Music producer Greg Wells says winning his first Grammy for the soundtrack to “The Greatest Showman” felt like a scene lifted from the pages of a Hollywood screenplay.
The Peterborough, Ont.-raised songwriter said Sunday that reality was still sinking in for him, even though several hours had passed since he rushed to the stage to accept the award for best compilation soundtrack for visual media.
“It really is that movie moment where they announce your name and you get this euphoric blast of hormones – or whatever it is,” the 50-year-old songwriter said by phone from Los Angeles.
He was part of the production team who created “This Is Me” and other pop hits for the Hugh Jackman-led musical. He produced six of the tracks on the soundtrack album.
Benj Pasek, from left, Justin Paul, Alex Lacamoire and Greg Wells pose in the press room with the award for best compilation soundtrack for visual media for The Greatest Showman at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles.Chris Pizzello/The Associated Press
Wells started his career working inside the Canadian music scene. He joined the Kim Mitchell Band when he was still a teenager before winning a Canada Council for the Arts grant to study in L.A. Since then he’s collaborated with some of music’s biggest stars, including k.d. lang, Adele and Keith Urban.
He previously competed for Grammys twice: once for Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” and another time for Mika’s single “Love Today.” After losing both of them, Wells said he wasn’t expecting to win this time either.
“It doesn’t feel like a real thing,” he added.
Canadian singer Daniel Caesar accepts the award for Best R&B Performance for Best Part onstage during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards pre-telecast show on Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles.ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
Other Canadians marking their first time as Grammy winners included Toronto-raised R&B singer Daniel Caesar, who split the honour with Gabriella Wilson, known as American performer H.E.R., for their song “Best Part.”
Caesar was previously nominated twice at last year’s Grammys for his debut album “Freudian.”
Fellow first-timer Willo Perron, who is from Montreal, nabbed the best recording package Grammy for his work on singer St. Vincent’s 2017 album “Masseduction.”
And Canadian-American violinist Lili Haydn won as part of the quartet Opium Moon. The musician received the best new age album Grammy for the group’s self-titled 2018 album.
Haydn accepted the Grammy during the pre-telecast ceremony, saying she had “so much love and gratitude and respect” for other musicians nominated at the ceremony.
She said her fellow nominees “devoted literally countless hours of focus, passion and practice to making the most exquisite music we can make to sweeten this world.”
Opium Moon for Best New Age Album pose in the press room during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
Veteran Grammy contender James Ehnes found himself on the receiving end of another golden prize for his contributions to violin concerto album “Kernis.”
The Brandon, Man.-raised violinist won the best classical instrumental solo award – his second career win – while his composer, Aaron Jay Kernis, picked up a Grammy in the contemporary classical composition category for the album.
Ehnes said his packed schedule meant he couldn’t make the Grammys, but he watched a livestream of the pre-telecast from his phone at home in Ellenton, Fl.
Kernis accepted both Grammy awards on their behalf.
“I had two bottles of champagne chilling just in case, so I guess I have to drink them both,” Ehnes said of the production winning two Grammys.
“It’s exciting to feel that hard work rewarded.”