daring bandleader of the neo-swing movement.

Inspired revivalism is nothing new for Setzer - he's highly regarded for his contemporized rockabilly excursions. And while some critics have accused Setzer of taking liberties, such notions are unfounded. His newfangled swing and rockabilly interpretations remain true to the spirit of the originals. Indeed, his renditions of oldies like "Route 66," "Town Without Pity" and "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" boast innovative arrangements that rival the classics. Such is the case with Setzer's updated reading of "Pennsylvania 6-5000," which showcase new lyrics, tape loops and - gasp! - a hip-hop beat.

Setzer's recent forays into rap-swing experimentalism were prompted by the singer's own inquisitiveness. "It took me by surprise that the hip-hop beat and the swing beat are parallel," he says. "When I heard it, I went: 'I'll be damned - it worked. Let's keep going'."

An acclaimed songwriter, Setzer surfaced in the '80s as frontman for the "psychobilly" trio Stray Cats. Channeling the spirits of Elvis and Gene Vincent, the ensemble scaled the charts with two original Setzer compositions, "Stray Cat Strut" and "Rock This House." Setzer is also an accomplished jazz-blues guitarist who has designed his own signature line of guitars, manufactured by the legendary Gretsch Instrument Company.

Now, as the leader of a popular big-band orchestra, Setzer has helped revive big band romanticism. "I've received letters thanking me for making being a trombone player in the high school band hip," Setzer says. "Now that's an accomplishment."