Our weekend in Los Angeles & the Grammys
As my wife Barbara & I finished our ticket check in at SFO we were met by George Harris of KCBS Radio for a brief impromtu interview regarding our trip to Los Angeles, the Grammys & my song "The Landing" being placed on the ballot for nomination. We would be meeting up with our daughter Cara that evening who was arriving from Nashville and be staying at The Hyatt Regency of Century Plaza on The Avenue of the Stars. Our first celebrity encounter was at The Westfield shopping mall where Barbara pointed out Tom Hanks & his wife Rita Wilson eating chinese food at the food court. It would be one of several chance runins with star royalty. Larry King on Rodeo Drive. Brian Grazer the producer at the Santa Monica Pier. Lewis Black the comedian, Randy Jackson from American Idol & Heath Ledger. I kept seeing Larry David look alikes everywhere!
Sunday at noon we were met by our limo service & driven to the L.A. Convention/Staples Center where the Grammys & post party celebration were to be held. Barbara & Cara looked exquisite in their evening gowns. Inside we mingled & sipped bottled water. Making our way into the auditorium where the Grammy pretelecast awards were being presented. Ninety awards in all...WOW! Try sitting through that & the acceptance speeches. Afterwards, we were shuffled into the Staples Center for the Grammy Award Show telecast. The Police opened things up with a pounding version of Roxanne. Performances followed by Shakira, Chris Brown, John Mayer, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Beyounce, Justin Timberlake, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Ritchie & others. Cara's favorite were The Red Hot Chili Peppers who won for Best Rock Album. Mine was Christine Aquilara singing a slamdunk version of James Brown's classic..."This is a Mans World." The big winners of the night were The Dixie Chicks who swept every major award for their CD "Taking The Long Way" and the song "Not Ready To Make Nice" which they performed. All in all the show ran for three and a half hours!
We then made our way back to the Convention Center for the post Grammy celebration. While we were waiting in line to go through yet another security check we met British born recording engineer Richard Dodd with his wife. Mr Dodd was still reeling from winning four Grammys that evening for his work on The Dixie Chicks CD. He's worked in the past with such music greats as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, George Harrison & Eric Clapton. Meeting someone of his stature was a thrill for me because studio engineering, aside from songwriting has always been an important aspect of what I love about recording & the creative process.
The party went loud & long that evening. Performances by Cool & the Gang and Chaka Khan were great as everyone danced away. Catered by Wolfgang Puck, an open bar plus Cirque Du Soliel dancers the Grammys were a success and a once in a lifetime experience.
Days later, we're still left processing the entire L.A. weekend and Grammy event!
Sunday at noon we were met by our limo service & driven to the L.A. Convention/Staples Center where the Grammys & post party celebration were to be held. Barbara & Cara looked exquisite in their evening gowns. Inside we mingled & sipped bottled water. Making our way into the auditorium where the Grammy pretelecast awards were being presented. Ninety awards in all...WOW! Try sitting through that & the acceptance speeches. Afterwards, we were shuffled into the Staples Center for the Grammy Award Show telecast. The Police opened things up with a pounding version of Roxanne. Performances followed by Shakira, Chris Brown, John Mayer, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Beyounce, Justin Timberlake, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Ritchie & others. Cara's favorite were The Red Hot Chili Peppers who won for Best Rock Album. Mine was Christine Aquilara singing a slamdunk version of James Brown's classic..."This is a Mans World." The big winners of the night were The Dixie Chicks who swept every major award for their CD "Taking The Long Way" and the song "Not Ready To Make Nice" which they performed. All in all the show ran for three and a half hours!
We then made our way back to the Convention Center for the post Grammy celebration. While we were waiting in line to go through yet another security check we met British born recording engineer Richard Dodd with his wife. Mr Dodd was still reeling from winning four Grammys that evening for his work on The Dixie Chicks CD. He's worked in the past with such music greats as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, George Harrison & Eric Clapton. Meeting someone of his stature was a thrill for me because studio engineering, aside from songwriting has always been an important aspect of what I love about recording & the creative process.
The party went loud & long that evening. Performances by Cool & the Gang and Chaka Khan were great as everyone danced away. Catered by Wolfgang Puck, an open bar plus Cirque Du Soliel dancers the Grammys were a success and a once in a lifetime experience.
Days later, we're still left processing the entire L.A. weekend and Grammy event!
