New York City: #013 (One Yr Later)

...listening to an advanced copy Sunhine Anderson's new album. I like it. But how did I did get here? Last night I got a call from Eli Davis.  Eli is Anthony Hamilton's manager.  Quick backstory (side sidenote: this isn't gonna be quick at all):  I first heard Anthony Hamilton in 2001 on a song on Sunshine Anderson's debut album called "Last Night".  Then about a year later I was watching TV one day in my 10'x20' college dorm room and a video by a local KY group gone big time was on TV.  I was pretty excited, nothing like that ever happens much in my Derby state.  Just horses and Shawnee Park on Sundays.  The group was called Nappy Roots.  I went to high school with one of the members, although he was 3 years older so I was fresh meat when he was probably at senior status.  The song "Po' Folks" was about being from the KY so I immediately identified b/c no song had ever repped my hometown or home state like that.  But soon as the second chorus hit a voice started singing over top of the hook, I had heard that voice before - but never seen a face to go with it.  And then they showed him, Anthony Hamilton.  Nice hat I thought.  His voice was something else, real husky.  I listened to that song for all those reasons numerous times on repeat that year.  So by 2003 I was startin' to keep an eye out for this Anthony cat and his debut album made me a full time fan.  The authenticity of the production mixed with soul hip-hop yet not over-bearing...it was perfect.  "Charlene", "Float", "Since I Seen You", "Lucille" and the song I about burn a damn hole through "Better Days".  All these were songs.  The real thing.  It stood out b/c unlike most of the new soul music out then in touched on more than just rhodes, rimshots, and laid back bass lines.  It was southern.  Organs, tamborines, guitar riffs, a straight up drum kit without manipulation.  I loved it.

In 2004, my roommate who interned at the Grammy Office in Nashville said "There's this thing going on today, Anthony Hamilton's playing at the Ryman Auditorium and there doing a small thing for college students at soundcheck.  I gotta go work it, but you wanna tag along?" - "Hell yea I do!" I said as I jumped up off the couch I was sleeping on until I got on my feet.  I had seen footage on youtube and a new live dvd that had just come out.  So this was a chance I wasn't about to miss.  I played it cool tho (as always). I met him that autumn day, told him I digged his music, and he said "See you at the top man, keep grindin."

...so how did I end up at EA Sports Building listening to this crazy producer named 9th Wonder and playing NBA Live 2011? [Gotta go, Part 2 later today...]