The 21-year old Midtown mom killed it on American Idol tonight with her version of Aretha Franklin’s “Never Loved A Man.”

Even Simon Cowell was impressed, comparing Grace to Kelly Clarkson and calling her
a potential “dark horse in this competition.”

CA arts critic Christopher Blank caught up with the singer for an interview that appeared in today’s newspaper.

Said Grace, “My dad is a Memphis musician. I’ve been around soul and blues all my life. There’s always been musicians coming and going in my house. Ann Peebles is a big influence of mine. You know, and Stax records from back in the ’60s. I love that era. As far as my style, I’d say it is soul and a little bit of country in there too. A little twang.”

Go here for the rest of the interview.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Music Foundation is mounting a “Vote for Memphis Music” campaign to support Grace and Lil Rounds, another local American Idol finalist who is slated to appear on live TV later this week.

The Fox TV program is shining a light on Memphis in other ways: 28-year old Jackie Tohn opened tonight’s broadcast with her version of Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation”, while 22-year old Nashville resident Ann Marie Boskovich weighed in with a take on Aretha’s “Natural Woman.”

Stax great Booker T. Jones — the latest soul artist to ink a deal with the Anti- label, already home to Mavis Staples, Bettye LaVette, and indie greats Neko Case and Tom Waits — wrote an incredible essay for the Anti- website about what it means to be black in 2009. In it, he also documents what it was like to grow up African American in Memphis during the 1960s, and lists his hopes for the future:

“In September ‘08, weeks before the election, while walking in Washington DC with my wife Nan, I was struck with an awareness I had never had before. It was as though I knew, with an unreal sense of certainty, of a real estate transaction that was about to transpire. And I was walking on that very piece of real estate.

We were walking from the Lincoln Memorial towards the Capitol Building on the Mall. Unbelievable. How could this be happening to my consciousness? Why did I feel so certain I was not mistaken?

Years ago, while reading Chesapeake, I was struck with a sense of luck and pride at having been born on soil that had been consecrated and dedicated by such wise, inspired, courageous men as the composers of our own constitution. How could they have had such wisdom and foresight so long ago? But they did, and it came to pass.

It became a beacon to the world, and because of its qualities, the young nation seemed destined for special gifts and privileges from the gods. Things could happen here that could happen no other place on earth. It became the destination of choice for all the disenfranchised of the world.

Its national anthem, that stirring piece, still sends chills through my soul.

Sometime in the 1800’s, my grandfather, Benjamin Jones, graduated from Mississippi Industrial College and was able to purchase 70 acres of land on which he built a school where he became the only teacher. My family still lives on that land in Marshall County, MS.

Not too far away, in the same county, my mother’s family evolved, sired by a white man and a black slave woman.

Eventually, my parents met in Memphis, TN through the church and church music that they both loved, and life was given to me.

Being born African American is just so special to me. In my blood runs all the rhythms of the African drums, the determination and sacrifice of my grandfather’s fathers and uncles to survive, the love of Debussy and Liszt of my grandmother’s musical heart, and the devotion to the fertilization and development of the mind and spirit through education of my grandfather.

So, at age 17, even after having recorded a million seller, “Green Onions”, at Stax in 1962, I headed off to Indiana University in search of knowledge, both musical and otherwise. With $900 saved from my paper route, I paid the out of state tuition, and passed the jury. John F. Kennedy’s “Profiles in Courage” was the only book I had read that wasn’t science fiction, and the heavy load I carried never crossed my mind. I had a strength I didn’t understand.

I had been taught some “Negro History” in Tennessee History class by the great Nathaniel D. Williams of Memphis. A local DJ/History teacher who rushed from WDIA Radio to Booker T. Washington High School every morning after his show. “Nat D”, as he was known is finally enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington and given his due. He, and others like him risked their jobs to impart knowledge that the Memphis City School System (which employed both my Mom and Dad), was hell bent on destroying. I even suspect those elements were responsible for the mysterious fire that destroyed the Cossett Library in Memphis, which was the only one available to blacks when I was growing up and where I spent so much of my time.

On this same soil, I was walking, and remembering hymns written by Mrs. Lucy Campbell, and sung by the likes of Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King, that said this too shall pass. I, a black male, was walking un-accosted, with my wife, who has white skin. And so, I knew, true to the dreams and instructions of the white men who wrote that inspired document that got us started, anything was possible.

The feeling of pride was overwhelming, and it still is. People are awake here in America. And that is so good! Even better, the majority of these “awoken” are of a generation after mine, and so there is hope. Ah! What a word, HOPE. With hope, hearts are lighter and easier to carry. Past disappointments are easier forgotten and moved forward from. Darkened minds are lightened. Empty stomachs are filled. Life itself becomes all it is capable of being.

Thank you Anti- for being Anti-. This blog is what being Anti- is about. Now America is being America, and all that America can be. Black History Month will now need to add a new entry thanks to all these influences. It’s about time, and it’s just all good.”

Go here to check out the Anti- blog site, and go here to check out “Warped Sister,” Booker T.’s brand-new single, which was recorded with Neil Young and the Drive-By Truckers. It’s the first track off Potato Hole, Jones’ upcoming Anti- album, which is due to be released on April 21.

Wow, 30 minutes in, and Memphis is representing! Justin Timberlake and Rev. Al Green combined forces for an incredible version of “Let’s Stay Together,” with back-up from Keith Urban and Boyz II Men.

A few minutes ago, Green lost to Jennifer Hudson for “Best R&B Album,” but he’s still delivering the goods. BTW, I’m a fan of Hudson, but what on earth was she wearing? It looked like a crumpled piece of paper got stuck on her gown.

I’m not a fan of the Coldplay/Jay-Z mash-up either. But when the camera panned into the audience and I saw Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, roots rock’s odd couple, sitting together, I let out a big awwww…

Tonight: Start the weekend off with Girls of the Gravitron’s free show at Shangri-la Records. Also: AC/DC’s “Black Ice” tour at the FedEx Forum; Colourmusic and Good Luck Dark Star at the Hi-Tone Cafe; Van Duren at Central BBQ East; the Heartless Bastards at the Young Ave Deli (go herefor CA music critic Bob Mehr’s interview with frontwoman Erika Wennerstrom); Memphis rapper RI’m Skeem at the Crystal Palace (go here for my interview with the rising star); Thrush, Silent Haze, Distilled Blood, and more, at the New Daisy; Will Graves at Cafe Soul; Or, head down to Tunica for a country music two-fer — the legendary George Jones is at Sam’s Town, while Gary Allan is at Horseshoe.

Saturday: Get your indie rock fix from Snowglobe at the Hi-Tone Cafe, with the Bulletproof Vests opening. Also: 34-year old composer Jonathan Leshnoff will debut a composition with the IRIS Orchestra at GPAC. Violinist Augustin Hadelich, winner of the 2006 International Violin Competition, is also on the bill, performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Brahms’ Serenade No. 1. Classical pianist Terry McRoberts is at the University of Memphis’ Harris Concert Hall; Uncle Jungle is at the New Daisy; Down in Tunica, George Jones and Gary Allan wrap up their respective 2-night stands.

Sunday: At 3 p.m., the Germantown Symphony Orchestra makes its 2009 debut at Hutchison School’s Wiener Theater, at the same time that the Ceruti String Quartet and pianist Marsha Evans perform “Conversations Among Friends,” at the Memphis Chamber Music Society. Later, Rob Jungklas and Deering & Down (who have been laying down tracks at Poppa Willie Mitchell’s Royal Recording Studio this month) are at Otherlands. RI’m Skeem is back at the Crystal Palace, with Atlanta MC Yung LA.

Nope, Jake Rabinbach is not in jail.

He’s performing for free at Shangri-la Records tonight, beginning at 6 p.m.

Then at 10 p.m., AllMemphisMusic.com will air Rabinbach’s new album, Brooklyn Hustle/Memphis Muscle, which was released on Ardent at the end of 2008, along with interview segments with Jake and drummer Greg Faison.

You can listen again tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Tonight: Down in Clarksdale, Miss., the Oxford American magazine celebrates the release of its 10th annual music issue by hosting one heckuva throwdown with Dale “Suzie Q” Hawkins, R.L. Boyce, and Wiley and the Checkmates. It’s all happening at the original Ground Zero Blues Club in downtown Clarksdale. Admission is $15, and showtime is 7 p.m. Go here for more info.

Closer to home: First, kick off the week with a free show from Jump Back Jake at Shangri-la Records. The Ardent recording artist will begin performing at 6 p.m. Later: The New Mary Jane and Vending Machine at the Buccaneer Lounge; Westbound at the Hi-Tone Cafe; Soul Enforcers at the Full Moon Club; One Hour Thursday, Facecast, Chocking On Clarity, Third Gear Pinned, and Searching 4 A Signal at the New Daisy; Preston Shannon at Ground Zero; NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” host Neal Conan, hosting “A Universe of Dreams,” at GPAC; and DJ Steve Ann at Dish.

Saturday: Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, performed by Opera Memphis, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Orpheum Theatre. Also: Rap showcase at Club Unbreakables with 40Kel, JDogg & T-Won, and more; gospel artist Marvin Sapp at the Cannon Center; Sore Eyes head up a bevy of bands, including Goodbye Monroe and A Study in Scarlet for their CD release party at the New Daisy; Charlie Mars at the Hi-Tone.

Sunday: The Mersey-minded Jeffrey and the Pacemakers play a free show at the Buccaneer, beginning at 5 p.m. Later: New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus and Welsh indie rockers Los Campesinos! are at the Hi-Tone, and FreeWorld play Blues City Cafe.

We have a new president!

My favorite part of the inauguration? Hearing a girl born on Lucy Street, right here in Soulsville, U.S.A., sing “America the Beautiful.”

Runner-up: Listening to the performance by Yo-Yo Ma, a French-born, Chinese cellist who, when he performed in Memphis with IRIS, made sure to visit local juke joint Wild Bill’s!

CNN showed a lot of footage of Memphians watching inauguration coverage, too.

I know I’m not the only Memphian who has been on pins and needles, waiting for this day to come. Now I’m watching the pre-inauguration coverage (Cheney in a wheelchair! and the horrible obligatory mention of Lincoln’s assassination), anxiously awaiting Barack Obama’s first speech as President of the United States of America. I’ve gotten emails from some of my compatriots at MOJO Magazine in London — they’re as thrilled as I am that enough Americans finally managed to pull together and vote for real change. Memphis-born Aretha Franklin did her soundcheck yesterday; she’ll perform at the inauguration today. And after the swearing-in ceremony, Jackson, Miss. native David Banner will be performing at the Urban Inauguration Ball, co-hosted by Dionne Warwick and Ludacris. See ya’ll on the other side…

Tonight: Kick off the weekend with a free performance from Good Luck Dark Star at Shangri-la Records at 6 p.m. Afterwards, have dinner with Bobby Rush at the Center for Southern Folklore. Later, head to the Hi-Tone Cafe for some fabulous local power pop, served up by the Everyday Parade and Van Duren. Also: Free Sol and Haymaker Project are at Quetzal, Will Graves is at Cafe Soul, and Shortwave Dahlia is at the Full Moon Club.

Saturday:Get up early and take the kids to the “Peanut Butter and Jam Session” at GPAC, with Wild Willy and the Memphis Jam Band. Shows are at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. My pick of the night is a triple bill — J.D. Reager and the Cold-Blooded Three, plus Billy Worley and the Candy Company and Dragoon — at Nocturnal. There’s also Pavement Band and Tyler Keith at the Hi-Tone; the Elvis Birthday Pops Concert at the Cannon Center; the Grascals at the Lucy Opry at BPACC (go here for Mark Jordan’s profile in this week’s CA); Facedive, Painbreak, Dark Embrace, and more at the New Daisy; a Mozart concert at St. Benedict; a performance of the Eroica Ensemble at First Congregational Church in Midtown; Reba Russell at Neil’s; a MAMA concert with Dan Montgomery at Otherlands; and Duke Hex and the Firm Foundation Riddim Squad at the P+H Cafe.

Sunday:Chris Chew’s last free Sunday afternoon show starts at the Hi-Tone at 4 p.m., and later, blues guitarist Scott Holt plays at the East Memphis Huey’s.

Sometimes, I take living in the South for granted.

Then I wake up to the sound of Center for Southern Folklore director Judy Peiser talking about bluesman Bobby Rush on WKNO 91.1FM, which happened yesterday.

Or, like this morning, I’ll turn on the TV for a quick minute (one of the perks of working from home), and catch Mr. Rush himself on WREG’s Live at Nine.

With the indomitable Bobby Rush cracking jokes, singing about small-town scandals, and coming on strong to the ladies, I know I couldn’t be anywhere else on the planet.

All week long, Peiser and Rush have been busy promoting tonight’s fundraiser for the CFSF, which includes dinner, beer and wine, and a performance for $75.

I’ve seen Rush perform on a flatbed trailer at the Pops Staples Festival in tiny Drew, Mississippi, and I’ve seen him play for hundreds at chitlin’ circuit clubs like Larry’s down in Nesbit.

A few years ago, I watched him sweat in front of a full house at London’s Barbican Arts Centre, dispatching Lo, his dancer, and picking up a guitar to pick the chords for “Good Morning, Little School Girl.”

And in 2008, Rush took his act to Iraq, where he performed for appreciative G.I.s who were hungry for music from home.

Go to the concert tonight. It’s a rare chance to catch Mississippi’s most entertaining entertainer in an intimate room, and you’ll be supporting a great cause to boot. Call 525-FOLK or go here for more info.