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GRAMMYs

Lady Gaga

Photo: Jerod Harris/FilmMagic

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Lady Gaga And MusiCares Join Forces For Kindness committing-kindness-musicares-teams-lady-gaga%E2%80%99s-born-way-foundation-bekind21

Committing To Kindness: MusiCares Teams Up With Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation For The #BeKind21 Challenge

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The MusiCares Foundation has partnered with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation on their #BeKind21 Challenge: a 21-day pledge to spread kindness
Hannah Kulis
MusiCares
Sep 21, 2020 - 10:40 am

This September, the MusiCares Foundation has committed to kindness by taking the Born This Way Foundation’s pledge to #BeKind21.

Launched in 2018, the #BeKind21 campaign was built upon the idea that habits are formed by repeating an action for 21 consecutive days. Those who partake in the #BeKind21 challenge are encouraged to perform one act of kindness each day for the first 21 days of September, with the goal of turning those singular actions into lifelong habits. Since the campaign’s inception, over 20 million participants have pledged nearly 50 million acts of kindness throughout the world.

https://twitter.com/MusiCares/status/1306280705052340235

Music is one of the best remedies, and, with your help, we’ll create a Kindness Playlist that will cheer even more people up.

Comment your music suggestions below. 🎧 @BTWFoundation #BeKind21 pic.twitter.com/0CPRhp3dq4

— MusiCares (@MusiCares) September 16, 2020

Founded in 2012 by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, The Born This Way Foundation seeks to create a kinder and braver world by supporting the mental and emotional well-being of young people. The foundation drives innovative programming designed to build community, foster inclusivity, and encourage healthy conversations about mental health. The foundation also invests in quality research regarding the mental health of young people and the factors that affect their well-being. In 2012, Gaga was awarded the LennonOno Grant For Peace for her work with the foundation.

Kindness is imperative to the work of MusiCares. Founded by the Recording Academy as a 501c3 charity in 1989, MusiCares protects and supports the health and well-being of the music community. Through their financial assistance program, MusiCares provides music professionals with funding for things like therapy and substance abuse treatment, along with other personal or financial emergencies. Additionally, MusiCares creates programming aimed at eliminating the stigma around mental health.

In partnership with the Born This Way Foundation, MusiCares invites everyone to join them in their commitment to kindness by taking the pledge to #BeKind21. “As we all navigate these uncertain times and the unique challenges they present, we’re so excited to support Born This Way Foundation’s #BeKind21 campaign. Together we want to encourage intentional acts of positivity and erase the stigma around mental health. Music has a special ability to inspire, lift and heal us during our darkest moments. Alongside #BeKind21 throughout September, MusiCares will encourage the sharing of the music, songs and performances that move us and spread kindness in the world.” – Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares

To celebrate, MusiCares has created a Kindness Playlist: a selection of 21 uplifting songs that have helped people through challenging times. Today, practice kindness towards others – and be kind to yourself by embracing in the healing power of music.

Roy Rogers To Perform Rare Solo Acoustic Show To Be Livestreamed In Benefit For MusiCares

 

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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Artists Talk Staying Grounded During Quarantine lady-gaga-naked-and-famous-bruno-major-more-artists-talk-staying-grounded-during

Lady Gaga, The Naked And Famous, Bruno Major & More Artists Talk Staying Grounded During Quarantine

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Justin Michael Williams, Mikey Lion, Cassian and Paul van Dyk also offer insight on how they're confronting these chaotic times
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
Apr 21, 2020 - 10:43 am

These days of quarantine are unprecedented, intense and have disrupted almost every facet of our daily lives as well as the global economy. While the coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone differently, it has hit people and companies in the music and live event industry incredibly hard.

Over the past few weeks, we've been checking in with artists, many of whom have not been home this long since before their artist careers, to learn what has been helping them feel grounded amidst the current state of chaos in the world. Read on to hear what The Naked And Famous, Bruno Major, Justin Michael Williams, Mikey Lion, Cassian and Paul van Dyk shared with us in recent conversations over the past weeks of quarantine. GRAMMY-winning pop queen Lady Gaga recently spoke in-depth on mental health and staying grounded during the pandemic, so we've included thoughtful quotes from her as well.

 

Kindness Matters

Gaga points out this is a traumatic time for everyone, so it is extra important to be kind. She notes this will hit those with less resources harder than someone like herself, who has means. "Being kind is the most powerful thing we can do right now; being kind to each other and being self-aware… I am in a home that is safe, I can eat sanitary food. I can keep doing my work. This is not the same for everyone and I know that. Being self-aware, I think, is very important in how we stay together."

In the conversation, the "Born This Way" singer stresses the importance of mental health care and, understanding that many people don't currently have access to therapy, shares some helpful grounding techniques from dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, which has helped her.

"In DBT, it's called 'distress tolerance skills,' which is basically the skills we use to manage our stress. And one thing I can just offer people that are watching, and to also spread as a message to others, is one thing to ground yourself if you're panicking during this time is to say, okay let me get a bare on my surroundings. So for example you can say, 'My feet, where are they? My feet are on the ground. I'm looking at my hands. I'm sitting in my living room… My children are playing. My couch is white.'

Once you start listing and naming things and looking around the room, slowly it can bring you back down into where you are, so that you can feel grounded and can feel safe because there is going to be a wave of shock and trauma people are experiencing all over the world and it's just natural because this is very scary."

11 Meditation Apps To Help You Get Calm & Centered During Quarantine & Beyond

Slow Down

These days have been a stressful time for so many of us, especially with the double-whammy of extensive uncertainty and so much more time at home with ourselves. Just as Gaga highlighted the importance of being kind to each other and focusing on the present, alt-pop artist and meditation teacher Justin Michael Williams reminds us that it's more than okay to slow down right now amidst all the chaos.

"Remember that it's okay not to be super productive and overachieving during this time. This is especially hard for those of us who have gained our value from validation and 'success.' Typically, the world asks us to do more, be more and push harder. But right now it's time to pause," the "I Am Enough" singer recently told us over email.

"Pay attention. This is the flow of the universe. The whole world is slowing down. If you can, take this moment as a sacred pause. Instead of forcing yourself to 'do' more, give yourself a chance to 'be' more—and see what arises from there. Let it be okay that you don't have the capacity to overachieve at the level you were before. You're doing fine. Trust yourself."

As Williams' wisdom suggests, taking this global pause to see what comes up when you stop doing so much can be a great way to reevaluate old habits and routines. Examining the contrast to how hard you were always working or the speed at which you were constantly moving can be eye-opening for touring artists or anyone else who travels regularly. This can be a great time to catch up on or rebalance the things that tend to go to the wayside while on the road or otherwise constantly busy.

Start & Keep A Routine

For GRAMMY-nominated mixer/producer/DJ Cassian, putting energy towards finding a new quarantine version of his routine has not only been something that's kept him grounded during all the change, but will likely result in shifts in his routine post-quarantine.

"Everywhere I go really, I'm such a creature of routine; whether I'm in L.A. or when I'm in touring in Australia, I still get to have my routine more or less because my family's out there. So it's been hard to figure out what that new quarantine routine is like. I'm trying to stay focused on figuring it out, which is what's helping me stay grounded," the Aussie artist recently told us.

"For my workouts, I used to get up super early and go to the gym every day at the same time, same gym. Now, I've been exploring the neighborhood I live in, and walking around more. I'm definitely going to be doing more of that, definitely going to be cooking for myself more. My old routine I would just get up, workout, go to the studio. I would just be in the studio all day, have dinner at the studio, then come home and just sleep. Now I'm realizing I didn't need to do that, and I've set up a little studio at home, so now I can just work from home when I don't feel like going to the studio. Also, I traveled so much and I didn't question it, and took it for granted. And [now] it's been a conversation I've been having with my team."

Recovery & Sobriety During Quarantine: Online Meetings Become Game-Changing

British singer/songwriter Bruno Major also feels centered when he has a routine he can count on, with something he can ground the days to but with enough variety to keep things interesting.

"Being a musician, I've had zero structure in my life since I was 16 or 17 because I left school. So, [typically] I go the gym every morning and make sure that I do something every day that's the same. I feel like I need routine in my life. If you don't have it, you have to create it yourself. So just make sure you exercise every day or do something that isn't just Netflix. Learn a new skill, read a book, learn the piano. Just try to vary your days up," the "Old Soul" singer shared with us over the phone.

Like Cassian, he also sees this disruption in our regular routines as something that may act as a big life lesson for so many of us who've been "too busy" to stop and reconsider it.

"I think there's a great lesson to be learned here as well. When you don't have the thing that you should be doing every day, then you're just left with the things you want to do. And you have to worry about what it is that you want. I think people are learning a lot about themselves during this period."

Staying Active At Home: Online Workouts To Do During COVID-19 Quarantine

Seek Balance

For Alisa Xayalith of electro-pop duo The Naked And Famous, sleeping adequately, exercising, cooking and watching cooking videos all help keep her calm and centered. "When I don't have enough sleep, I don't feel like I can focus or perform to the best of my ability. But in times where I need to feel grounded, I usually exercise."

"[Also,] I cook. That helps me feel grounded. I was on tour for the last month so I haven't been able to do that very much. Cooking and baking is something that helps me feel super grounded, which is why I have gotten into making sourdough bread and I have things that I love to cook. Just the process of preparing everything, cooking everything, and the end product is going to be delicious—it always feels good to me."

For her bandmate Thom Powers, he stays grounded with critical thinking and the balance of his partner. "I don't really have one thing that I do to stay grounded. Maybe reading. I think I am a grounded person by nature just by being very critical, by working on my critical thinking skills as a hobby. I am not a very smart person, I didn't go to university or get a degree in anything. Critical thinking is probably what keeps me grounded and realistic. Also, my partner keeps me very grounded when I get delusional, or worried about things," Powers said.

"I think when I am least grounded, I have a very unrealistic view, a very envious, jealous and comparative view because of the way music culture has shifted to this online content provider paradigm. Some days when I wake up and I feel negative, I just feel this immense pressure to be this content provider, which is something that does not come naturally to me, it's difficult. But some people, it just comes so naturally to them to put their unedited selves up on the internet."

He brings up a great point about social media, and how he sometimes feels pressure to be more engaged with it and "better" at having a social presence like other artists or influencers. Xayalith underscored that social media can be overwhelming at times for everyone who engages with it, which is why she opts to generally limit social media scrolling to watching cooking videos, which she finds "super soothing" and sometimes inspiring for her next meal.

In contrast to trying to keep up with social media, staying in touch with your friends and family over the phone and with video calls can be really nice during these times. Not only is it a great practice to have little mental health and wellness check-ins with your loved ones, catching up while apart can help with feelings of isolation.

https://twitter.com/ASStronautalexa/status/1249474085945348096

This really is a special thing they got going on over at desert hearts, all of their live-streams have been so amazing and make you feel like they’re playing just for you💙💙 https://t.co/llhdsv1kQB

— 🪩disco tits🪩 (@ASStronautalexa) April 12, 2020

Practice Self-Love

DJ/producer and Desert Hearts leader Mikey Lion echoes the importance of both self-care and staying in touch with the people you miss. "I'm really focused on staying healthy right now and exercising. Just going on walks and keeping things the more-solo parts of my normal routine. I've also been calling my friends and my family and seeing how they're doing. It always keeps me grounded and since we are all in it together, that collective group thing of getting through it and knowing and taking comfort in the fact that we are all experiencing this together. That's what keeps me the most grounded."

During quarantine, Zoom video calls have become a popular tool to gather virtually—many March and April birthday parties, yoga classes and dance parties happened (safely and remotely) thanks to Zoom. Lion shares how his crew of fellow DJs and creatives used Zoom to reconnect shortly after quarantine began. "I just took some time to call a bunch of my friends and it felt so good, we had this huge Zoom chat with 20 of our friends from our Burning Man camp. We literally had a livestream party for four hours with all of our best friends. We were all taking shots almost every 30 minutes and coming up with new games and new rules. Oh my god, it felt like we were all together, just having fun. It was this massive release and way for us to blow off steam. It was really amazing."

The Desert Hearts squad has also been sharing a bunch of live DJ sets and other content with their daily-ish DHTv livestream series, which have been a fun way for them to keep sharing music with their loyal fanbase. Many other artists have been doing regular musical livestreams as a way to keep everyone dancing and singing along from the safety of their homes, including Paul van Dyk with his regular PC Music Night on Facebook.

How Will Coronavirus Shift Electronic Music? Maceo Plex, Paul Van Dyk, Luttrell, Mikey Lion & DJ Manager Max Leader Weigh In

The creativity, generosity, kindness and love so many people have shown each other during this global crisis, especially where their nation's leaders and systems fail them, is quite powerful. For legendary GRAMMY-nominated German DJ/producer Paul van Dyk seeing this love and compassion as people care for each other gives him hope right now, and the partnership and love he feels with his wife helps him feel grounded.

"It's love on all levels. It's the love to your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your wife, your husband; in my case, obviously, my wife. It's the love and caretaking that people have for each other and how we all stand together. This is something that I see that I feel is a little bit of a positive out of all this that. We as a species, have to survive this and have the possibility to come out of it stronger."

Now more than ever, this is the time, as Gaga said, to be kind to each other, and as van Dyk's and Lion's comments highlight, to really appreciate the people in our life who are there for us—and to be there for them to. And there is no time like now to create a personal dancefloor in your living room and for artists to share some tunes with their internet friends to keep everyone grooving.

Jewel On Advocating For Mental Health In The Age Of COVID-19

John Legend performs at MusiCares: Music On A Mission

John Legend performs at MusiCares: Music On A Mission

Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Recording Academy

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How Music On A Mission Honored The Music Community musicares-music-mission-2021-grammy-week-john-legend-her-bts-lady-gaga

How MusiCares' Music On A Mission Honored The Resilience Of The Music Community

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Featuring performances from HAIM, H.E.R., BTS, Jhené Aiko, John Legend and more, MusiCares' inaugural Music on a Mission event celebrated the wider music community and helped raise funds for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Lily Moayeri
MusiCares
Mar 17, 2021 - 5:50 pm

The MusiCares Person Of The Year ceremony is one of the most anticipated events at GRAMMY Week every year. MusiCares' annual celebration recognizes the artistic achievement and philanthropic work through the Person Of The Year Award. This year, the nonprofit reimagined its marquee event—which would have celebrated its 30th anniversary—to celebrate the music community as a whole. The inaugural Music on a Mission event, hosted by MC Lyte, on March 12 opened its virtual doors to the public and featured special performances by 2021 GRAMMY nominees to raise money for music professionals impacted by COVID-19.

The event also included a mix of special appearances by previous Person Of The Year recipients and words from a cross-section of musicians and music industry workers. Before the show began, DJ D-Nice provided the sounds that fueled excitement for the meaningful night with his well-selected jams, including remixes of Sister Sledge's "Lost in Music" and Stevie Wonder's "Another Star." 

The energy ramped up even more as the event segued into a flashback of MusiCares' 2012 Person Of The Year event honoring Sir Paul McCartney. The audience went back to the moment Cirque du Soleil transported their "The Beatles LOVE" Las Vegas experience to Los Angeles with their acrobatics to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Following that introduction, McCartney performed a rousing rendition of "Magical Mystery Tour" from that year's event, pulling David Crosby, Steven Van Zandt, and Don Was out of their seats.

MusiCares executive director Laura Segura and Vice President of Amazon Music and board chair Steve Boom gave a short welcome after the epic throwback performance. "With the simple act of purchasing a ticket and enjoying tonight's performances, you've made a difference in the lives of people in need," Boom said.

The celebration then continued with exclusive performances. Jhené Aiko delivered a live acoustic rendition of "LOVE" from her album, Chilombo. Backed by a guitarist and percussionist, she faded the song out by playing her healing sound bowls. John Legend also performed live. The GRAMMY-winning singer lit up the virtual stage from home with a version of "U Move, I Move," featuring Aiko, from his 2020 album Bigger Love on his grand piano. 

Styled and glammed, H.E.R. brought the GRAMMY show vibe with a full band, including strings and brass. She sang "Fight For You," from the Judas and the Black Messiah film. The performance was in sharp contrast to HAIM who were introduced by Recording Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr. The group's raw rendition of "The Steps" felt like an eavesdrop during a rehearsal in their parents' basement. 

South Korean global pop superstars BTS provided their own captivating show. The group shared a performance of their smash "Dynamite" from an empty theatre. The band members sang from various spots in the seated venue and came together on stage. Spotlights and camera angles provided a stunning visual of their stripped-back, electrifying performance, with the group sitting in a horseshoe arrangement at the center of the stage with a blue-haired Jungkook on drums.

But the night wasn't all performances. Also interspersed throughout were messages from Ringo Starr, Shakira, Elton John, Mick Fleetwood, Jesse & Joy, Ledisi, Macklemore and Bonnie Raitt, all thanking MusiCares for their work and encouraging viewers to donate to the organization's efforts. As Shakira put it, "Putting on a show takes a village," and the people who actually put on the shows in real life have been "disproportionately affected by the shutdown of shows."

The night also opened the vault to past Person Of The Year tribute performances, a tradition of the celebration previously only seen by those in attendance. Included in the virtual concert were the Jonas Brothers doing their version of Aerosmith's "Crazy" from the 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year celebration honoring the band. A performance from Bruce Springsteen, the 2015 MusiCares Person Of The Year honoree, of "Born to Run," with his E Street Band, too, had its moment at the event. The program also featured an unforgettable performance from 2017 MusiCares Person Of The Year recipient Tom Petty performing "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" with Stevie Nicks; the performance was one of his last five shows.

Several other magical moments from past Person Of The Year celebrations were made public during Music on a Mission. At one point of the night, Lionel Richie, 2016 MusiCares Person Of The Year honoree, shared that MusiCares helped him realize it was time to give back. He introduced another flashback, this one to Usher's dynamic performance of the Commodores' "Lady (You Bring Me Up)," which had Richie grooving during that year's event. Carole King, 2014 MusiCares Person Of The Year recipient, introduced a luminous Lady Gaga who performed her version of King's "You've Got A Friend."

But Music on a Mission's most moving moments were those where musicians and music workers shared their stories of how MusiCares has helped them. Those included singer/songwriter Brittni Jessie who spoke of the mental and emotional support she received from MusiCares in the last year. "It's an incredible thing to know that we do struggle as artists, and it's good to know we have someone in our corner that understands what being a touring musician is like," she said.

Hubert Payne, the recording and touring drummer for Little Big Town, is the sole provider for his family, which includes five children under 8. During the event, he mentioned that MusiCares has been a bridge for him multiple times, including when he suffered from a knee injury a few years back. The organization was "truly a hand up, for me and a lot of my friends," he said. "Understand you're not the only one. No one's going to judge you and make you feel less than. The support will really help you reach the next step."

VIP event manager Alyssa Garcia is a behind-the-scene music worker whose life was pulled out from under her in the early part of 2020. She emphasized how easy it was to reach out to MusiCares and how the organization eagerly helped. "Reaching out will make you feel better," Garcia said.

MusiCares continues to provide support and assistance to all music workers. The organization's unusually heavy workload persists due to the ongoing pandemic. As the musicians in Music on a Mission stated, all financial support from its efforts goes directly to those in the wider music community who are affected. 

Music on a Mission is available on-demand until Friday, March 19. Buy a ticket here. All proceeds from Music on a Mission will be distributed to music people in need.

5 Key Quotes From GRAMMY In The Schools Fest 2021

'Why? Because It's Christmas' album cover

Why? Because It's Christmas Album Cover

Photo Courtesy of Artists

 
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Tony Lucca On Mickey Mouse Club Alumni Holiday LP 90s-mickey-mouse-club-members-reunite-holiday-album-why-because-its-christmas

'90s "Mickey Mouse Club" Members Reunite For Holiday Album, 'Why? Because It's Christmas'

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Featuring more than a dozen former Mouseketeers, the 17-track holiday album will benefit MusiCares and other charitable organizations
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
Dec 8, 2020 - 10:12 am

Disney Channel's "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club," which ran from 1989-1996, is forever cemented in pop culture psyche as the kid's variety show that launched the careers of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling. Yet they weren't the only talented, charismatic young people in the show's cast to continue on to careers in film and music.

Always In The Club, a group composed of former cast members from "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club" across the years, brings together the show's alumni to keep spreading joy and to fundraise for important causes. On Why? Because It's Christmas, more than a dozen former Mouseketeers reunited virtually to create a 17-track holiday album, released Nov. 27, that delivers cheer and financial support to those directly impacted by COVID-19. Proceeds from the album will be donated to MusiCares, the Brave Of Heart Fund and Cast Member Pantry.

GRAMMY.com checked in with singer/songwriter/producer and "Mickey Mouse Club" alum Tony Lucca, a performer and co-producer on the album, who spoke about Why? Because It's Christmas, his time on the iconic show and the vital connection between art and service.

What sparked the idea for the Why? Because It's Christmas benefit album? What does it mean to you to be able to give back to those impacted by COVID-19?

It stemmed from the fun and excitement we, the cast of the "Mouse Club," shared during our MMC30 reunion in Orlando last year. Our castmate, Tasha Danner, had casually suggested we do a cast holiday record together, and the wheels got turning instantly. Fortunately, it was Dale Godboldo, along with Chasen Hampton and Always In The Club president, Lisa Cannata, who were doing the turning.

Always In The Club is an organization that serves as a philanthropic conduit for various charitable organizations year-round, pandemic or not. Having them as the driving engine of this collaboration provided for a very clear intention for us to get behind creatively. As for the three organizations that we chose to [donate to], I simply can't imagine any other causes that could possibly be more near and dear to our hearts as a team: those within the music industry, those on the frontline of this horrendous pandemic and our fellow Disney cast members.  

"I've always maintained the belief that empathy lies at the heart of creativity."

What does the connection between art and service look like to you?

I've always maintained the belief that empathy lies at the heart of creativity. It's why so many artists, musicians, songwriters, actors, painters and authors tend to ally themselves with noble causes throughout their careers. No one's ever obligated to serve or "give back" as they find success in their line of work, but it's no surprise to me that artists tend to be the ones that do.

Related: MusiCares Launches "Help For The Holidays" Initiative On Giving Tuesday 2020

What did it feel like to virtually reunite and collaborate with your fellow "Mickey Mouse Club" alumni on a Christmas album during a year that's felt very isolating and dividing?

From the very first Zoom conference we had, seeing each other "face-to-face," sharing in the enthusiasm this project was no doubt going to require, I can't tell you how much fun it was and a rather welcomed distraction! As a producer on the record, having a front-row seat to each and every performance, I would just sit there and radiate pride and appreciation for just how much talent exists amongst this group. It was great to see how much growth and maturity has taken place and wonderful to hear these endearing and familiar voices again. It truly was a pleasure. 

What is your favorite song from the project? Who decided which Christmas classics to include?

Well, I think "Go Tell It On The Mountain" is one of the best group songs "The Mickey Mouse Club" has ever presented. It's just so much fun and came out so timelessly wonderful. I love that it starts off the record and really sets the tone.

Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't admit that I'm also really proud of "Auld Lang Syne." [Editor's Note: Lucca performs this song on the album.] I've always been a fan of that song and kind of always saw it as the holiday season "bonus track." I'm also a fan of "firsts" when I make records, and this recording marks the first time I ever recorded myself playing slide guitar. I thought the "Amazing Grace" melody laid real nicely over the "Auld Lang Syne" progression, and the slide seemed like the best way to do that.  

What was the biggest thing you learned during your time in the "Mickey Mouse Club"? If you could give that younger version of yourself any advice, what would it be?

I learned the beauty and value [of] the art of collaboration, of taking pride in your role, your work, your contribution to the bigger picture. I learned how to show up and take chances. Looking back, I'd say I could've savored so much more of it at the time. Granted, we were kids, teenagers. It's not really in our nature to savor too much at that age. But yeah, I'd probably have quite a few more stand-out memories had I had realized how quickly and easily it can and will eventually all go away.  

To learn more about MusiCares and how you can support music professionals in need, visit musicares.org.

MusiCares & ELMA Honor Hugh Masekela With Matching Fund

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Watch Music Business & Family: Fatherhood & Music music-business-family-fatherhood-music-dives-deep-balancing-kids-career-pandemic

Music Business & Family: Fatherhood & Music Dives Deep Into Balancing Kids, Career & A Pandemic

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Six working dads dive deep into the joys and challenges of fatherhood, balancing career and childcare responsibilities with a partner
Ana Monroy Yglesias
Membership
Nov 12, 2020 - 12:53 pm

The Music Business & Family: Fatherhood & Music panel recently brought together music professionals navigating fatherhood during the pandemic for an insightful, honest conversation about balancing life as a working father in the music industry. 

The heartfelt virtual discussion, moderated by Fake Shore Drive music blog creator Andrew Barber, featured five fellow awesome dads: clinical psychologist Dr. James Ballard III, Ph.D., producer/multi-instrumentalist and Co-Founder of BASSic Black Entertainment Adam Blackstone, Chicago rapper and mental health advocate G Herbo, songwriter/producer Billy Mann, and DMV rapper/producer Oddisee. The panel was presented by the Recording Academy's Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia Chapters, in partnership with MusiCares,

Watch Music Business & Family: Fatherhood & Music

Related: Watch: Music Business & Family: Motherhood & Music Brings Together Powerhouse Moms Working In Music

The panelists dove deep into the joys and challenges of fatherhood, balancing career and childcare responsibilities with their partner, and how much more work quarantine has left them all with. Watch the full conversation above. 

The conversation is part of a two-part series, preceded by Music Business & Family: Motherhood & Music.

G Herbo Talks 'PTSD' And The Importance Of Mental Health: "People Need To Treat Mental Health More Seriously"

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