USA Songwriting Competition Honorable Mention winner (2017 Competition) and finalist (2018 Competition) Lucy Kalantari of New York, NY won a Grammy Award on Sunday for Best Children’s Album. Her album All The Sounds by Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats included her five-year-old son Darius Kalantari, who played the cello on the album.
Before she made an acceptance speech, she handed the Grammy trophy to her 5-year-old son, she told him "Don't drop it." She went on to say "Thank you to the Recording Academy, thank you to the voters. I have been making music all my life. I have to honor all the sounds in my heart and in my head. This is beautiful. This is such an honor to be on the ballot with all these nominees".
“This album was written and recorded by a Latina woman. It was produced by a woman.” Kalantari also gave a shout out to her mom in the Dominican Republic and appeared overwhelmed by her win.
Kalantari beat out other nominees in her category such as Tim Kubart (Grammy award winner in 2016), Falu, The Pop Ups and Frank & Deane.
Lucy Kalantari is an award-winning children’s artist based in Brooklyn, NY, making jazz age inspired music for families. Since Fall 2017, Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats has been featured on Sprout House, the musically-infused programming block on Universal Kids. Her songs are on steady rotation on SiriusXM Kids Place Live and other family radio programs around the country.
To enter the 24th Annual USA Songwriting Competition, go to songwriting.net