JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Just Plain Folks Member Daniel Ho Wins Grammy: Here's How It Happened!

This year several Just Plain Folks members received Grammy Nominations (including 2004 JPF Nominee Jo EL Sonnier in the Cajun category). Another JPF Member Daniel Ho received a nomination for Best Hawaiian Album. I first met Daniel performing at one of our JPF Showcases in Alta Dena at the Coffee Gallery Backstage a few years ago. When I saw his name on the Grammy nominations, I sent him a note and he asked us if we could let our JPF members who were NARAS voters know about his nomination. We got the word out to everyone we could, and we’re glad to say that Daniel and his partners took home the Grammy in 2006!

It’s great that an indie artist can still receive recognition in an awards program known for its commercial success focus, but how did it happen? I got the full story from Daniel about the entire experience. JPF = Just Plain Folks Founder Brian Austin Whitney

01. JPF: Daniel, tell us about your small indie label, how you got started and how you run it?

Daniel Ho: Our acoustic and Hawaiian record label, Daniel Ho Creations, was founded with the intent to provide artists with the creative freedom they so deserve, and their audiences with high quality recordings, presented with sincerity and artistry. We have about 10 artists, release 5 - 10 CDs a year and run it completely out of my home in Los Angeles. My recording studio is in what used to be the master bedroom, the office is in my den, my practice room is the living room, and the garage is the warehouse. I set up two rows of industrial strength shelves that I purchased from Home Depot. They're 9 feet high, take up half the garage and hold 20,000 CDs! My fiancé and I manage the business, website design, and CD graphic designs on a Mac iBook G4 laptop. I record on a G4 PowerBook laptop, using an MOTU 828 interface and Digital Performer. My recording gear has to be portable because many of the albums are recorded in hotel rooms, friend's houses, basically anywhere that's quiet enough. Most times it really isn't. Nothing like a high pass filter to take out the rumble of a passing bus. I use an AKG tube mic that has a 414 capsule and a C-12 body to get the best acoustic sound possible. By keeping the costs to a minimum, I'm able to allow the artists their creative freedom. Their art is not dictated by commercialism - airplay, CD sales, etc.

02. JPF: Where did you get the source material and artists involved for the winning album?

Daniel Ho: Every Wednesday night at the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, Maui, George Kahumoku, Jr. hosts a slack key show featuring a guest slack key artist like Cyril Pahinui, Led Kaapana, Keoki Kahumoku, etc. It's a wonderful show and I always enjoy playing there. (Ed. Note: You can find more information about the show at www.slackkey.com or by calling (888) 669-3858). The CD is a compilation of the best performances taken from over 100 of these shows. They sent me the recordings, and over the course of several days I went through every single track and evaluated them based on performance, sound quality, noise, etc. There are so many factors to live recordings that are not issues in studio projects. It was quite a process. I mixed and mastered the recordings on my Titanium G4 laptop.

03. JPF: So the tracks came from live show performances. How did you get such raw source material into Grammy Winning form?

Daniel Ho: There are so many factors to live recordings that are not issues in studio projects. Polishing a live recording into a CD worthy track was quite a process. All the guitars weren’t mic’d, but recorded direct (plugged in). Making a direct guitar sound acoustic took a lot of equalization. The vocals were recorded on Shure SM58’s, which are great live mics, but not the best recording mics as they lack warmth, range and detail. I strived to maintain the integrity of the performance and limited my editing to obvious squeaks, noises and things that I thought listeners might find audibly offensive. I mastered the recordings with compression, equalization and limiting to make the tracks similar in sound and volume. They were all recorded at different times, with different instruments, vocalists, etc., so there were considerable variations.

04. JPF: As an indie artist, name recognition has to be a problem. Also, for a smaller niche Genre like Hawaiian music, how did the community get that category added to the Grammy awards? Tell us about the process. And do you know the other nominees from this year?

Daniel Ho: I have an administrator who handles my business in Hawaii. She submitted the album to NARAS and filled out the necessary paperwork. The submissions were narrowed down to 26 CDs that fit the requirements for the Hawaiian category. From those, the 5 nominees were chosen. The Hawaiian category is only two years old. Musicians in Hawaii had been lobbying NARAS for years to create a category for them. I had worked with the other nominees over the years with the exception of Kapono Beamer. I believe our album was unique because it was the only compilation CD featuring many of Hawaii's traditional slack key masters like George Kahumoku, Jr., Led Kaapana and Cyril Pahinui.

05. JPF: How did you find out about the nomination? Did someone contact you from NARAS?

Daniel Ho: Oddly enough, I found out about the nomination because my distributor in Hawaii faxed an unusually substantial order. Wondering why, I called to clarify. Calls began to trickle in with offers of work.

06. JPF: So, as a relatively unknown grassroots artist, what do you attribute getting enough votes for the Grammy win to? How did you get the word out?

Daniel Ho: I wrote to YOU! Thank you so much and everyone at Just Plain Folks for your support! We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you, Brian!

07. JPF: I’m glad that it worked out! There does seem to be power in our grassroots numbers! Who else did you contact other than Just Plain Folks?

Daniel Ho: We did contact everyone we knew in the music industry to get the word out about this new category and the artists on the "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vol. 1" CD. It was a big effort because only the producers were listed in connection with the album. I wanted people to know about the wonderful artists on the CD.

08. JPF: So tell us about the night of the show?

Daniel Ho: For starters, it was a black tie event, so I had to go out and buy a suit. Another first for me! Robinson's May happened to be having a huge sale before becoming Macy's, so we found a nice black Calvin Klein suit for 50% off. We were an hour late to the event because my fiancé and label administrator were getting their hair done that morning, along with everyone else that was headed for the Grammys. When we arrived at the Los Angeles Convention Center, we were directed to a parking lot far, far away. It was a 20-minute walk from the parking lot (we didn't get a limo) to the West Hall of the Convention Center where the pre-telecast ceremony was held. Along the way, I found a penny - head's up. I was feeling lucky and hopeful! We walked the red carpet, and, of course, nobody noticed. We got to the pre-Grammy telecast about 10 minutes before our category. Thankfully, it was a relatively short period of nervous anticipation. I sat there and prayed. I promised, should we be the lucky ones, to accept this great honor with gratefulness and humility. Our category was next. They read the list of nominees, then the winner without hesitation. As soon as I heard, "Masters" I was in shock. Disbelief is what I felt first, then EXCITEMENT, then a deep sense of thankfulness. There were lots of hugs and high fives as six of us (George Kahumoku, Jr., Keoki Kahumoku, Garrett Probst Peter deAquino, and Wayne Wong) made our way to the stage. It was magical and surreal. I can honestly say it was the most exciting day of my 15 years as a musician.

09. JPF: Did you get to make a speech? What happened backstage after you won?

Daniel Ho: Everyone gave an acceptance speech and George Kahumoku, Jr. led us in a Hawaiian chant. I didn't want to say much because the show needed to move along. I said, "Hi, my name is Daniel Ho. Thank you very much for your support." A guide led us backstage through a maze of 8-10 press conferences and photo shoots that lasted about an hour. Led Kaapana joined us for the press photos and interviews. We had about 30 minutes to get to the Staples center and scarf down a far-too-expensive hot dog and soda before the telecast segment began.

10. JPF: I bet you really enjoyed the live show already knowing you were a Grammy winner. How was the rest of the show for you?

Daniel Ho: It was an amazing event! The best concert ever! 26 performers - all SUPERSTARS! Madonna opened the show, Mariah Carey performed, U2, Jamie Fox. Then Paul McCartney sang yesterday. That was unbelievable. Would you believe that was his first time performing at the Grammys? He said, "Wow, I finally passed the audition."

11. JPF: When we asked Susan Gibson (writer of “Wide Open Spaces”) about her Grammy experience, she told us that because she was such an outsider, she didn’t make any arrangements to go to the After Grammy Parties and instead partied that night with the Hotel maintenance staff. What was your After Grammy experience?

Daniel Ho: The after-party was incredible as well. It was held at the West Hall with Earth, Wind and Fire as the house band! Lots of food, drink, and dancers! There were 10 foot tall human trees cruising around, but no celebrities. They were all at Mariah Carey's party. Six of the people on the CD were staying at my house, so after the party, we headed home and talked until 4:30am. Too excited to sleep, wondering what was in store for us. The next morning, I had an email from a friend who was trying to invite me to Mariah Carey's party. My phone was broken. AARRRRGGGHH! Found out on E! that Sting, Britney Spears, Jamie Foxx, everyone under the sun was there. I wanted to let the Verizon repairman know, but thought otherwise.

12. JPF: After you won, what happened? Did you start hearing from long lost “old friends?” Also, does everyone on the album get a Grammy of their own or do you have to share one?

Daniel Ho: Old classmates, friends, business associates, and family called and wrote to congratulate me. There are dozens of emails I haven't had the time to respond to. Some industry folks who couldn't make time for me prior to February 8th were suddenly interested. It was uncomfortable to observe the "change of face." The Grammy went to the three producers of the CD - myself, Wayne Wong and Paul Konwiser. I was hoping there would be Grammys for the artists, who are most deserving because it is their music we are recognizing. I'm giving my Grammy to George Kahumoku, Jr. who hosts the show every week and has been my mentor from the beginning.

13. JPF: Just to clarify, you are both the producer AND one of the artists on the album correct?

Daniel Ho: Yes that is true. I have 2 original compositions and performances on the compilation.

14. JPF: Now that you have won, has it translated into any new sales of your CD and label catalog and what other impact has it had on you?

Daniel Ho: It has had a tremendous impact on CD sales. We're doing our best to support it with retail programs (listening stations, end-caps, posters, in-store appearances), radio, TV and printed interviews, etc. It has brought a lot of attention to Daniel Ho Creations as an indie label. The wonderful thing about the Grammy is that is a credential I can carry with me throughout my career.

15. JPF: Do you think this will change your career significantly from where it was before the win?

Daniel Ho: Prior to the Grammy, I was actually doing ok. I've worn a lot of different musical hats along the way, working towards the goal of writing, recording and performing my original material. There is no hard-and-fast point of transition. It's a gradual process. I've come to understand it's enjoying the process that's important.

16. JPF: Now the obvious question that I bet many people who are reading this want to ask: Are you related to Don Ho?

Daniel Ho: Almost without exception, someone will come up to me after a performance and ask if I'm related to Don Ho. Alas, I attempted to do a bit of research, only to find that there were too many "Ho's" in my family tree to find out.

17. JPF: What’s coming up next and how can our members find you?

Daniel Ho: Stay tuned for "Legends of Slack Key Guitar - Live from Maui", due for release in August - September 2006. It is our follow up to "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vol. 1." The entire catalog of music can be found on www.danielho.com.

If you want to hear a sample, here’s a direct link to a song from the album: http://www.danielho.com/mp3/Masters1Demo.mp3

If you’d like to contact Daniel, or tell him congrats, his email is: daniel@danielho.com

18. JPF: So what would you like to leave your fellow JPF members with?

Daniel Ho: It's encouraging to know that you don't need a huge record company, big budgets, or fancy studios to realize your music anymore. You can sound just as good on a little laptop computer. You can get your music out there through grass-roots promotions - live gigs, NPR stations, and most importantly, the internet (iTunes, a personal website where people can purchase your music and find out where you're performing), and music organizations/forums like Just Plain Folks! Thank you, Brian!
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Big congrats again to Daniel! For those of you who would like to know a little more about Daniel, here’s a bio:

Daniel was born and raised in Kaimuki, on the island of Oahu. He discovered his fascination with music at the age of three when his mother taught him Mary Had a Little Lamb on a toy piano. Throughout grade school and intermediate school, Daniel studied the organ, 'ukulele, classical guitar, piano, electric guitar, bass, drums, and voice. As a high school senior, he flew to Michigan to compete in the Young Keyboard Artists Association International Piano Competition before heading off to the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, California. He remembered the experience well, "It was like David and Goliath - and I didn't have a slingshot."

At the Grove School of Music, Daniel studied composing, arranging, and film scoring. He began his professional career in 1990 as the leader, keyboardist, producer and composer for the contemporary jazz group, Kilauea. By 1997, they had released six best-selling smooth jazz albums to rave reviews. Two records reached Billboard's top ten, two hit number one on Radio & Record's national airplay charts and all but one placed in the top five.

Daniel has since recorded 18 CDs as a solo artist. Isolating Daniel's musical genre can be quite difficult as he continues to tap into the many facets of his talented background. His portfolio includes smooth jazz, slack key, religious, acoustic alternative, classic and contemporary Hawaiian. He has performed throughout the continental U.S., Tasmania, Australia, Mexico, Japan and Germany as a soloist and tours with Grammy Award winning vocalist, Peabo Bryson, as a keyboardist/guitarist. He was a guest lecturer at Stanford University, and a featured soloist with the Honolulu Symphony. He is a studio musician for the NBC soap opera, Passions, playing piano, electric and acoustic guitars and bass. This multi-instrumentalist/composer has received numerous industry honors, including two coveted Na Hoku Hanohano awards - 1999 Religious Album of the Year (Hymns of Hawaii) and 2000 Song of the Year (Saving Forever), as well as eight Hawaii Music Awards:

In addition to his instructional book and CD, Secrets of Contemporary Slack Key Guitar, Daniel has produced, arranged, composed, engineered and/or performed on over 50 records. His record label, Daniel Ho Creations, has a catalog of over 40 CDs. For his work as a producer, musician and writer on Bridgette Bryant's Lessons In Life CD, Phil Collins wrote a forward describing Daniel as "Very talented."

Not bad for a Just Plain Folk from Kaimuki, Hawaii! Daniel now resides in Los Angeles, California and Honolulu, Hawaii.

www.DanielHo.com

Congrats Daniel, it gives me some hope that the impossible can happen. I'm hoping I can get my latest album submitted this year. We'll see what happens.

Jody

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Music That Makes Your Soul Happy!
www.jodywhitesides.com

BIG BIG BIG BIG SMILE

Stories like this keep us wankers going

Congrats,

Herbie

All the best to ya CONGRATS ON A GREAT JOB! from NY. S.DEE

What a great story....thanks for posting it!
Congratulations!

Emily

[This message has been edited by Emily Sanders (edited 02-20-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Emily Sanders (edited 02-20-2006).]

It's nice to know talent and hard work can still make a difference.

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Later,

Pat

Man that's incredible, congrats.

Talk about an inspirational story. Absolutely great interview Brian. Kick ass Daniel.
Keep Strummin' Al
www.aandrproductions.com

That is so wonderful, Daniel....!!!
Congratulations...

best wishes,
Kaley......

Ride those big waves Daniel!

Congratulations!

BUT, what about the real important awards! The JPF awards?!!!!

John

Wow! Very good read, very encouraging. I really like the part about not needing the big studios to win a Grammy!!!

Congrats Dan!!

Orlando Luckey
www.cdbaby.com/orlandoluckey4

I am really surprised more folks haven't chimed in on this. Isn't winning a Grammy at the top of most artists to do list? Here's someone who did it and he's one of us!

Brian

Worth chimming in twice! For SURE! I got more response for just showing up after 30 years.

Congrats in double time! Maybe some think the Grammy's are a joke,,,,as I hear that from time to time. But it couldn't be in his case, where it's not big corporate politics that made it happen.....Right?

John

Ring!!!

Ring!!!

Ring!!!

Hear the Grammy winner sing!

Good Job Daniel!! You are an inspiration to all JPF's. I'm pretty sure the rest of us have our "Thank You Speech" at least half written by now waiting for our turn

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Steve West
Steve's Website

Congratulations! Wow! Pretty amazing to think there's a recent Grammy winner among us. Thanks so much for sharing all the details. I was picturing the whole thing in my mind as I read it.

I hope this is the first of many!

- James

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You can really only please one songwriter at a time. Might as well be yourself! :^)


Samples of my music at www.soundclick.com/jamesmitchell.htm

Wow,
As I read this, I could not help getting flooded with emotion... words can't... Dreams really do come true...

Outstanding,
Glenn



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http://glennpalmerhoward.com

Daniel,

This is wonderful. Pardon the late congrats, but we're learning here on this site, thanks to Brian (his advice, as you know, is always good.)

I was wondering. Years ago, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, there was a program called, if I recall right, the Masters of the Slack Key Guitar. Would they have been some of the same people on your label? Slack Key Guitar is a beautiful form of music. I believe it is called "Slack Key" because the strings are tuned down (by slackening the keys) to an open tuning, creating unusual harmonic possibilities. I hope you might be able to find time to post a little explanation of the style at our Music Theory and Education forum?

Anyway, congratulations to you. Thanks for championing such a unique music. Thanks to Brian for supplying the mechanism that allowed you to recieve a Grammy. Also, thanks to Brian for reminding us that doing music business is more productive than talking about the way it's done.

All the Best,
Mike

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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

Daniel,

Here's another belated, but heartfelt, congratulations!!!,,,and also a thank you for having taken the time to share with us your experiences.

Midnite


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Satchel was right...Something is gaining on me....
www.jackcouldntmakeit.com

Excellent article and story

Congratulations to Daniel

Thank you Brian

Ande

Congratulations Daniel! HOw wonderful for you! Keep on believing! It's only the beginning, I'm sure,
cheers
Vikki

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Vikki Flawith, Canadian Singer/Songwriter & Voice Teacher

This bird sings at:
http://www.soundclick.com/vikkiflawith
www.vikkiflawith.com

Vikki on MySpace

Hummingbird's Wise Bird's Blog

The Shy Singer-Songwriter's Blog
The Shy Singer-Songwriter's Newsletter

Way to go man,congratulations.Sorry for the late post,I must have missed this thread the first time around,sometimes I'm too busy to read long post and the next time I'm on it's gone out of sight.

Everett

Congratulations Daniel.

Steve

Hoooo!! Congrats Daniel!!!
Chuck Crowe

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http://www.chuckcrowe.com

Belated congrats! It's nice when the GOOD guys win one once in a while!

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bc

Congratulations to you and everyone who put in the hard work. Here's to much more success in the future.

Regards,
Justin

Congrats to Daniel and the JPF nominees!

Haven't been on these boards much at all..always in the feedback threads... Hope it's not too late to say...

Congrats! That is a huge achievement Daniel.. Enjoy every minute of it! Best of luck with the future to..

Peace
Sub

With all the members registered today, I've had some requests as to where this post was.. so I wanted to bump it back up in plain view for those still curious.

Brian