After the passion project' "Emotional Jukebox" was released in Jan 2011 (Light Of Day 11 weekend), I said to both Linda and the Roc Doc that this was a recording that rivaled and major label release. The record included a combination of big name players and great local talent -- a collection of creative friends who's resume' all added up to something better than what a major label would produce, so I suggested that we find out how we get this record considered for a Grammy Nomination. I went off to find a friend in the business about how to do it. Joe Rapolla, whom I just met via LOD was my guide, and Linda found her sax player Thomas Hutchings, a NARAS member later to help start the process.. so in February 2011, I signed Linda up as a 3-year Voting member for the Academy as a expert in her field. This is when the social aspect of Grammy 365 was discovered. We did not go at it right away, concentrating more on having Linda perform and sell her album and build her web profile through her web site and the other social media outlets. The long shot Grammy nomination in the back of my mind, and probably even more distant in Linda's since she considered that honor reserved for the "Industry".
The deadline for submission was August 5th, and I believe it was maybe a day or two prior that I continued to push Linda to submit. We had already paid her dues for 3 years. We sat there together going over the online process of uploading the files and setting up her bio for her Grammy 365 profile page. The record was so eclectic that in the end it was submitted for many categories, and accepted in all we selected by the NARAS committees 8 in total, general and then genre specific.
It was not until the NARAS committee accepted and sent the final ballot, listing Emotional Jukebox in all the categories for which we submitted did we actually realize that it was possible. The Album had been reviewed by the NARAS committees and there it was in black and white, leaving bout two weeks to get to work, networking voting members asking them to listen to the record and consider it for the nomination..Linda did just that, not getting dressed for about two weeks, asking for the contact first, then after accepting her as a contact challenging vote 1,500 contacts reached out to in all aspects of the industry.
When the nomination was announced I had to pinch myself more than a few time. The joy was overwhelming, so much so that I had a very hard time telling the people I loved without crying. I had a bit of passion about Linda and here work built up inside, and this confirmation was just so deserving of her life's work. I was just so proud to have played a small role and pushing my vision at times, but I have never been afraid to put her out there. I just wanted more people to hear her art, and the internet was the new vehicle that anyone could drive and Linda would actually feel uncomfortable with my pushing at times. She was not as optimistic as I was and she was tired of the "business and the bullshit".
The media blitz was amazing, attention was finally being paid to the talent that is Linda Chorney. Much of the attention was paid to the story, an inspiration for all independent artists. I would say 90% was positive, and I think that is a huge win any day. After all she proclaimed that she was the 99% occupying the Grammys, the 1% being the industry protecting their fortress. In the fortress is where the money is, not the art. There we're also a few who were upset by her selection into the Americana Genre, but my feeling was that they had their own agenda to grab hold of what had become a big story, trying to bring attention to themselves.. Create controversy where there was non-gaming the system was the biggest laugh I got.. Linda Chorney can manage email at best, the social networking thing and technology is not her thing. Hell she just acquired a smart phone recently, having a traditional small flip phone with a basic list of phone numbers.
Neil Portnow set the record straight about that in a recent AP, some large bloggers who had the opportunity to discover a gem and did not, pushed back, talking about lack of Soundscan sales...who cares about Soundscan other than the industry that is going the way of the dinosaur, it's a new world out there for the independents...and NARAS is the one element of the business that recognizes that -- my hat is off to them for allowing art to thrive.
It's hard to prepare yourself for criticism about your life's work. It reminds me of the saying "opinions are like assholes, everybody has one". Linda and I act as a team, she creates and I promote. As with any good team you find a balance, and part of my assignment was to keep her above the fray. It was not easy at times when you find so many snipers out there in the blogosphere, but in the end new fans and friends really rallied to squash the uninformed and negative sentiment. No one can ever take away the new name and prestige that goes along with it -- Grammy Nominated Recording Artist, Linda Chorney. In the end, it was a huge win for DIY artists everywhere. Hopefully for us all more great music will be discovered because of that.
Personally for me New Jersey is the center of the universe. Just look at the list of talent that once call NJ home. From Sinatra to Houston, Edison to Nicholson, Springsteen to Chorney (adopted) entertainment would never be the same. The outpouring of support was great, NJ is real, and gets in your face to let you know it. When Sea Bright put up that banner in town, we both felt so overwhelmed and proud. Not sure Linda was carrying a flag for the state, as she considers herself a resident of the world, but there sure was a bit of pride she felt by the outpouring of support from NJ, Boston, and Tucson in the condensed version. She wore the music flag of the Garden State all over LA during Grammy week like her coveted Stone Pony Cap, which she intentionally wore to bring attention to Asbury. She is a huge fan of Asbury Park. You can see it on the Internet, we both embrace what Asbury Park means for music, and all the great folks like yourself that promote independent art. If there was a universal flag she was carrying, it was for all of the great independents that are out there struggling to make ends meet, but don't give up pursuing their dreams. (In particular for exposure, she wore it on her interview with The Hollywood Reporter.)
The highlight reel has been many since the nomination: for me it is just the fact that so many peers have been reached via the networking made available from Grammy 365. This will keep Linda focused on her creative center, that means more music for the world. She really did think Emotional Jukebox was going to be her last album. And that obviously has changed.
Highlights of Grammy week included meeting legends in attendance at the Lifetime Achievement ceremony and Nominees Reception like Gregg Allman, Warren Hanyes, Derek Trucks, Glen Campbell, and Diana Ross all in the same room. What an event! Having one of my heroes Danny Clinch who snapped a photo of Gregg and Linda was tremendous. The visit to the Playboy Mansion…. The biggest highlight was sharing the excitement and achievement with family and close friends who came out to share the Sunday Grammy experience; Most notably executive producer "Roc Doc" Jonathan Schneider, for without his vision none of this would have been possible, and Linda's parents, who have supported her music since day one.
The Red Carpet was surreal. I have had a few surreal moments in my history, like the birth of my son, so I just sat back and watched the birth of Linda's career. I did manage to get my new Hollywood name; In the vein of Cher, Bono, Adel, I can now referred to by the singular name "Guest". Linda carried herself with the grace of a veteran, no flash other than the way she looked, honest and forthright as always. It seemed like she had been preparing for this moment all of her life!! But she winged it with authenticity as usual.
Grammy day is a two part event, the daytime ceremony, and then there is the television variety show... the daytime is where all the awards for art is presented (that dom't necessarily earn the big bucks for the industry), and it was such an honor to be among such luminaries as the Allman Brothers, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, to the new a explorers like Skrillex and creators of the Book Of Mormon (Trey Parker and Matt Stone). Even Steve Martin was in the house, not big enough of a celebrity to snub such an honor as the Grammy Nomination. This was an amazing part of the day, but it would have been over the moon if Linda's name was called. Hats off to the legendary Levon Helm for his achievement, and this is not a stab, however, it does seem interesting that the president of the AMA, who did not embrace Linda's nomination, was in fact a producer of the winning album. I believe they felt threatened from the outsider, known to them as "Who The F%^& is Linda Chorney". But, they know now, and so the fairy tale has yet to end.
Linda is already in the studio recording, having met Robert Xeno, a producer out of Nashville who invited her to the famous EastWest Studios in Los Angeles. Sinatra fittingly recorded "My Way" there. They laid down what will be a beautiful POP ballad, and the start of another album from Linda. She is already writing the book, but this started years ago and now the text she has must be amended for the latest chapter. Inspirational lectures, screen play, and house and other eclectic intimate concerts are all planned for the future world tour... We are at a new beginning of an adventure which started long ago, I am just so happy that she has picked me to share the ride...Finally...
