Brainerd neighborhood native BJ the Chicago Kid nominated for GRAMMY for collaboration on Sam Cooke classic
CHICAGO (CBS) -- BJ the Chicago Kid, a native of the South Side's Brainerd neighborhood, was nominated for a GRAMMY for his collaboration with PJ Morton, Kenyon Dixon, and Charlie Bereal for a cover of a Sam Cooke classic.
Their rendition of "Bring It on Home to Me" was a nominee for Best Traditional R&B Performance. "Fight For You" - H.E.R. ended up winning the award.
As noted by Entertainment Tonight last year, the rendition of Cooke's 1962 hit was accompanied by a video inspired by Leslie Odom Jr's portrayal of Cooke in the movie "One Night in Miami."
"It happened really quickly and organically, actually," Morton told Entertainment Tonight in April of last year. "BJ asked me to come to the studio to record this duet of Sam Cooke's 'Bring It On Home to Me' for a project he was working on. After listening, we both felt a third harmony could be nice. We both had the same idea that Kenyon Dixon would fit perfectly. Right after that, the news about Leslie Odom Jr.'s Oscar nomination for his performance as Sam Cooke in 'One Night in Miami' came out. So I hit BJ and asked him what he thought about us just putting it out now, paying homage to Sam Cooke, of course, but also to show to Leslie and the movie some love because we all loved it."
Full list of GRAMMY nominees and winners
BJ the Chicago Kid, whose real name is Bryan James Sledge, was the youngest of three boys. His parents were both choir directors and he grew up singing in church – but his father also exposed him to secular musical inspiration, according to his Motown bio.
He wrote his first song as a teen, and has collaborated with artists such as Vic Mensa, Chance The Rapper, Dom Kennedy, Freddie Gills, Ty Dolla, $ign, and Xzibit, according to his bio.
This was BJ the Chicago Kid's seventh GRAMMY nomination. He has not yet won a GRAMMY.
