| David "Eli" Grimes |
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David "ELI" Grimes
By ANNE C. HEYMEN
"On the East Coast of Florida, there's a quaint little town. Almost 500 years of history can be found."
-- From "Pretty Little Old St. Augustine," by Eli Grimes.
David Eli Grimes, known in the music world as Eli Grimes, is a master storyteller -- or more specifically
a musical master storyteller.
"Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" is Grimes's latest contribution to the musical world.
It's a catchy tune, so pleasing, in fact, that it caught the attention of judges in two international
competitions. In the first, his song was selected as one of 100 from a field of 3,000, ultimately rated
within the top 10 songs.
By ANNE C. HEYMEN
"On the East Coast of Florida, there's a quaint little town. Almost 500 years of history can be found."
-- From "Pretty Little Old St. Augustine," by Eli Grimes.
David Eli Grimes, known in the music world as Eli Grimes, is a master storyteller -- or more specifically
a musical master storyteller.
"Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" is Grimes's latest contribution to the musical world.
It's a catchy tune, so pleasing, in fact, that it caught the attention of judges in two international
competitions. In the first, his song was selected as one of 100 from a field of 3,000, ultimately rated
within the top 10 songs.
In the second, Grimes earned semi-finalist honors in the UK Songwriting Contest 2010, a contest which attracted 5,000 entries. Out of a possible score of 10,
"Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" received a score of 7. Grimes's work was entered in the folk/country category, but it's a little country, a little pop and a little
mainstream, the composer says of the tune. "Over half of those (entered) didn't get a 5," rating, Grimes adds.
According to the contest website, 7 is a very impressive rating: "A score of 6 or 7 indicates that the song made the semifinals panels and is one of the stronger songs
in the contest. All these semifinalist songs are considered by the selection panels for the finals and a score of 7 indicates that the song was a borderline finalist and
almost made it through to the finals."
"Everywhere I go people just love the song," Grimes, a resident of the St. Johns River area, explains. In late May, Beach radio 92.7 in Palm Coast played "my music
for one hour," including the St. Augustine tribute.
Grimes completed "Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" last fall. It took him about six months to write it, he says, because "I wanted it to cover so many things about St.
Augustine. I kept changing it and changing it and changing it. And cover everything he did from Castillo de San Marcos and coquina to the Bridge of Lions, Spanish
Moss and Southern charm.
He chose the title, he explains, because in his travels with his business -- he recently opened Eli's Electrical Services, Inc., and travels in Florida and Georgia -- when
people asked him where he lived and he replied "St. Augustine," their immediate response was "that's a pretty little place."
Group Effort
Grimes composes the words and the melody. For the St. Augustine tune Kurt Johnston was his arranger. Johnston, now a resident of Ponte Vedra, at one period in
his professional career traveled with popular musical group Bon Jovi for a year and a half. "He makes me sound a whole lot better," Grimes adds of Johnston's talents.
"We had a good time doing it," Johnston says of his work with Grimes. He explains of his Bon Jovi experience: "I was on the first album that crossed over onto the
country charts -- the first rock band to cross over to the country charts with 'Lost Highway.'"
After Grimes creates the basics, Johnstone works with him and the recording is done with Jim Stafford and Eclipse Recording Company. "We ended up with over 60
tracks," Grimes says of the final of the St. Augustine song. Grimes is the vocalist and Johnston is the backup singer. Johnston also played all the instruments on the
recording. "Isn't it cool?" Stafford questions of the song. "We had a real good time recording it."
Describing Grimes as "a wonderful" person and "a rare asset to our community," Stafford emphasizes that Grimes is not only passionate about his work, but "most of
his songs have been written to do good."
The St. Johns River, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and many others have been subjects of Grimes's music. "He's got such a big heart," Stafford says of Grimes. "He's really
fun" to work with.
Since he began composing 25 years ago, Grimes has created some 30 songs. "Toy Boy" was his first. Another recent song is "Rock and Roll Backwards," a piece
played at a Jacksonville Jaguar home football game last season.
When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officials heard about that song, they requested a copy. Frankie Urzetta sings this selection. Grimes did careful research for this
song, says Stafford. He tried to write a song "that incorporated all the great things about rock and roll, and he really did it," particularly in choosing the tempo used by
most of the successful rock and roll songs.
"Hearing Eli's lyrics -- bringing the instruments in with it." Johnston explains, there's a little Beach Boys, Spanky and Our Gang, island-feel with kettle drums in "Pretty
Little Old St. Augustine."
Johnston, who serves as assistant music director at Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church in Palm Valley, also has a band, Kurt Johnston Band, and his wife, Debrann is
also involved.
"It really took on an anthem-type feel," Johnston says of the St. Augustine song. "It's nice to be able to try to rise to the challenge to kind of say it all in three minutes."
And, as seems to be true with any artist, Johnston says he would still like to "tweak" the song just a little more. He's pleased to work with Grimes, he says, because
"Eli's the kind of artist where he knows where he has a strength and then depends upon others" to add their expertise.
FIRST GUITAR
Grimes became interested in music at the age of 14.
"The first thing that inspired me to get into music," he says, was seeing the movie 'Your Cheating Heart,'" the story of singer Hank Williams.
At the time, Grimes and his family were living in Brunswick, Ga. "I asked my father to get me a guitar, but he said no. So I whined and wouldn't give up until he finally
gave in."
That first guitar was a True Tone which his father found for sale on the radio show Trader Jack and purchased for $25. They sold them at Western Auto, says
Grimes. Today, he uses a Taylor guitar, which Grimes describes as "definitely state-of-the-art. It's made with Tasmanian blackwood. His next musical contributions will
include a cowboy song. "I've always wanted to write a cowboy song," he says.
Of "Pretty Little Old St. Augustine," Stafford suggests that Grimes endeavored to capture the overall flavor of the oldest city. The song gets that message across.
"It feels good, and, of course," shares the message that "this is a magical place to live."
Grimes "has done a lot of good for the community," Stafford concludes, "and it's time the people know he's out there."
********************************************************************************************************************
Biography: Bands name is Eli's Coming and one day soon you will know Eli's Coming Band has arrived they are HERE!
Instrumentation: Eli song writer guitar, Kurt guitar and keyboards, Frankis Drums
Discography: "Ain't My 1st Rodeo" "Almost Christmas", "Do You Believe"?, "Red White & Blues", "Zip Code To Heaven", "Does Anybody Kare?",
"Homeless Dance", No One Knows Your Name" "Rock &Roll Backwards" Pretty Litle Old St. Augustine"
********************************************************************************************************************
"Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" received a score of 7. Grimes's work was entered in the folk/country category, but it's a little country, a little pop and a little
mainstream, the composer says of the tune. "Over half of those (entered) didn't get a 5," rating, Grimes adds.
According to the contest website, 7 is a very impressive rating: "A score of 6 or 7 indicates that the song made the semifinals panels and is one of the stronger songs
in the contest. All these semifinalist songs are considered by the selection panels for the finals and a score of 7 indicates that the song was a borderline finalist and
almost made it through to the finals."
"Everywhere I go people just love the song," Grimes, a resident of the St. Johns River area, explains. In late May, Beach radio 92.7 in Palm Coast played "my music
for one hour," including the St. Augustine tribute.
Grimes completed "Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" last fall. It took him about six months to write it, he says, because "I wanted it to cover so many things about St.
Augustine. I kept changing it and changing it and changing it. And cover everything he did from Castillo de San Marcos and coquina to the Bridge of Lions, Spanish
Moss and Southern charm.
He chose the title, he explains, because in his travels with his business -- he recently opened Eli's Electrical Services, Inc., and travels in Florida and Georgia -- when
people asked him where he lived and he replied "St. Augustine," their immediate response was "that's a pretty little place."
Group Effort
Grimes composes the words and the melody. For the St. Augustine tune Kurt Johnston was his arranger. Johnston, now a resident of Ponte Vedra, at one period in
his professional career traveled with popular musical group Bon Jovi for a year and a half. "He makes me sound a whole lot better," Grimes adds of Johnston's talents.
"We had a good time doing it," Johnston says of his work with Grimes. He explains of his Bon Jovi experience: "I was on the first album that crossed over onto the
country charts -- the first rock band to cross over to the country charts with 'Lost Highway.'"
After Grimes creates the basics, Johnstone works with him and the recording is done with Jim Stafford and Eclipse Recording Company. "We ended up with over 60
tracks," Grimes says of the final of the St. Augustine song. Grimes is the vocalist and Johnston is the backup singer. Johnston also played all the instruments on the
recording. "Isn't it cool?" Stafford questions of the song. "We had a real good time recording it."
Describing Grimes as "a wonderful" person and "a rare asset to our community," Stafford emphasizes that Grimes is not only passionate about his work, but "most of
his songs have been written to do good."
The St. Johns River, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and many others have been subjects of Grimes's music. "He's got such a big heart," Stafford says of Grimes. "He's really
fun" to work with.
Since he began composing 25 years ago, Grimes has created some 30 songs. "Toy Boy" was his first. Another recent song is "Rock and Roll Backwards," a piece
played at a Jacksonville Jaguar home football game last season.
When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officials heard about that song, they requested a copy. Frankie Urzetta sings this selection. Grimes did careful research for this
song, says Stafford. He tried to write a song "that incorporated all the great things about rock and roll, and he really did it," particularly in choosing the tempo used by
most of the successful rock and roll songs.
"Hearing Eli's lyrics -- bringing the instruments in with it." Johnston explains, there's a little Beach Boys, Spanky and Our Gang, island-feel with kettle drums in "Pretty
Little Old St. Augustine."
Johnston, who serves as assistant music director at Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church in Palm Valley, also has a band, Kurt Johnston Band, and his wife, Debrann is
also involved.
"It really took on an anthem-type feel," Johnston says of the St. Augustine song. "It's nice to be able to try to rise to the challenge to kind of say it all in three minutes."
And, as seems to be true with any artist, Johnston says he would still like to "tweak" the song just a little more. He's pleased to work with Grimes, he says, because
"Eli's the kind of artist where he knows where he has a strength and then depends upon others" to add their expertise.
FIRST GUITAR
Grimes became interested in music at the age of 14.
"The first thing that inspired me to get into music," he says, was seeing the movie 'Your Cheating Heart,'" the story of singer Hank Williams.
At the time, Grimes and his family were living in Brunswick, Ga. "I asked my father to get me a guitar, but he said no. So I whined and wouldn't give up until he finally
gave in."
That first guitar was a True Tone which his father found for sale on the radio show Trader Jack and purchased for $25. They sold them at Western Auto, says
Grimes. Today, he uses a Taylor guitar, which Grimes describes as "definitely state-of-the-art. It's made with Tasmanian blackwood. His next musical contributions will
include a cowboy song. "I've always wanted to write a cowboy song," he says.
Of "Pretty Little Old St. Augustine," Stafford suggests that Grimes endeavored to capture the overall flavor of the oldest city. The song gets that message across.
"It feels good, and, of course," shares the message that "this is a magical place to live."
Grimes "has done a lot of good for the community," Stafford concludes, "and it's time the people know he's out there."
********************************************************************************************************************
Biography: Bands name is Eli's Coming and one day soon you will know Eli's Coming Band has arrived they are HERE!
Instrumentation: Eli song writer guitar, Kurt guitar and keyboards, Frankis Drums
Discography: "Ain't My 1st Rodeo" "Almost Christmas", "Do You Believe"?, "Red White & Blues", "Zip Code To Heaven", "Does Anybody Kare?",
"Homeless Dance", No One Knows Your Name" "Rock &Roll Backwards" Pretty Litle Old St. Augustine"
********************************************************************************************************************
A REVIEW FROM GARY ALLEN
ELI is a most enjoyable and creative artist who performs essentially everything from rockabilly to some of
the best country I have had in my Sonicbids competition, thrown in for good measure . A real Southern
troubadour that possesses a good powerful voice plus bags of stage presence. He knew what was wanted
and delivered with this collection of heartfelt and compassionate original songs.
My first impression of ELI, was that he reminded me of when my parents took me to the Opry House as a
kid, and I was always mesmerized by Marty Robbins. He has that quality. He missed his calling by not
being around for the Memphis Sun Quartet. He would have been a natural. Some of his tracks are very
early Elvis sounding, with masterful arranging by Bon Jovi alumni, Kurt Johnston. I love the steel guitar
work and the layering of the production is haunting as Roy Orbison, who Springsteen said, sounded like
a ghost coming from the radio. ELI's rockabilly style is in full force.
"Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" was the track that placed runner up in my competition, and that's
impressive. I have Rolling Stones, Doobie Brothers and Pointer Sisters in the running. I love the flute
and the laid back feel of this track that makes you feel the charm of the nation's oldest city.The City of
ELI is a most enjoyable and creative artist who performs essentially everything from rockabilly to some of
the best country I have had in my Sonicbids competition, thrown in for good measure . A real Southern
troubadour that possesses a good powerful voice plus bags of stage presence. He knew what was wanted
and delivered with this collection of heartfelt and compassionate original songs.
My first impression of ELI, was that he reminded me of when my parents took me to the Opry House as a
kid, and I was always mesmerized by Marty Robbins. He has that quality. He missed his calling by not
being around for the Memphis Sun Quartet. He would have been a natural. Some of his tracks are very
early Elvis sounding, with masterful arranging by Bon Jovi alumni, Kurt Johnston. I love the steel guitar
work and the layering of the production is haunting as Roy Orbison, who Springsteen said, sounded like
a ghost coming from the radio. ELI's rockabilly style is in full force.
"Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" was the track that placed runner up in my competition, and that's
impressive. I have Rolling Stones, Doobie Brothers and Pointer Sisters in the running. I love the flute
and the laid back feel of this track that makes you feel the charm of the nation's oldest city.The City of
St. Augustine is the nation's oldest permanently occupied European settlement, having been founded by the Spanish in 1565. Saint Augustine was quoted as saying,"
Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the rest will be needed by others." ELI puts that into lyrics with songs like this and "No One
Knows Your Name", one of my personal favorites from these tunes.
"Ain't My First Rodeo" is as country as cornbread and could be played at The Opry, Tootsie's and alongside any country stars on the horizon. I love the Porter
Waggoner style recitation. That's classic and country radio ready.
"Rock and Roll Backwards" is an up tempo flat out arena rocker. ELI covers a lot of ground and genres and does them all professionally and effectively. The band is
tight and the arrangements are clean and top shelf all the way. ELI has come a long way from the Western Auto guitar and has not strayed from his musical roots.
The Chamber Of Commerce should have ELI write them a song or give a listen to "Pretty Little Old Saint Augustine". We came onstage with "The Tennessee Waltz "in
the Charlie Daniels Band. He could no doubt write their city's anthem. ELI's music transports me to those narrow old world streets and beautiful beaches like a good
book or a spell binding movie. St. Augustine could not have a better voice or spokesperson than him.
Congratulations, and you can add a new fan to your address book. A shining star, a decent human being with a big heart. When you hear these songs you may
discover some things about yourself. ELI has emerged as an extraordinary innovative force, a singular voice whose music remains determinedly-and even gloriously -
well beyond the trivial fads and fashions of popular culture.
Hang on to your hearts and hats, folks because ELI'S Coming!
-Gary Allen (The Charlie Daniels Band/JJ Cale)
********************************************************************************************************************
Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the rest will be needed by others." ELI puts that into lyrics with songs like this and "No One
Knows Your Name", one of my personal favorites from these tunes.
"Ain't My First Rodeo" is as country as cornbread and could be played at The Opry, Tootsie's and alongside any country stars on the horizon. I love the Porter
Waggoner style recitation. That's classic and country radio ready.
"Rock and Roll Backwards" is an up tempo flat out arena rocker. ELI covers a lot of ground and genres and does them all professionally and effectively. The band is
tight and the arrangements are clean and top shelf all the way. ELI has come a long way from the Western Auto guitar and has not strayed from his musical roots.
The Chamber Of Commerce should have ELI write them a song or give a listen to "Pretty Little Old Saint Augustine". We came onstage with "The Tennessee Waltz "in
the Charlie Daniels Band. He could no doubt write their city's anthem. ELI's music transports me to those narrow old world streets and beautiful beaches like a good
book or a spell binding movie. St. Augustine could not have a better voice or spokesperson than him.
Congratulations, and you can add a new fan to your address book. A shining star, a decent human being with a big heart. When you hear these songs you may
discover some things about yourself. ELI has emerged as an extraordinary innovative force, a singular voice whose music remains determinedly-and even gloriously -
well beyond the trivial fads and fashions of popular culture.
Hang on to your hearts and hats, folks because ELI'S Coming!
-Gary Allen (The Charlie Daniels Band/JJ Cale)
********************************************************************************************************************
| ***************************************************** David "Eli" Grimes Links: Facebook Sonicbids EPK CONTACT David Eli Grimes 10360 CR 13 N St. Augustine Florida 32092 Phone: 904-318-0141 ****************************************************** |
| Pretty Little Old St. Augustine by David "Eli" Grimes Promotional video for the annual Prayer Walk through for and through the city of St Augustine hosted by the Christian Ministerial Alliance. Song written and produced (copyrighted 2009) by Eli Grimes and the Eli's Coming Band (used with permission) . |
| Tennessee Concerts Song Contest |
| RED FLAG! WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH NASHVILLE DRUMMER GARY ALLEN OR HIS PROMOTIONS |
