2 Local Producers Nominated for Grammy Awards

When it comes to music production, South Jersey is well represented at tonight's Grammy Awards. A native of Pleasantville and another of Vineland could take home two of tonight's biggest prizes.

Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who hales from Pleasantiville and musically helped steer the careers of everyone from Brandy, to Beyonce, to Jennifer Lopez, is nominated in the Record of the Year category for the spin he put on the radio mix of British newcomer Sam Smith's "Stay With Me". Record of the Year is one of the most prestigious of the Grammy categories.

The 37-year old was one of the producers of the (Darkchild Version) of "Stay With Me." The original version, featured on Smith's debut album "In The Lonely Hour", features strings, while Jerkins' version brought more sole to the track with an organ replacing the string section. The version helped propel "Stay With Me" to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, solidifying Smith's state-side crossover.

Vineland's Ronny "Flip" Colson could score a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Song if a song he co-wrote and produced for Usher called "Good Kisser" wins.

24-year old Colson told Press of Atlantic City, "I was just mad-hyped. I called my moms, mad loud. I scared her when I called. She answered the phone at work, and I was like, 'I got Grammy-nominated. Oh, my gosh.' I was dope. It was real dope."

"Good Kisser" hit No. 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

Best of luck to both of these talented men making South Jersey proud.