The College of Media and Entertainment celebrated this year’s GRAMMYs in Los Angeles alongside some of the music industry’s top players with three days of activities that profiled its nationally recognized Recording Industry program.
The Americana Music Association held a pre-GRAMMY tribute Saturday night to the late Glenn Frey at the legendary Troubadour nightclub, sponsored by MTSU. From left is Beverly Keel, chair of Recording Industry Department; MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee; headliner Lee Ann Womack; Dean Ken Paulson; and Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
The College kicked off the weekend by joining Nashville’s Americana Music Association in paying tribute to late Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey on Saturday night, Feb. 13, at the legendary Troubadour nightclub. The Troubadour is where Frey met Don Henley for the first time. Bonnie Raitt and Lee Ann Womack were among the artists honoring the late singer, who passed away on Jan. 18.
“There’s no more appropriate place than the Troubadour to celebrate the life and music of Glenn Frey,” said Ken Paulson, College dean. “And there’s no better place, here in the Los Angeles area, to draw attention of our alumni, friends and supporters to our Recording Industry program.”
The College honored alumnus and 2016 GRAMMY nominee Luke Laird at a special pre-GRAMMY event Sunday, Feb. 14, at The Standard in downtown Los Angeles. From left: Dean Ken Paulson; Beverly Keel, chair of the Recording Industry Department; Laird; alumnus Pete Fisher, general manager of the Grand Ole Opry; MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee; and Erika Wollam Nichols, general manager of The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
A reception honoring GRAMMY winner and Recording Industry alumnus Luke Laird took place on Sunday in downtown Los Angeles. Laird earned his MTSU music business degree in 2001 and has seen more than 20 No. 1 singles and countless awards since he signed his first publishing deal in 2002. He was a 2015 Country Music Association Award nominee for Kasey Musgraves’ “Pageant Material” as well as a CMA Song of the Year nominee for co-writing Kenny Chesney’s GRAMMY-nominated “American Kids.”
Laird and his co-producer Shane McAnally won the 2013 GRAMMY for Best Country Album for Musgraves’ debut release, “Same Trailer Different Park.”
On Monday, Feb. 15, Leadership Music held its annual pre-GRAMMY telecast party at Rock’N Fish Restaurant near the Staples Center, where the 58th annual awards ceremony telecast was held later that evening. The reception welcomed Nashville Mayor Megan Barry along with MTSU Recording Industry alumni, Leadership Music alumni, Chair Beverly Keel and MTSU President Sidney McPhee. “MTSU’s increasing presence at the GRAMMYs has been noticed and appreciated, not only by our alumni but others in the recording industry,” said McPhee. “This is a perfect way to finish MTSU’s third trip to the GRAMMYs.”
McPhee and Mayor Barry
A pre-concert gathering with Dean Ken Paulson and President Sidney A. McPhee welcoming alumni and friends of the university’s Recording Industry program prior to the Glenn Frey tribute sponsored by the Americana Music Association and MTSU at the legendary Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood, California. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
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