“Y Not” was just released on Hip-O Records, and features some very special guests…

Paul McCartney plays bass on “Peace Dream” and adds vocals on “Walk With You,”
Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart and Steve Dudas of the Roundheads on guitar,
Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on keyboards,
Don Was and Mike Bradford on bass,
Ben Harper, Joss Stone and Richard Marx on vocals,
Ann Marie Calhoun on violin,
Tina Sugandh on tabla and chants.

www.ringostarr.com

I’d like to share a few of MY favorite Grammy moments with you…

Herbie Hancock surprised everyone with his win for Album of the Year with River: The Joni Letters. Presented by the legendary Quincy Jones, it was one of many “feel good” moments in this year’s Grammy show.

Vince Gill had the funniest line of the evening when Ringo Starr presented him with the Grammy for Best Country Album; “I just got an award presented to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?”

Gotta love it. Bonnie Raitt introduced the classic rock segment of the show featuring John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, who really rocked the house!

The LOVE Soundtrack Album won BOTH categories it was nominated in; Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media AND Best Surround Sound Album. It was so cool to see Ringo Starr with Sir George Martin and his son Giles on the stage together to receive this award.

Cirque du Soleil delivered a fantastic performance of “A Day In The Life” from their Beatles LOVE show, which continues to be one of the hottest tickets in Las Vegas.

There was a GREAT performance of “Let It Be” by Timothy T. Mitchum and Carol Woods from the movie soundtrack Across The Universe. I just love the way they redid the song with a gospel feel, complete with backing choir. Makes me want to go see the movie now.

It’s thrilling to see and hear those great artists I’ve respected and revered for so long, like Aretha Franklin, turn in such a soulful performance. She was honored by the MusiCares Foundation as their 2008 Person of the Year.

Amy Winehouse won a total of five awards, including Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for “Rehab,” which she performed via satellite from London. The look of pure disbelief on her face when she won was priceless. I hope these awards give her the incentives she needs to overcome her personal demons and complete rehabilitation.

The Foo Fighters performance was very cool, as was their string orchestra conducted by John Paul Jones. The winner of the My Grammy Moment, Ann Marie Calhoun, did a great job as soloist.

As always, a ton of awards are presented before the actual show…

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals award went to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for their duet “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)” from their Raising Sand album.

The Eagles won Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for “How Long.”

Joni Mitchell claimed the Best Pop Instrumental Performance award for “One Week Last Summer.”

Best Contemporary Blues Album: The Road To Escondido by J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton. If you must buy any album because it won a Grammy, this is the one!

Fellow Texan Willie Nelson earned the award for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for his album with Ray Price, Lost Highway.

The award for Best Spoken Word Album “The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream” went to Barack Obama, who won over other nominees Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Alan Alda.

Lifetime Achievement Awards went to The Band, Max Roach, and Earl Scruggs.

I’d also like to give a nod and remember a couple of great performers who left us last year; Dan Fogelberg and Ike Turner.

Congratulations to all the nominees, winners and performers. Read more about the entire show at grammy.com.