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GRAMMYs On The Road With Robert Randolph And Michael Franti

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Backstage with Robert Randolph and Michael Franti at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival, held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-nominated pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph and eclectic artist Michael Franti.

Randolph discussed songwriting, performing live, creative influences, and his most recent release, Robert Randolph & The Family Band Live, among other topics.

"All music influences me," said Randolph. "I listen to everything. … I've been getting a lot of licks from Frank Sinatra these days."

Combining elements of soul and funk, Randolph's unique guitar style is an anomaly for an instrument associated with country music. His band Robert Randolph & The Family Band released a live album, Live At The Wetlands, in 2002 and followed with their studio debut, Unclassified, in 2003, which garnered a nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album. Randolph's work has been lauded by fellow guitarists such as Eric Clapton, who was a special guest on their third album, Colorblind, in 2006. We Walk This Road was released in 2010 featuring 17 tracks, all of which feature a "message of hope and ability to uplift," according to Randolph. Released in 2011, Robert Randolph & The Family Band Live is their first live collection since 2002. Randolph is currently on tour throughout the United States with select dates scheduled through August.

Franti discussed performing live, music education and memorable moments in his career, among others.

"I have moments all the time when I play," said Franti. "[Seeing] someone in the crowd that you really touched [is] why I've always done music, [because] I've had records that moved me when I was at my lowest of lows."

Raised in Oakland, Calif., Franti got his musical start as a member of several hip-hop collectives, including the Beatnigs, Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy and Spearhead, the latter with whom he recorded the 1995 album Home, which featured songs exploring social issues such as homelessness and AIDS. Continuing in a socially conscious direction, in 1997 Franti released Chocolate Supa Highway, which explored themes of kidnapping and police brutality, followed by 2001's Stay Human, which expressed Franti's advocacy of love and believe in freedom through individuality. Franti's debut solo album, Songs From The Front Porch, was released in 2003. He reconvened with Spearhead for 2006's Yell Fire! In 2008 Franti released All Rebel Rockers, which peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200. Franti's most recent release, 2010's The Sound Of Sunshine, climbed to No. 17 on the Billboard 200, his highest-charting album to date.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival. 

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GRAMMYs On The Road With Childish Gambino And Valerie June

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Backstage with Childish Gambino and Valerie June at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival, held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including rapper/actor Childish Gambino and folk singer/songwriter Valerie June.

Childish Gambino discussed music education, creative differences between music and TV and his major label debut, Camp, among other topics.

"It was kind of a concept album that I made for teenagers," said Childish Gambino regarding Camp. "I don't feel like there's a lot of music made for teenagers. … I made it for [the] 13-year-old me."

Childish Gambino is the musical project of comedy actor Donald Glover. It began as a solution to Glover's search for someone to rhyme over beats he was creating in his spare time. In 2008 Glover released his first album as Childish Gambino, Sick Boi, and followed with 2009's Pointdexter. In 2010 he released two mixtapes, I Am Just A Rapper and I Am Just A Rapper 2. Another full-length album, Culdesac, was released in 2010.

Childish Gambino subsequently landed a record deal with Glassnote Records and in 2011 released his major label debut, Camp, which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200. Aside from music, Glover performs with his sketch comedy group, Derrick Comedy, and appears on the TV comedy series "Community."

June discussed the differences between the business and artistic side of the music industry, social media and working with the Black Keys, among other topics.

"Little things would come to me that I wanted to tell the world, the whole world," said June. "I think that's what's so good about Facebook. So many good things that happen in the world, you can just get on your microphone and put it out there."

Combining elements of folk, soul, blues, and traditional Appalachian elements, Memphis-based singer/songwriter June began performing professionally at age 19 as part of the husband-and-wife duo Bella Sun. As a solo artist, she drew local attention performing at folk festivals and workshops, and released two albums, 2006's The Way Of The Weeping Willow and 2008's Mountain Of Rose Quartz. For her forthcoming album, June collaborated with GRAMMY winners Booker T. Jones and the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. The latter co-produced and co-wrote several songs and plays on the album.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival. 

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GRAMMYs On The Road With Needtobreathe And Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul

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Backstage with Needtobreathe and DJ Paul at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival, held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including Christian rock band Needtobreathe and Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul.

Needtobreathe discussed using social media to stay connected to their fans, creative influences, their most recent release, The Reckoning, and advice for aspiring artists, among other topics.

"Make mistakes, be yourself and work constantly," said vocalist/guitarist Bear Rinehart on advice for aspiring artists. "The only thing I feel like bands can really control [are] the records they make and the live shows that they play. If you can figure out how to do that well, all the other stuff will sort itself out."

Hailing from Charleston, S.C., Needtobreathe features brothers Paul "Bear" Rinehart and Bryant "Bo" Rinehart (guitar), Seth Bolt (bass) and Joe Stillwell (drums). The quartet landed a deal with Atlantic Records in 2005 and subsequently released their debut album, 2006's Daylight. The Heat followed in 2007, peaking at No. 11 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart and spawning the No. 1 Christian Songs hit "Washed By The Water." The Outsiders followed in 2009, peaking at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of the Top 10 Christian Songs hits "Something Beautiful" and "Lay 'Em Down." Their most recent release, 2011's The Reckoning, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and earned the group three awards at the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards in April, including Group of the Year and Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year. Needtobreathe are currently on tour, with select dates scheduled throughout the United States through August.

DJ Paul discussed winning an Oscar, musical mentors and differences between Memphis and Los Angeles.

"It was a night like no other," said DJ Paul on winning an Oscar. "I'm still living the dream of it." 

DJ Paul, born Paul Beauregard, co-founded the Southern rap collective Three 6 Mafia with his production partner Juicy J, aka Jordan Houston,. The duo first joined forces in the '90s while both were working as DJs in Memphis. In 1995 Three 6 Mafia released their debut full-length release, Mystic Stylez. Several independently released albums followed, garnering the group a strong underground following, before the release of 2000's When The Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1. Considered the group's breakthrough release, the album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200. Da Unbreakables was released in 2003, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, followed by 2005's Most Known Uknown, which peaked at No. 3, marking Three 6 Mafia's highest-charting album to date. That same year DJ Paul and Juicy J earned an Oscar for Music (Original Song) for "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" from the film Hustle & Flow.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival. 

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GRAMMYs On The Road With Ruthie Foster And Royal Teeth

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GRAMMY.com conducts interviews backstage at Austin City Limits
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

Ruthie Foster

The Recording Academy Texas Chapter recently played host for GRAMMYs On The Road at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, held Oct. 12–14 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-nominated blues artist Ruthie Foster and indie pop/rock sextet Royal Teeth.

Foster discussed the music scene in Austin, Texas, early music education and serving in the U.S. Navy.

"The Austin music scene is about all of these different genres coming together, and that's what makes … this city," said Foster. "That's something [that] I do in my own [music]. I try to bring it a little country, gospel, soul, and reggae."

After attending college in Waco, Texas, Foster joined the U.S. Navy and performed with Pride, the Navy's pop/funk band. Combining elements of gospel, blues, jazz, folk, and soul, she self-released her debut album, Full Circle, in 1997. Foster subsequently signed with Blue Corn Music and released Crossover in 1999. Several albums followed, including 2002's gospel/blues collection Runaway Soul, 2004's folk/pop set Stages and 2007's The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, the latter of which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Blues Albums chart. Foster garnered her first GRAMMY nomination in 2009 for Best Contemporary Blues Album for The Truth According To Ruthie Foster. Her latest album, Let It Burn, was released in January and peaked at No. 2 on the Blues Albums chart.

Royal Teeth's Nora Patterson and Gary Larsen discussed their latest single "Wild," music education and their excitement for the 55th GRAMMY Awards.

"The whole vibe of [the GRAMMY Awards] is just perfect," said Larsen. "There's a lot of awards shows, but the GRAMMYs are the biggest for a reason. It just has this presence about it that's just really big."

Formed in southern Louisiana and based in New Orleans, Royal Teeth comprise Stevie Billeaud (guitar), Josh Hefner (percussion), Larsen (vocals/guitar), Patterson (vocals), Andrew Poe (vocals/keyboards/percussion), and Joshua Wells (bass). With a sound spanning pop, rock and electronica, Royal Teeth inked a deal with Dangerbird Records, which rereleased their debut EP, Act Naturally. Released in May, the EP features a cover of the Knife's "Heartbeats" and "Wild," the latter of which has been featured in commercials for State Farm and Buick.  

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GRAMMYs On The Road With The Civil Wars And Yo Gotti

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Backstage with the Civil Wars and Yo Gotti at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival,  held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-winning indie folk duo the Civil Wars and rapper Yo Gotti.

The Civil Wars' John Paul White and Joy Williams discussed winning a GRAMMY, current projects and advice for aspiring artists, among other topics.

"Once the 'solo project' debuts, we'll end up going into the studio as soon as we can," said Williams, referring to her forthcoming newborn child as her "solo project." "We [haven't] set a deadline for when we want new music to come out, we just want to make sure we get songs that we love and then make decisions from there."

The Civil Wars were formed in 2008 after Alabama native White and California native Williams met at a songwriting workshop in Nashville. They played their first live performance as a duo at the French Quarter Cafe in Nashville, and their second at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, Ga., subsequently releasing a digital album, 2009's Live At Eddie's Attic. In February 2011 the Civil Wars released their debut album Barton Hollow, which garnered the duo their first two GRAMMY Awards for Best Folk Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the title track at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in February. The Civil Wars are currently on tour throughout the United States, Europe and the UK with select dates scheduled through January 2013.

Yo Gotti discussed musical influences and his current projects, among other topics.

"To me it's a pretty even balance," said Yo Gotti regarding the business and creative sides of the music industry. "You just keep one from the other."

Born Mario Mims in Memphis, Yo Gotti draws on influences such as of Dr. Dre, Master P, N.W.A., and the late Tupac Shakur, among others. In 2000 Yo Gotti released his first album, From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game, followed by 2001's Self-Explanatory, 2002's Block Burnin', Vol. 1, and 2003's Life, the latter of which featured Yo Gotti collaborating with GRAMMY winner Lil Jon on "Dirty South Soldiers." Back 2 Da Basics was released in 2006 and peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. Several mixtapes followed and in 2012 Yo Gotti released his major label debut, Live From The Kitchen, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival.