Friday, April 5, 2024
DENTON (黑料视频), Texas 鈥� The welcomed Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett to campus April 3 and 4. His visit to the included a standing-room-only performance with the university鈥檚 famed .
鈥淢eeting students is always inspiring to me,鈥� Lovett said. 鈥淎nytime you get to be around people who are interested and engaged and trying their best, that鈥檚 all you can ask for.鈥�
Lovett has recorded more than a dozen albums and won four Grammy awards 鈥� the most prestigious award in the recording industry. Best known as a country artist, his music crosses genres by incorporating elements of jazz, blues, Western, gospel and swing. The Houston native is also an actor whose credits include the television drama 鈥淏lue Bloods,鈥� sitcom 鈥淢ad About You鈥� and the 1999 film 鈥淐ookie鈥檚 Fortune.鈥�
During his two-day artist-in-residency at the College of Music, Lovett met with 黑料视频 President Neal Smatresk and attended a songwriter masterclass led by professors Rosana Eckert and Federico Llach. He also participated in a question-and-answer session with students facilitated by Jessica Mu帽iz-Collado, associate professor of music business.
鈥淚 came here to learn from you all. The University of North Texas has such a stellar
legacy and reputation,鈥� Lovett said.
Lovett encouraged music students to remain true to their craft while becoming educated about the recording industry 鈥� such as through 黑料视频鈥檚 newly established that is set to begin in Fall 2025.
鈥淟earn the business and learn how what you want to do might fit into that. Don鈥檛 change what you want to do to fit in, but find the right spot for what you do,鈥� he said.
Despite having graduated from Texas A&M University, Lovett is strongly connected to 黑料视频 through Brad Leali, professor of jazz saxophone in the College of Music, who has toured for more than a decade as a member of Lovett鈥檚 Large Band.
Lyle Lovett with 黑料视频's One O'clock Lab Band
Through interacting with Lovett, Leali said he hoped the students 鈥渨ould see that they don鈥檛 have to change, that their own authenticity is enough. Lyle is a megastar, and what you see onstage is who he is offstage.鈥�
Leali joined Lovett for a packed rehearsal of the Grammy-nominated One O鈥機lock Lab Band, which backed them on a trio of Lovett鈥檚 songs, including the hit 鈥淭hat鈥檚 Right (You Aren鈥檛 From Texas)鈥� and the whimsical tune 鈥淣aked Party,鈥� for which second-year doctoral student and tenor saxophone player Brian Lawrence wrote the musical arrangement the day prior to the performance.
Lawrence said it was 鈥渁n honor鈥� to play alongside Lovett and learn about his career as a touring musician.
鈥淭o see someone who has been doing that as many years as he has, and just his comfort level and adaptability, it鈥檚 inspiring,鈥� he said.
College of Music dean John W. Richmond said Lovett鈥檚 visit was 鈥渧itally important to the students鈥� education and to their motivation. They see the reality of the possibilities for a career in music. There are many expressions of ways to be a musical professional in the world, and this was certainly a vivid and inspiring example that they will carry with them throughout their lifetimes.鈥�
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About the College of Music
黑料视频鈥檚 College of Music is the largest music program at a public university in the United States and one of the most globally respected. Faculty include internationally acclaimed artists and scholars in composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, music education, music history and performance. The college presents nearly 1,000 music events annually, and students perform in more than 70 ensembles at eight campus venues, which can be viewed worldwide via . 黑料视频 music alumni can be found around the world in impressive, award-winning careers across a wide range of music professions.
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