GRAMMYs

Keb' Mo'

Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage.com

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Reflections From Keb' Mo'

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GRAMMY winner discusses his musical influences, first concert experience and why Nashville is a unique music community
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

GRAMMY-winning musician Keb' Mo' was among the artists who performed at The Recording Academy Nashville Chapter's recent 14th Annual GRAMMY Block Party & Membership Celebration. In an exclusive interview with GRAMMY.com, Keb' Mo' discussed his musical influences and mentors, his first concert experience, winning a GRAMMY Award, and what makes the Nashville music community unique, among other topics.

"It's like the end of a certain road you're on," says Keb' Mo' about the experience of winning a GRAMMY. "It's like a destination point that you get to, and once you get to the destination point you go on past that. You take in the moment and you let it go." 

With a musical palette that spans R&B, jazz, blues, country, and folk, Keb' Mo' has earned his renown as an inspired singer/songwriter and top-flight guitarist. Released in 1996, his sophomore album, Just Like You, earned him his first GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Keb' Mo' garnered a second GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 1998 for his third effort, Slow Down. In 2004 Keb' Mo' released Keep It Simple, for which he earned his third GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album and topped Billboard's Blues Albums chart. In addition to writing or co-writing all 12 songs and playing various instruments, Keb' Mo' also produced and co-engineered the album.

Keb' Mo' released his most recent album, The Reflection, in 2011. The album features collaborations with GRAMMY winners India.Arie and Vince Gill and saxophonist Dave Koz, and peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard 200, his highest-charting album to date. The Reflection received a nomination for Best Blues Album at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards. 

Nashville House of Blues

Photo: Courtesy of Nashville House of Blues

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Historic Nashville House Of Blues Studios Acquired By Universal

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Historic and growing, the Berry Hill facility was under House of Blues since 2009
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Jan 8, 2019 - 3:15 pm

Last week, reporting revealed that Universal Music Group bought the Nashville House of Blues recording studios in Berry Hill for $4.3 million in Nov. 2018. A neighboring structure was purchased at the same time to augment the complex of eight buildings and five recording studios on East Iris Drive. A world-class facility, Kesha recorded her GRAMMY-nominated Rainbow there, and Alison Krauss & Union Station recorded their Paper Airplane there too, winner of Best Bluegrass Album at the 54th GRAMMY Awards.

"UMG has acquired the House of Blues Studios in Berry Hill with the intention to modernize the space, while remaining respectful of its legendary and iconic status in Nashville's music scene," a UMG spokesman told the Tennessean. "We will have more details to share about our exciting plans for the studio in the near future."

Originally known as East Iris Studio, House of Blues acquired it in 2009. GRAMMY-nominated albums recorded at the facility include Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell's The Traveling Kind, Keb' Mo's The Reflection, Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour, and Robert Plant's Band Of Joy.

Other studios in UMG's growing collection include London's legendary Abbey Road Studios, Los Angeles' Capitol Studios and Sydney, Australia's Forbes Street Studios.

Nashville's Berry Hill recording complex has so much history that it even has Memphis music history — House of Blues had moved the facility's Studio D to the location in 2009 from its previous existence as House of Blues Memphis. Here is looking forward to more history-making recordings ahead!

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2018 Blues Music Awards Reception

Recording Academy Memphis Chapter hosts a reception celebrating the 2018 Blues Music Awards; Photo: Greg Campbell/WireImage.com

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Keb' Mo', Taj Mahal, Samantha Fish, Mavis Staples: 2018 Blues Music Awards

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Annual celebration in Memphis, Tenn., brings together blues performers, industry representatives and fans to celebrate the best in blues recordings and performances
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jun 15, 2018 - 1:17 pm

Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' are riding a steady wave of blues momentum. The dynamic duo emerged as the big winners at the 2018 Blues Music Awards on May 10, taking home Album of the Year honors for their acclaimed TajMo project. This recognition follows their shared GRAMMY win for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 60th GRAMMY Awards.

Inside The 2018 Blues Awards In Memphis

At the Blues Awards, TajMo also captured Contemporary Blues Album honors. In addition to their joint wins, Mahal won Acoustic Artist and B.B. Entertainer of the Year while Keb' Mo' took Contemporary Blues Male Artist.

"It's a great honor," says Mo'. "I don't know what to say. I'm just really surprised."

Designed as a showcase of the year's best in blues recordings and performances, the annual Memphis, Tenn.-based celebration doled out 26 awards. Like the GRAMMY Awards' American Roots Field, which includes awards for contemporary and traditional blues, the Blues Music Awards recognize the artists who have helped bridge blues' storied lineage and those who are pushing the genre into an exciting future.

Surely an apt title for the awards, "The Blues Ain't Going Nowhere" by Rick Estrin & The Nightcats picked up Song of the Year honors. The band also earned Band of the Year and Estrin, a master harmonica player, took home Traditional Blues Male Artist.

Blues/soul band Southern Avenue — comprising five young musicians, fronted by Tierinii Jackson — picked up Best Emerging Artist Album for their eponymous 2017 debut album. Released on the legendary Stax label, the LP has been likened to a breath of fresh air for the genre with its own unique blend of gospel-tinged R&B vocals, roots/blues-based guitar work and soul-inspired songwriting.

A star surely on the rise, Samantha Fish earned Contemporary Blues Female Artist honors. In 2017 the Kansas City, Mo., native released Belle Of The West, an LP produced by Luther Dickinson that authentically incorporates blues, Americana and country elements.

A trio of formidable blues women were also recognized. GRAMMY nominee Beth Hart, who can wail and sing as quiet as a feather, was honored with Instrumentalist — Vocals. The legendary Mavis Staples took home Soul Blues Female Artist and Ruthie Foster won the Koko Taylor (Traditional Blues Female Artist) award.

Host Steven Van Zandt lent an enthusiastic voice to the event, showing his respect and support for the genre that started it all.

"Whether it's soul music or rock music, it's all kind of based in the blues," said Van Zandt. He went on to talk about how the music serves to get more young people involved. "It's putting a lot of instruments in kids hands, and the more of that we can do the better."

Meet The 2018 Blues Hall Of Fame Inductees

On the day prior to the awards, the Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place, honoring performers, music industry professionals and recordings of stature.

"The Blues Hall of Fame is the pinnacle honor for anyone who's worked in or performed in the blues industry," says Barbara Newman, president and CEO of The Blues Foundation. "It is an honor of a lifetime of achievement in blues."

Performers inducted into the blues hall this year included the Aces, Georgia Tom Dorsey, Sam Lay, Mamie Smith, and Roebuck "Pops" Staples. Among the recordings recognized were B.B. King's 1967 album, Blues Is King, Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man," Joe Turner's "Roll 'Em Pete," and the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame-inducted "Green Onions" by Booker T. & The MG's.

In all, the action in Memphis proved the blues are more than just the foundation of the music we love — they are alive and kickin'!

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GRAMMYs

Keb' Mo'

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Keb' Mo' Keeps It Simple

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GRAMMY-winning musician discusses his biggest career moments and future plans
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

GRAMMY-winning musician Keb' Mo' recently visited The Recording Academy's Nashville Chapter and participated in an exclusive GRAMMY.com interview. Keb' Mo' discussed his biggest career moments, the message he wants to communicate through his songs and future plans, among other topics.

"I've done a lot for me. I've done all the records that I want to do," said Keb' Mo'. "Now I want to do one for people who have been supporting me. It's a selfless but satisfying experience that I'm looking to have on [my] next record."

Born Kevin Moore in Los Angeles, Keb' Mo's music spans multiple genres, including R&B, jazz, pop, and folk. He released his self-titled debut in 1994, followed by 1996's Just Like You, which earned him his first GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album. In 1998 Keb' Mo' garnered a second GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Slow Down. He took home his third GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album for 2004's Keep It Simple, which topped Billboard's Blues Albums chart. In addition to writing or co-writing all 12 songs and playing various instruments, Keb' Mo' also produced Keep It Simple. In 2005 he was nominated for a Best Country Song GRAMMY for "I Hope," which he co-wrote with GRAMMY-winning trio Dixie Chicks.

Keb' Mo's most recent album, 2011's The Reflection, received a nomination for Best Blues Album at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards and cracked the top 100 on the Billboard 200. The album features collaborations with GRAMMY winners India.Arie and Vince Gill and saxophonist Dave Koz, as well as the tracks "The Whole Enchilada," "We Don't Need It" and a cover of the Eagles' "One Of These Nights." Keb' Mo' is currently on a U.S. tour, with select dates scheduled through June.

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MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert Adds Performers

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GRAMMY winners Keb' Mo' and Metallica to perform at MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert honoring Ozzy Osbourne and Jeff Greenberg
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

GRAMMY winners Keb' Mo' and Metallica will perform at the 10th anniversary MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert honoring GRAMMY-winning Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne and owner and CEO of the Village studios Jeff Greenberg at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on May 12. Continuing to celebrate the memory of the late DJ AM, the evening's DJ will be Mix Master Mike. There will also be a performance by Osbourne and his touring band with special guest Slash.

Osbourne will be presented with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award by GRAMMY winner Joe Walsh for his dedication and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund, and for his commitment to helping others with the addiction recovery process. Greenberg will be presented with MusiCares' From the Heart Award by comedian and "The Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson for his unconditional friendship and dedication to the mission and goals of the organization.

For MusiCares MAP Fund benefit dinner and concert ticket information, contact Wynnie Wynn at 310.392.3777 or wynniew@grammy.com. General admission seats are on sale now.

All proceeds from the concert will benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.

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