LOCAL MUSICIAN, ANTONIO “YONS” GARDENER, WINS GRAMMY
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song Category Co-Winner
Serves West Louisville Community as Amped Music Academy Leader
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2024) – Antonio “Yons” Gardener has been a part of the Louisville music scene as a rapper, singer, beat-maker, writer and producer. Recently, his greatest personal achievement occurred during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, which saw Gardener recognized with his first Grammy nomination and win in the Best Contemporary Christian Song category for “Your Power” performed by Lecrae and Tasha Cobbs Leonard.
Gardener received both a singer and songwriter credit for his work in writing and producing the song’s chorus. What began as a project he was appreciative to work on, yielded a result that was certainly unexpected.
When asked how he first learned of the nomination, Gardener noted, “A friend of mine who works in song licensing sent me a congratulations note on social media. I thought it had to be wrong. I went to the Grammy’s website listing of nominations and began to search. I made it to the end and thought it was a mistake, but then, on the last line, there was “Your Power.”
Gardener grew up in South St. Petersburg, Fl., under challenging circumstances. However, his local Baptist church provided respite. Also, an annual youth trip to Southern Indiana and Louisville. It was those trips as a child that planted the seed for Gardener to nurture a love for music and also dream of a day he may call the Louisville area a permanent home.
“I grew up in South St Pete. I grew up in the hood and our summer trips to Southern Indiana was my fun time… Clarksville and River Falls Mall. I enjoyed it and made it my goal to move here,” said Gardener. “At that time, I wanted to be a youth minister. I wanted to lead youth and make music. Once I made Louisville home, I got involved with the Louisville music scene. At St. Pete College I’d won a talent show as a rap act so decided to get my feet wet playing live around Louisville in hip hop scene. When I started getting recognized as a real hip hop artist, it was my favorite moment.”
While seeds of that first favorite moment have blossomed into a budding career including music’s most prestigious honor, Gardeners roots in music and education remain firm. While Gardener has continued to make music, whether writing, singing, rapping, producing or making beats, he also has transitioned to his original dream of leading youth in the form of the Amped Music Academy.
Located in Louisville’s Chickasaw neighborhood, the Amped Music Academy opened its doors nearly 10 years ago as the growing organization’s founding program. The music academy empowers youth to work as a team, express themselves, and develop into healthy, productive members of the community through music. The program offers youth instruments, music lessons, writing tips, studio time, production guidance, and much more. Many talented local producers and musicians support the organization. That list now includes a Grammy winner.
“The Amped studio was the first local studio I used for recording in Louisville. From there Dave (Christopher Jr., Amped Music Academy Program Director) asked if I would perform and talk with the kids at the Amped summer camp,” recalls Gardener. “After the camp, Dave (Christopher Sr., Amped Founder & President) hit me up and said, ‘I like how you interacted and engaged with kids, would you like to work with us at Amped?’”
For Gardener, he considered it a natural progression from his early days, and, while he continues to create music, he now serves as the Amped Music Academy’s Production Director.
“I’m older, a father now, and it felt like I was transitioning into a natural role,” said Gardener. “I’m able to mentor kids and our program offers a community safe space as those kids find a creative outlet designed to help them successfully transition to adulthood.”
Winning a Grammy is the pinnacle for most artists and producers songwriters, so what do you do with it and, ultimately, where does one go from there?
“I have to order my official Grammy. I have a piano at home that might make for a good display. Hey, if I win a few more maybe I’ll have to get a fancy shelf or display case,” Gardener joked with a smile.
While Gardener admits he’s likely to continue fueling his personal creative passion, as he continues to grow and develop into a leader of an engaged and impressionable audience, the path forward will be paved with perspective and intent.
“People want to hear new rap music from me, but I want it to be pushed in tandem with what I do for Amped,” said Gardener. “I want to work inside and outside of hip hop spaces from schools to churches and beyond. My goal is to produce “inspirational hip hop” in the form of music I can play for my kids, but also perform in traditional hip hop spaces. I want to make music that will span many demographics.”
As fortunate as Yons feels to be honored with a Grammy, Louisville is equally fortunate to have an emerging leader in the community supporting young creative minds and open hearts. It’s a full circle moment for Gardener, who once was supported by his church, community and even a second home that now serves as his primary residence—and purpose.
Amped is a Black-founded, Black-led not-for-profit organization working to elevate West Louisville from within by creating economic empowerment, ownership, and independence using music, technology and business. Founded in 2014, the Amped Music Academy began as the organization’s guiding program. The Music Academy empowers youth to work as a team, learn how to express themselves effectively, and develop into healthy, productive members of our community and the world. Kids and adults are encouraged to express their creativity through music: writing, performing, and producing. The Amped Music Academy is viewed as the gateway to the larger Amped ecosystem, first bringing in the kids while the adult family members find opportunities within Amped’s adult-oriented programs including technology workforce training and the Russel Tech Business Incubator.
Contact:
Jason Eiche
jeiche@bellarmine.edu
Phone: 513.313.9711
