WASHINGTON — He’s earned four Grammys, rattled off 22 No. 1 hits, landed five platinum albums, and fostered new voices as a judge on “American Idol.”
On Wednesday night, Keith Urban was honored at the Recording Academy’s annual Grammys on the Hill event at The Hamilton in Downtown D.C. The private event is held every year to promote federal funding for the arts with a night of live performances followed by a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill.
“Taking music out of schools is like taking out reading,” Urban told the crowd of lawmakers and fellow musicians. “That’s how musicians learn to read. … It’s our portal into communicating with the world.”
After speaking his piece, Urban treated the audience to an intimate set, including “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which was just nominated for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.
WTOP caught up with Urban ahead of the event to discuss his passion for music education advocacy.
“The conversation has to include a much greater understanding of the importance of music education for kids and what it does for them when they find that missing voice,” Urban told WTOP. “Even if they’re not going to be a professional musician, a lot of kids, their self-esteem, self-worth, everything about them clicks when they find that thing, whether it’s singing or playing. It’s unquantifiable.”
Urban speaks from experience, having fallen for music at a young age in New Zealand and Australia.
“I was four when my dad gave me a ukulele,” Urban said. “They said, ‘When’s a good age for kids to learn chords?’ I said, ‘Probably around six.’ You can get your fingers around the neck a little bit better. Six was good, I started learning, and just took to it. It was my voice. It was what I’d been waiting for.”
Fellow country star Martina McBride emceed the event, having received the same award in 2003.
“Keith is one of the most giving people we have,” McBride told WTOP. “He’s also such an artist. He’s got his own style, he’s a talented guitar player, writer, singer, he’s just got it all. We all love him. We’re so proud to have him a part of country music. It’s great to see him honored. He gives so much back.”
McBride kicked off the show singing “Happy Birthday” to Academy President Neil Portnow.
The first performance was John Popper of Blues Traveler performing the national anthem.
Backstage, Popper said he’s lobbying lawmakers to ensure more musicians are paid their fair share.
“It’s important that recording musicians have some way to make a living,” Popper said. “Also, the reflection of producers being artists, that would really help the whole system. This hasn’t really been addressed for 40 years. I think it’s time we took another look at it. … When they addressed it in like the ’70s, they’re like, ‘OK, we’ve done it, we’ve improved it.’ But technology was nothing like it is now.”
Abdul “Duke” Fakir of the legendary Motown group The Four Tops pleaded a similar case.
“When we first started having these records, I wondered why my good friends [were] getting checks for writing and composing, and I said, ‘Well, where’s our check?’ They said, ‘You all don’t get one, you get it on the road.’ … I went to Berry Gordy and he said, ‘That’s just the way it is.’ But ever since then, I’ve been fighting for performance rights. … I’m here [with] my gloves on, ready to fight for the music.”
Perhaps the biggest political reconciliation came from country icon Wynonna Judd, who hilariously interrupted McBride’s introduction by bursting on stage to say, “This one needs no introduction.”
“I’m from Appalachia,” she said. “We made it from the outhouse to the White House thanks to music.”
After singing a cover of Foreigner’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is” and her own smash country hit “No One Else On Earth,” Judd brought dozens of lawmakers up on stage to sing with her, remarking, “Republicans and Democrats getting along? Let’s take a picture and share it on Thanksgiving.”
More than 60 members of Congress attended, as Democratic Senator Tom Udall and Republican Senator Susan Collins announced they were forming a bipartisan caucus to advocate for culture.
Collins was saluted by songwriter Kara DioGuardi, who relates to Urban as an “American Idol” judge.
“[‘American Idol’] was able to connect artists in remote places with the industry that would have never been highlighted or discovered,” DioGuardi said with pride. “I think that’s a great legacy.”
Speaking of singing competitions, Pentatonix member Kirstin Maldanado recently won Season 3 of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” before winning a Grammy for Best Arrangement for her Daft Punk Medley.
Joy Uecke was another young Grammy winner who showed up to pay tribute to Urban. Along with her brother Jesse in the Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy, the duo has won six Latin Grammy awards.
R&B star Mario (“Let Me Love You”) also showed up to honor Urban and promote music advocacy.
“Keith Urban is one of the most prolific songwriters of our generation,” Mario told WTOP. “Shout out to his whole squad, because they’ve carried such a great tone in music for such a long time.”
And “Seinfeld” composer Jonathan Wolff took the stage to describe the TV theme’s creation.
It all culminated with Urban going off script and bringing Popper back up on stage for an impromptu duet, as Popper peppered his harmonic alongside Urban’s mix of strumming and tapping the guitar.
“He played it so hard, he broke the damn thing!” Urban said of Popper’s harmonic at the finish.
You’ll just have to watch for yourself:
