After more than 40 years of waiting, University of Memphis music professor David Evans finally took a walk down the red carpet and brought back something worth putting on his mantle.
The University can now brag that it has a Grammy Award winner in its ranks.
Evans received his second Grammy nomination Jan. 7 for his album notes on “Screamin’ and Hollerin’ The Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton.” But it was not until the 45th annual Grammy Awards Feb. 23 that Evans learned of his success.
“I didn’t think that I stood much of a chance,” Evans said. He was nominated for a Grammy in 1980 for his album notes for “Atlanta Blues: 1933”, but did not attend the ceremony.
“I’m older now and I figured it might be my last opportunity to attend and represent The University,” Evans said.
The album for which Evans wrote the essay “Charley Patton: The Conscience of the Delta” won three Grammys this year including Evans’ award, which beat albums honoring such artists as the Grateful Dead, Frank Sinatra and Johann Sebastian Bach.
“I was fairly surprised to get the nomination and even more surprised to win the award,” Evans said.
Evans, who directs The U of M’s ethnomusicology/regional studies doctoral program, earned a doctorate from UCLA and has studied Patton since the 1960s. He has written close to 100 sets of album notes and is working on more. He has produced more than 30 albums and CDs, many of them for The U of M’s High Waters Records.
Evans has also signed a contract to begin work on a book for National Public Radio, “The NPR Curious Listeners Guide to the Blues,” planned for publication in 2004.
Richard Ranta, dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at The U of M is one of 10 people around the country in a coordinating team that aids in the production of the award show. He has worked with the Grammys for more than 20 years. Ranta was in New York to help produce the Grammy telecast.
“I enjoyed watching David accept the award,” Ranta said. “He has been a major force in the preservation and distribution of the blues. He is a musician in his own right, but this award was for his excellent scholarship and writing.”
However, Ranta was as surprised as Evans when the winner was announced.
“When David and I had lunch together before the awards, neither of us thought he was going to win. He was up against some tough competition.”
The two have worked together at The U of M since Evans was hired 25 years ago.
Students on campus were as surprised and enthused as Ranta to hear the news.
“I am proud to have a Grammy Award-winning professor in my department,” said Sarah Jones, sophomore music education major. “It speaks well for our school to have someone there who has made something of himself.
“I really hope to be able to be in one of his classes someday, to learn from his expertise and maybe follow in his footsteps.”
