So David Cook is the new American Idol.  He had my vote early on this season, although I was beginning to think David Archuleta would win after last night’s performances.

But when David Cook appeared on stage with ZZ Top tonight, well that was just perfect. He’s got a natural rock star vibe with the voice to go with it.  It’s cool to see my favorite contestant actually win for a change.

So congratulations to David Cook.  I’ll be looking for his new album later this year.

Official Website  www.americanidol.com

Paul McCartney was honored at the Brit 2008 Awards last night. He received the award for Outstanding Contribution To Music, and then performed a five song set which included “Live and Let Die,” “Hey Jude” and “Lady Madonna.” Host Ozzy Osbourne introduced McCartney as the artist who inspired him to begin a career in music.

Hey Paul, it must feel good to be honored by the British music industry, especially after spending weeks in court during a bitter divorce settlement with ex-wife Heather Mills.

Other Brit winners were Take That for Best British Live Act, the Arctic Monkeys for Best British Album and Group, Mika for Best Breakthrough Act, Mark Ronson for Best British Male Solo Artist, Kate Nash for Best British Female Solo Artist, Kylie Minogue for Best International Female Solo Artist and Kanye West for Best International Male Solo Artist.

It has been noted by several news sources that the British music industry is also suffering record losses in CD sales as more fans download digital music.

Sources:
Telegraph.co.uk

Brit Awards 2008

Who were the Grammy Award winners 40 years ago?
The 10th Grammy Awards were (for recordings in the year 1967:)

Album of the Year: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles,
George Martin (producer)

Record of the Year: “Up, Up and Away” by The 5th Dimension,
Johnny Rivers & Marc Gordon (producers)

Song of the Year: “Up, Up and Away” by the 5th Dimension,
Jimmy L. Webb (songwriter)

Contemporary Album:
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts:
Peter Blake, Jann Haworth for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Best Engineered Recording:
G.E. Emerick for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Contemporary Single, Contemporary Vocal Group AND Group Vocal Performance:
“Up, Up, and Away” by the 5th Dimension

Best New Artist - Best Vocal Performance, Female AND Female Contemporary Vocal Solo: Bobbie Gentry for “Ode to Billie Joe” (she bested Jefferson Airplane and the 5th Dimension, who were also nominated in the New Artist catagory)

Best Comedy Performance: Bill Cosby for his Revenge album

Best Country & Western Performance Duet, Trio or Group:
Johnny Cash & June Carter for “Jackson”

Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Female AND Best Rhythm & Blues Recording:
Aretha Franklin for “Respect”

Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male: Lou Rawls for “Dead End Street”

Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental:
Sam & Dave for “Soul Man”

Best Album Cover, Photography:
John Berg, Bob Cato, Roland Scherman for Dylan’s Greatest Hits (Bob Dylan)

Best Album Notes:
John D. Loudermilk for Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse (John Loudermilk)

Best Country & Western Performance - Female:
Tammy Wynette for “I Don’t Wanna Play House”

Best Country & Western Recording AND Best Country & Western Vocal Performance:
“Gentle On My Mind” by Glen Campbell

Best Country & Western Song:
“Gentle On My Mind” written by John Hartford

Best Instrumental Arrangement:
“Alfie” by Burt Bacharach (& his Orchestra)

Best Instrumental Performance:
Chet Atkins for Chet Atkins Picks the Best

Best Instrumental Theme AND Best Original Score written for a Motion Picture or Television Show: Mission: Impossible by Lalo Schifrin (& his Orchestra)

Best Recording for Children:
Dr. Seuss: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (TV Soundtrack) by Boris Karloff

Best Sacred Performance:
Elvis Presley for “How Great Thou Art”

Male Contemporary Vocal Solo AND Male Vocal Performance:
Glen Campbell for “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ella Fitzgerald

Grammy Trivia:
The most Grammys won by a female artist in one night is five, which has been accomplished by six different artists: Lauryn Hill in 1999, Alicia Keys in 2002, Norah Jones in 2003, Beyonce in 2004, The Dixie Chicks in 2007 and Amy Winehouse in 2008.

Sources:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Awards

L.A. Times Awards Insider: http://theenvelope.latimes.com