Congratulations goes out to Virgin Islander Theron Thomas for winning Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical) at the 66th Grammy Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles.
Thomas was nominated alongside Edgar, Barrera, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shane McAnally, and Justin Tranter.
No stranger to being nominated for Grammy Awards, Thomas expressed his gratitude for his family and friends during his acceptance speech. “This award is for my fatha. I lose my fatha three years ago to cancer. My fatha tell me when I was nine years old, Theron, you’re gonna with a Grammy and here’s to show, my fatha was never a liar, the greatest man that ever lived,” he said.
“Let’s go!My name is Theron Thomas. This award is for my father. Leh me tell ayu something, I lose my father about three years ago to cancer. My father tell me when I were 9 years old, Theron you gon’ win a Grammy, and here’s to show my father was never a liar — the greatest man that ever lived,” he said using V.I. dialect.
“My father told me when I was nine years old, Theron, you’re gonna win a GRAMMY,”
~Theron Thomas.
In an interview last year with the Source, the singer/songwriter expressed how he wanted to be nominated in this category. “This year is the first year they have songwriter of the year (non-classical), and I really really was looking forward to being nominated to be a part of history, but I wasn’t,” he said at the time. Well, the second time is a charm as he is the second winner in this category. The first being Tobias Jesso Jr., who won the award at last year’s ceremony.
The win marks Thomas’ first solo GRAMMY win.
Thomas’ win on Sunday marked his second Grammy in a row, contributing “About Damn Time” to artist Lizzo, who won Record of the Year at last year’s Grammy Awards.
In 2009, R. City (duo group with his brother Timothy) won its first Grammy for their songwriting contribution “If this isn’t Love” to Jennifer Hudson, who won Best R&B Album. Then in 2014, the duo won with the songwriting contribution “Pour it up” to Rihanna, who won a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary
Jimmy Jam gave Thomas the trophy during the GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony. Thomas is the second-ever winner in this category. Tobias Jesso, Jr. won the first-ever GRAMMY for Songwriter Of The YeaIr last year.
RCS Sidebar: I have been a supporter, fan and follower of R. City from the moment I learned of them. Seeing Theron on his Grammy was so special for all of us from the tiny island of St Thomas. So happy for him it is so well deserved!
