Press Release: Pensacola psychologist, author, speaker and recording artist Dr. Michael Brant DeMaria has received his third and fourth GRAMMY Nominations. Nominations were announced November 30th by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), also known simply as The Recording Academy.
DeMaria received his first Grammy nomination in 2009 for Siyotanka which he composed and performed the music for Pensacola Little Theatre’s 2008 production of the same name. The album received a Native American Music Award (NAMMY) in October 2009, and a Zone Music Award for Best Native American Album of 2009. He received his second Grammy nomination last year for Ocean which was nominated for Best New Age Album of the Year. Although Ocean didn’t win the Grammy it won two coveted Zone Music awards in the spring of 2010 including Best Ambient Album of 2009 and Best Relaxation/Meditation Album of 2009.
Gaia was DeMaria’s third album to reach #1 on the New Age Chart (The Zone Music Reporter) which it did in December of 2010. It then went on to be nominated for 4 Zone Music Awards in February of 2011 and then went on to win Best World Music Album of 2010 and garnered the top honor of Album of the Year across all categories. The Zone Music awards are highly regarded in that only radio, cable and internet broadcasters from around the world are able to vote. DeMaria composed the music for Gaia during the Gulf Oil Spill and a portion of proceeds go to support wildlife recovery as did Ocean. Ocean raised $1500 last year for the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. DeMaria will be performing at the Wildlife Rescue Mission open house this coming Saturday December 3rd during their annual open house and supply drive from 12-3:30pm.
DeMaria is planning to attend the GRAMMY Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12, 2011. GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed in mid-December to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte in early January , 2011, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the ceremony.
On the album, DeMaria plays a wide variety of world flutes, ethnic percussion, keyboards and many other instruments. The album was mastered by Lucky Kelson of Lucky K studios here in Pensacola. The album is available for purchase through Amazon.com, iTunes and many other online outlets. DeMaria’s music has been heard on NPR’s morning edition, Echoes (a nationally syndicated radio station heard on over 190 stations nationwide), XM/SIRIUS Radio, and Soundscapes cable channel, as well as over 200 other national and international stations from Spain and The Netherlands to Belarus and Australia.
DeMaria’s is releasing his newest album Bindu next week at the official album release event at The Tortured Heart Gallery in Gulf Breeze, Friday December 9th from 5-9 where he will also be playing live and showing a series of his original artwork at 3477 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. For more information 850-932-0050.
DeMaria also recently signed a two album deal with the international record label Sounds True. The first in the series In The Flow will be featured at Barnes and Noble for an album signing with DeMaria December 17th from 2-4. To learn more about Michael Brant DeMaria and his music, visit his website, www.michaeldemaria.com. To find out more about the Grammy nominated album Gaia please visit www.gaiahealingmusic.com.