Texas Recording Academy honors heroes of Texas music

Diverse group gets together to celebrate.

By Joe Gross
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, November 13, 2006

It sounds like the setup for a joke: Where could you find Congressman Lloyd Doggett, rock legends ZZ Top and Houston hip-hop sensation Paul Wall all in the same place at the same time? They were all at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Honors at the Austin Convention Center.

The Texas chapter of the Recording Academy, or the "Grammy people," as the group is known, held its first awards ceremony in 10 years Monday night, honoring such Texas music movers and shakers as gospel singer Yolanda Adams, ZZ Top, Houston hip-hop powerhouse Swishahouse Records and South by Southwest founders Nick Barbaro, Louis Black and Roland Swenson.

"I think there may be five people in the room I don't know tonight," Terry Lickona, chairman of the academy's Board of Trustees, said from the lectern.

Lickona, producer of "Austin City Limits," also paid tribute to the late Freddy Fender.

"He is indeed a Texas music icon, and he will be missed," Lickona said.

"When I think a bunch of musicians started this chapter 12 years ago in a bar," Texas chapter co-founder Ray Benson said, gesturing to the talent milling around the ballroom, "I'm just amazed at how far we've come. It represents a lot of growth for Texas music." Benson also served as the dinner's host.

Doggett took time out from leadership votes in the newly Democratic-controlled House of Representatives to present the award to SXSW.

"This is really the only thing that could have dragged me away from Washington right now," Doggett said. "South By Southwest really gives Austin its own form of March Madness, and I think a lot of people look at it and think, 'I wish I thought of that.' "

Benson discussed the way the recording academy brought musicians from all sorts of fields together.

"I don't like the term 'networking,' " Benson said, "But where else am I going to meet the guys from Swishahouse? When are they going to get together with ZZ Top? It's a group that lets musicians speak with one voice on issues such as health care and copyright."

The caliber of talent was high. Actor Billy Bob Thornton was to present ZZ Top's award. Swishahouse artist Wall hung out, sharing his cell number with local artists and taking pictures with fans. Wall recently finished recording "Get Money, Stay True," the follow-up to last year's breakout "The People's Champ."

"You never expect something like this," Wall said. "It's always nice to be honored for your work."

jgross@statesman,com; 912-5926