Pete Freedman
Dallas-Bred Musicians Win Big at 2015 Grammys.
Here's the water cooler fodder you need to know from Sunday night's Grammy awards: Sam Smith won most everything; the trailer for the forthcoming NWA film Straight Outta Compton got teased (see it here); and, within the span of about a minute, Prince said that albums “like books and black lives” matter, Beck surprisingly won the album of the year award for his Morning Phase LP, and then Kanye West scared the hell out of Jay Z by pretending to protest Beck's win.
Beyond those headlines, though, the night also proved a strong one for North Texas-bred musicians. Here's how:
• The Dallas-bred Annie Clark, known better as St. Vincent, won the award for Best Alternative Album for her already-plenty-lauded self-titled LP, which was recorded right here in Oak Cliff and which was also produced by Dallas' own John Congleton. Related: This interview Clark gave the Dallas Morning News' Hunter Hauk is well worth reading, if only for the fact that she says the trophy will likely end up in her mom's house here in town.
• Arlington-sprung a capella favorites Pentatonix won the award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella for their “Daft Punk” vocal medley. Worth noting: That group's got a role in the upcoming Pitch Perfect sequel.
• Local Collaborators Symbolyc One and Sarah Jaffe, who together call themselves The Dividends got a little shine, too, for their work producing and singing the hook (respectively) on the song “Bad Guy” from Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP 2, which won the Best Rap Album category.
• The sometimes-Dallas-based Christian rapper Lecrae took home the honors in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category for his crossover hit, “Messengers”. Also: That song features the area-raised twin brothers Ricky and Ran Jackson of the Los Angeles-based band The Daylights on its backing track. So, hey, double bonus!
Of course, none of these awards were presented on the air — although not many awards were, to be fair — but Dallas still managed a little in-broadcast shine on this night thanks to Miranda Lambert from the nearby-ish Lindale, who won the Best Country Album award for last year's Platinum, and Nick Jonas, who reminded everyone that he was born in Dallas before he presented Lambert with that very award.
