Matt Ross-Spang may have engineered another Grammy winner

Nominations for the 59th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday, and although he was not “officially” nominated, Memphis recording engineer Matt Ross-Spang could walk away with back-to-back trophies in the Best Americana Album category.

Ross-Spang — the former Sun Studio engineer, now based at Phillips Recording Service — has become a one of Nashville producer Dave Cobb’s go-to engineers over the past few years. As such, Ross-Spang engineered the Best Americana Album winner from 2016, “Something More Than Free” by Jason Isbell. This week, another Cobb-produced, Ross-Spang-engineered album, Lori McKenna’s “The Bird and the Rifle,” was nominated in the same category.

Outside of the Grammy’s “big four” categories, engineers aren’t listed among the official nominees, but they are rewarded with a Grammy trophy if the album wins. For Ross-Spang, a Grammy win with Isbell to start 2016 and a chance to win again with McKenna would close what has been a banner year for the 29 year-old studio maven.

“It’s been the most wonderful year for a whole bunch of reasons," Ross-Spang says, "but it’s always cool when you work on something that everyone else likes, and that your peers, especially, like."

In tandem with Cobb, Ross-Spang also spent 2016 working on projects for the Lone Bellow, Anderson East and Kris Kristofferson, among others. On his own, he produced records for Sean Rowe, Patrick Sweany and U.K. artist Emily Barker, and worked on archival tracks for Elvis Presley.

Mostly notably, Ross-Spang also produced, engineered, mixed and played on “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter,” the breakthrough album for newly minted Americana star Margo Price. This week, Ross-Spang reunited with Price to begin work on her follow-up album at Phillips. Next month, he’ll join Cobb in Nashville to work on a new album by Isbell.

Somewhere in between all that, Ross-Spang will celebrate his 30th birthday. “I can’t think of a better way to end the year and start the next than to be working with Margo and Jason,” he says. “It’s been a really great run.”

Beyond Ross-Spang, a handful of Memphis- and Mid-South-connected artists will be up for Grammy awards. Stax Records stalwart William Bell earned two nominations for his album "This is Where I Live." Bell got a nod in the Best Traditional R&B Performance category for his song "The Three of Me," and he will also vie for the Best Americana Album trophy, against Kris Kristofferson, The Avett Brothers and Lori McKenna. Bell's 2016 comeback was released by the Concord Music Group's revived Stax Records label.

Two of Mississippi's finest bluesmen, Luther Dickinson and Bobby Rush, will compete for Grammys. Dickinson's project "Blues & Ballads (A Folksinger's Songbook: Volumes 1 & II)" and Rush's "Porcupine Meat" will both be up for the Best Traditional Blues Album award. Millington native and pop superstar Justin Timberlake got a writer's nomination for "Can't Stop the Feeling" from the movie "Trolls," which will be up for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

The Grammy ceremony will take place Feb. 12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Bar-Kays Legacy

A couple bits of news concerning Memphis R&B/funk legends The Bar-Kays: The group has announced plans for their 2017 "Grown Folks" Tour, which will kick off in January in Memphis. The band will perform as part of the Freedom and Funk Celebration Weekend on Jan. 15 at The Cannon Center for Performing Arts. Fellow veteran funk outfit Con Funk Shun will also appear as part of the concert. Tickets are available for $35 to $65 at the Cannon Center box office, ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000.

Meantime, this Saturday, the Bar-Kays will be honored by Shelby Country on the 49th anniversary of the 1967 plane crash that claimed the lives of Stax star Otis Redding and members of the original Bar-Kays lineup. The Shelby County Commission has officially declared Dec. 10 “The Bar-Kays Day.” Bar-Kays trumpeter Ben Cauley, who died in 2015, was the only member who survived the crash.

Taylor time

Local singer-songwriter Brandon Taylor marks the release of his debut album Friday with a free multi-act concert at Studio 688 (688 Cox). Taylor’s “Radio Ghost” is just out on local indie label Madjack Records. The disc finds the Americana up-and-comer working his way through an immediately likeable 10-track collection of story songs.

The concert will feature a series of mini-sets from a variety of performers, stating with DJ Andrew McCalla, and Memphis singer-songwriters Michael Graber, Crockett Hall, Jeremy Scott, Kelly Anderson and James Godwin. Taylor and his backing combo The Radio Ghost Band will close out the show with a headlining turn.

Admission is free, but donations are accepted and will go to support the protests at Standing Rock. Half of the proceeds from Taylor’s record sales also will go to Standing Rock charities.

Soulful Yuletide

Local group The MDs (formerly known as the Maître D’s) will putting on their "In the Christmas Spirit" concert at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, in partnership with Stax, Memphis Made Brewing Co. and Goner Records, and benefitting the Mid-South Food Bank.

The MDs, who specialize in souped-up reworkings of songs by Stax legends Booker T. and the MGs, will perform the classic MGs album “In the Christmas Spirit” in its entirety. The album, which features soulful instrumental versions of holiday classics, was released 50 years ago. The MDs also will play other hits and favorites from the MGs catalog.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with music starting at 6 p.m. Food and refreshments will be available.

There is a $10 donation at the door, but those who bring non-perishable food items for the Mid-South Food Bank will get in for half price.  For more information go to staxmuseum.com.