(WFSB) - A West Haven couple has won a Grammy!
They are fresh off a win from last year for a jazz album and as Stephanie Simoni predicted, their newest album will strike the right note with animal lovers.
Three things are as clear as Nicole Zuraitis’s beautiful voice, the love she shares with her husband, Dan Pugach.
“Dan and I are each other’s muses,” said Nicole. “We met through music in 2009.”
The passion they share for music and they bond they have over rescue animals.
“Pitbulls don’t have a voice. So we like to use our music to be the voice for them,” added Nicole.
“Bianca was a foster and she kind of kept Nicole and I together and definitely got us closer,” expressed Dan.
The couple was at the Grammys and Nicole is fresh of her win last year for best jazz vocal album.
Eyewitness News caught up with them in their West Haven home studio before they left.
“We just feel unbelievably grateful to be recognized by our peers like this,” said Dan. “It’s really cool that all the jazz and all the pop and film score and everyone comes together and celebrates music.”
The two of them clinched a total of four nominations for their latest masterpiece, Bianca reimagined proceeds go to helping animal shelters and the the album is inspired by their rescue pup, Bianca.
A musical mascot of sorts.
“She was there in good times and rough times,” noted Dan. “She was always there. Always at rehearsals, at gigs, festivals, recording sessions.”
“Pit bulls are inherently good and a completely misunderstood breed,” explained Nicole.
The two are currently fostering dolly from the New York animal shelter so with their philanthropy, music, and award shows to attend, the couple agrees it’s not always easy.
[Reporter: Is it hard to work with your partner?]
“Is it hard to work with your partner? Are you kidding? said Nicole
“We had such a fight on one of the tours that we couldn’t snap out of,” noted Dan.
“I was like I’m not doing the next tour and she’s like fine and they did the next tour and we missed each other,” added Dan.
But they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“These are the moments where we go okay, this is why we do this,” expressed Nicole.
“Yeah it’s a lot, but it’s worth it because there’s no one I would rather be working with and hanging out with. I feel like I can’t get enough of Nicole,” said Dan.
And that has proved to be an award-winning arrangement.
The dynamic duo also has tour dates this year and to check them out, CLICK HERE.
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