Music often provides the soundtrack to our lives, but in "Soundtrack for a Revolution" (UNC-TV, 9 tonight), music was a sustaining force during the civil rights struggle.

Through interviews and archival footage, the 2009 documentary shows how the non-violent protesters used music -- most mined from slavery and the black church -- to say the things they couldn't say, get through the worse moments, and elevate their spirits during the imprisonments, violence and triumphs during the civil rights movement.

Some of the most pivotal songs are re-interpreted by modern acts ranging from North Carolina's Anthony Hamilton to legendary folk singer Richie Havens to Brit soul singer Joss Stone.

The latest round of Grammy nominations are out, mostly offering the usual top-of-the-charts dreck in the major catagories. Further down, however, some of our North Carolina folks picked up nominations:

Anthony Hamilton -- The Charlotte native picked up nominations in three categories: R&B Album, Male R&B Vocal Performance and Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

Calvin Richardson -- The Monroe-born Richardson earned a pair of nominations, for R&B Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals (shared with Ann Nesby) and Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Foreign Exchange -- Little Brother main man Phonte Coleman's side-project scored in the Urban/Alternative Performance category.

David Holt -- From the mountains of Western North Carolina, Holt is nominated for Traditional Folk Album.

Mamadou Diabate -- The Durham resident and kora master picks up his second nomination, for Traditional World Music Album.

Yep Roc Records -- Triangle-based label looks to capture its second Grammy, for Beausoleil's "Alligator Purse" in the category of Zydeco or Cajun Music Album.

Well, it was a pretty quiet night for North Carolina acts at Sunday night's Grammy Awards ceremony. About the only Tarheel victory was indirect and by association: Al Green won best traditional R&B vocal performance for "You've Got the Love I Need," a track that had Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton in a featured billing role.

Hands down, the best performance of the night came from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, who did a couple of songs right before they were presented with album of the year, and it was just as great as their show in Raleigh last year. Even better, Winston-Salem banjo player Riley Baugus (who played on one track on the Plant-Krauss album) was among the support players to get a shout-out from Plant during his acceptance speech.

UPDATE: I stand corrected, a reader was kind enough to point out that High Point's Anthony Dean Griffey won two classical Grammys (classical album and opera recording).

. . . and I have to say it was a pretty decent show. Dude came out in a gold-lame windbreaker and turned out a two-hour set that was equally extravagant. He launched into many of his favorites ("Charlene," "Comin' from Where I'm From") as well as a couple of tracks from his upcoming album, "The Point of It All" (the title track is the best). He truly had the packed crowd riveted when he did an apropos cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," which had him seguing into "Do You Feel Me," the best song of last year that came from a movie and didn't get nominated for an Oscar.

Yes, Mr. Hamilton turned it out here in Raleigh. For more accounts of Hamilton turning it out in other cities, go to his tour blog.