Okay, I’ll start with the good news. Zac and I got to go the the Pearl Awards on Friday night! These are the annual awards given to LDS musicians. I helped with the scheduling and volunteered to usher so that I could go. I was totally expecting to be starstruck when like, Michael McClean and Julie de Azevedo walked in, but actually it was kind of a low-key night. We had a nice dinner, we got to dress up (whoever heard of “Black tie optional”?), and hear some amazing performances from people like Jenny Jordan Frogley, Cherie Call, Mark Dowdle, and others. Amazing, really. These people are so talented. Whoever says that Mormons don’t have “good christian music” are whack.

We sat next to Jessi Clark Funk and her husband Jim. She was a presenter of the first 7 or 8 awards. Visit Zac’s post to listen to some of her songs. She totally made me want to enter the music business, at least in the LDS realm. But seeing as I won’t be in Utah for the rest of my life, I’m not sure if that is possible. I guess I could start a contingent in Texas….I’ll keep working on that one.

Now, for the bad news. I spent all yesterday in the hospital finding out that I have a blood clot in my leg. Luckily I only had to be at the hospital for 3 hours so they could diagnose it, etc. But now I have to take the medicine for 6 months! I also found out that my true calling in life may have been to be a nurse. I had to give myself a shot this morning, and it didn’t even bruise! Even the nurse’s shot yesterday bruised. What do nurses know?

Well, the 2007 FMCA Pearl Awards were amazing. Sitting under the blue hue of the spotlights, surrounded by numerous LDS musical celebrities. The air was filled with the ambient noise of greetings and congratulations between the artists. I saw handfuls of my mission CD player heroes, Jenny Jordan Frogley, Alex Boye, Cherie Call, and Julie De Azevedo just to name a few. There were live performances by artists great food and excellent desserts.

We sat next to Jessie Clark Funk and her husband Jim. She was really sweet and taked to us all night. Here is some of her music:

• Keeper of the Flame
• I Will Go and Do

Alex Boye won an award for the Performing Artist of the Year. Here is some of his music:

• Somewhere Beyond the Moon
• Ye Elders of Israel

One of the neatest things about this evening was how good these people were. They had amazing voices, and I truly believe that they could be making an impact on a much larger music scene. It is cool however that they were using their talents for good, by singing uplifting, spiritual songs.

Overall it was a great night, Andrea and I had a great time and we were glad that we had the opportunity to go.

Read the Daily Herald Article

So tonight I am going out with my wife to the Pearl Awards. It should be quite an event. It is basically the LDS Grammy’s. It is the annual award ceremony for the Faith Centered Music Association.

I have to be honest, when my wife told me she had gotten tickets, I wasn’t too excited about going, but now that we are just a few hours from the show I am actually looking forward to it. You know it should be neat to rub elbows with the elite members of the LDS music scene. Who knows, maybe I can get an autograph from someone cool!

We don’t really know what to expect since apparently they are scaling it down this year. It is happening in one of the BYU ballrooms at the WILK therefore, not exactly black tie, but I am sure some people will get all gussied up for this thing. I hope there are some performances from the nominees, that would be cool.

Some of this years nominees are:

• Steven Kapp Perry
• Tyler Castleton
• Mack Wilberg
• Craig Jessop
• Gladys Knight
• Jenny Jordan Frogley
• Julie de Azevedo
• Peter Breinholt

With all of these stars it has to be an amazing night! Well, it is getting a little late so i should probably go get ready and while I do I probably should listen to some sweet church music and get familiar with the artists. I’ll write again tomorrow, hopefully with some photos of all the celebrities I get to meet.

I found this list and thought it was pretty fun to find out what my other personas are.

1. Your rock star name (first pet & first car).
Friskie Ranger

2. Your gansta name (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie).
Mint Oatmeal chocolate chip3. Your “fly girl” name (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name).
A-tay
4. Your detective name (fav color, fav animal)
Blue zebra

5. Your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born)
Michelle Canoga

6. Your star wars name (first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first).
Tayan

7. Superhero name (”the” + 2nd fav color, fav drink).
The pink sunkist

8. Nascar name (the first names of your grandfathers)
Darrell Guerry

9. Stripper name ( the name of your fav perfume/cologne/scent, fav candy).
Stargazer Lily Twix

10. Witness protection name (mother’s & father’s middle names ).
Dame Eugene

11. Tv weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter).
Parsons Portland

12. Spy name (your fav season/holiday, flower).
Summer Tulip

13. Cartoon name (fav fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”).
Watermelon flipflopsy

14. Hippy name (what you ate for breakfast, your fav tree).

Shredded wheat Oak

15. Your rockstar tour name (”the” + your fav hobby/craft, fav weather element + “tour”).
The music sun tour