Thanks SO much to all of our fans, friends, and family for your support and good wishes leading up to the Juno Awards (Canada's equivalent of the Grammies). We wish you all could have been there with us. Here are some ramblings about what it was like...
We flew into Vancouver a little early to enjoy the sites. We had a great time but couldn't wait for the big day. On a rainy Sunday, March 22, 1998 we got on our best duds, hopped in our cousin's minivan and headed for the 1998 Juno Awards in Vancouver, Canada. I got a little chill up my spine as a gorgeous rainbow appeared over the city, with it's end right near where the awards would be (REALLY!). Still, we didn't want to get our hopes up, not when such incredible children's entertainers were also nominated (you should definitely check out their stuff... Lenny Graff, Carmen Campagne, Heather Bishop, and Al Simmons).
We arrived, took our seats among a sell-out crowd of 12,000 people who had gathered for the event (not to mention the millions tuned in on TV). It seemed like forever that we were waiting for the "Best Children's Album" category. With only a few minutes to go, it occurred to us that it was at least possible that we could actually win and we had better figure out what we should say. I borrowed a pen from someone seated next to us and scribbled a few notes on the back of a business card. It seemed like nobody seated around us was winning for their respective categories and we began to think that maybe they sat all the winners up front. Then the whole row in front of us (a band!) won for their category and we got hopeful again. Yet, when our category came and they actually called our name it was such a shock! We couldn't believe it! We screamed a big "yahoo!", grabbed our 14 month old son, Jared, and headed for the podium... hoping to get there before the applause died. We got up to the podium and looked out across a sea of people and thought... this is FUN!
I made some silly remark about renting Jared for the evening (everybody laughed because I don't think anyone has ever brought a young child up to receive a Juno... but, hey, Jared appears on the album and it's dedicated to him, so why not?... And besides, it's a children's album!). Judy and I agreed that I would thank the companies and she would thank the people. I thanked the Tanglewood Group, Bruce Davidsen, Universal Music, and FACTOR (a foundation that helped cover the costs of making the album). Judy then thanked Glenn Bennett (he helped produce our album and really pushed us to make it great) and Paula Shear (our fabulous vocal coach). Then Judy held up our son and told everybody that the award was dedicated to him (she got a little choked up at this point) and was also for all the kids out there who make our job the best job in the world.
We grabbed our
awards (actually temporary mock-ups of them!) and were whisked off the stage.
We were brought down to a nearby room where they had us pose next to a huge-sized
Juno and answer questions from reporters. It was great!... except maybe for
the part when Jared kept trying to eat the awards!
After the ceremonies were over there was a big party with all of the stars of the Canadian music industry. We had a ball, talking to old friends and new aquaintances. All night long people came up to us and congratulated us (of course most people were just being polite... what they really wanted to do was meet Jared!).
When we got back to Toronto, our parents met us at the airport with big placards and balloons. It was a little embarassing but great fun.
So... Thanks once again for all of your good wishes and support. One day we may come down from this great high but in the mean time, if you see someone floating in the clouds above your house, don't forget to say hi!
Love,
David (and Judy!)