Compilation featuring Pere's song wins Grammy

By The Press Staff

Mystic resident and songwriter Bill Pere became a Grammy Award winner at the 54th Grammy Awards on last night. His song "Donkey in a Ditch", co-written with Les Julian, was included on the multi-artist anti-bullying CD "All About Bullies Big and Small," which beat more than 100 other entries to become one of the final five, and was announced at the ceremonies as the winner of "Best Children's Album of the Year." All proceeds from the CD benefit the PACER Kids Against Bullying Foundation.

Pere learned of the album's victory at 5 p.m. on Sunday, shortly after the announcement had been made. By midnight, a flood of international congratulations had come in from as far as Israel, Greece, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, where many are aware of Pere's 33 years of work in the music industry.

Pere is President of the Connecticut Songwriters Association and Founder of Local United Network to Combat Hunger. He presents songwriting workshops across the U.S. based on his book "Songcrafters' Coloring Book," and encourages artists to use songwriting and performance to support charitable causes.

Written in 1996 "Donkey in a Ditch," has been performed hundreds of times at schools, music camps and festivals across the U.S.