Colors still reeling from receiving Pearl awards
It came as no surprise to an ecstatic audience, but the members of Colors were caught off guard when they won three awards from the Faith Centered Music Association (FCMA) Pearl Awards in July.
“We’re not typical of that music association, so it was a surprise. We still don’t know if we fit in,” said Ryan Merrill, Colors’ percussionist and vocalist.
“I was thinking they voted in Florida,” said Brian Tibbets, guitarist and vocalist.
The Pearl Awards Ceremony was begun four years ago by the FCMA to recognize excellence in faith-centered music and was held at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City. It was also broadcast on KJZZ TV last Sunday. The awards honor musicians and supporters of the industry in more than 20 categories from songwriter of the year to inspirational instrumental album of the year. Nominations and winners are voted for by members of the FCMA, which are the musicians themselves.
“I think it’s a great thing for Utah artists … to help them gain recognition with the musical community,” Tibbets said.
Colors received their first Pearl awards ever for performing artist of the year, group recording artist of the year and contemporary album of the year for their latest release, Outside the Lines. They were up against such competition as Kurt Bestor, Julie de Azevedo and Peter Breinholt.
Tibbets said they were all comfortable in their seats, not expecting to have to get up on stage against these musicians. But they hardly had time to wrinkle their tuxedoes between acceptance speeches.
“We’re really honored. The other nominees are our mentors,” said Russell Dixon, guitarist and vocalist.
The band recalls receiving advice on releasing their first album from Kurt Bestor while they were still in high school.
“He should have kept it a secret and never told us anything,” Merrill said.
The award Colors hoped for most was performing artist of the year. When Carole Mikita, news anchor for Channel 5 News, presented the award, she summarized the effort involved in earning such an award.
“These finalists continue to amaze us with their tireless touring schedules and immensely entertaining shows,” she said.
Now that the awards ceremony is over, tuxedoes are returned and Colors is back to school at Utah State University. The band still follows a tireless schedule.
“We’re up to our eyeballs in school,” Merrill said.
All three members anticipate graduating from USU this year and look forward to touring the West doing shows at colleges and other venues.
How has their recent recognition affected this schedule? The band members feel it is too soon after the awards ceremony to see any major changes, but they did meet key people in the music industry who could hold possibilities for the band.
“I think it will have a positive affect on the future for us,” Dixon said.
Merrill felt there were some “seeds planted” that could help bring the band to certain producers’ or directors’ minds that are in need of their talents.
For now, the band is happy at USU. Tibbets wore a USU logo T-shirt on stage when Colors performed “Give a Little” at the Pearl Awards to show their loyalty to the school. Colors tours high school and college campuses across the country to recruit for USU and spread information about it. The band will be performing at the Kent Concert Hall on Sept. 27. Tickets are available at the band’s Web site www.colorsmusic.com.
Colors is releasing a guitar tab book in October and a Christmas CD for Christmas 2002. The band has also contracted to play at several venues during the Winter Olympics next year.