We know that award shows in general are but a predictable development in the fury of award-giving seeded by the entertainment biz — a growth that now sees thousands of ceremonies worldwide commemorating the accomplishments of everything from soy protein to porn-star orifices.
Which brings us to the Detroit Music Awards. Yes, it was a party. And, yes, the crowded State Theatre boasted stellar performances last Friday by the Detroit Experiment, Calvin Cooke, and Black Bottom Collective. (Disclosure: BBC’s front man is Metro Times contributor Khary Kimani Turner).
But, from this point of view, there was a discernible lethargy — a non-specific haze — that hung in the air of the star-bereft affair; few paid attention to the actual presentation of trophies and there were plenty of no-show recipients. That probably doesn’t diminish the elation felt by the multitude of winners. And here it is, the complete list of honorees from the annual DMAs, courtesy of the Motor City Music Foundation:
National Album — Funk Brothers, Standing In The Shadows of Motown (sound track)
National Single — Eminem, “Lose Yourself”
Outstanding Acoustic Artist/Group — Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers
Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Instrumentalist — Sista Otis, guitar
Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Recording — Sista Otis, We Ain’t Never Gonna Die
Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Songwriter — Liz Larin
Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Vocalist — Liz Larin
Outstanding Alternative/Indie Artist/Group — The Fags
Outstanding Blues Artist/Group — Thornetta Davis
Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist — Johnnie Bassett, guitar
Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording — Robert Jones, In the Tradition
Outstanding Blues/R&B Songwriter — Robert Jones
Outstanding Blues/R&B Vocalist — Thornetta Davis
Outstanding Classical Composer — James Lentini
Outstanding Classical Instrumentalist — Peter Soave
Outstanding Classical Recording — University of Michigan Symphony Band, H. Roberts Reynolds: The Retirement Concert
Outstanding Classical Small Ensemble — The Dearing Concert Duo
Outstanding Classical Vocalist — Dana Lentini
Outstanding Community Orchestra — Warren Symphony Orchestra
Outstanding Country Artist/Group — The Wrenfields
Outstanding Country Instrumentalist — Tim Duvalier, slide guitar/ guitar, The Orbitsuns
Outstanding Country Recording — The Wrenfields: Seconds
Outstanding Country Songwriter — Tracy Leigh Bechard
Outstanding Country Vocalist — Tracy Leigh Bechard
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Artist/Group — Twilight Babies
Outstanding Electronic/Dance DJ — Derrick May
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Recording — Twilight Babies, If You Want Me
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Writer/Producer — Carl Craig
Outstanding Folk Artist/Group — Tangerine Trousers
Outstanding Gospel Choir — Church of Today
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Artist/Group — Spirit of David
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Musician — Selecia Hinton, keyboards
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Recording — The Winans, The Best of the Winans
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Songwriter — Derrick Starks, Selecia Hinton (tie)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Vocalist — Kem Owens, Gospel Truth; Michael Brock, Gospel Truth (tie)
Outstanding Hard Rock/Metal Artist/Group — Broadzilla
Outstanding Hip-Hop Artist/Group — Paradime
Outstanding Hip-Hop DJ — DJ Stezo, Buddha Fulla Rymez
Outstanding Hip-Hop MC — Hush
Outstanding Industrial Artist/Group — The Impaler
Outstanding Jazz Composer — Robert Tye
Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist — Marcus Belgrave, trumpet
Outstanding Jazz Recording — Robert Tye, Virtues of the Well
Outstanding Jazz Vocalist — Sheila Landis
Outstanding Live Performance — Riot in Progress
Outstanding Live Sound Technician — Terry Cox
Outstanding Modern Jazz Artist/Group — Marcus Belgrave
Outstanding Pop Artist/Group — Liz Larin
Outstanding R&B Artist/Group — Bugs Beddow Band
Outstanding Record Label — Static Records
Outstanding Record Producer — Nolan Mendenhall
Outstanding Reggae/Ska Artist/Group — Immunity
Outstanding Rock Artist/Group — The Paybacks
Outstanding Rock/Pop Instrumentalist — Liz Larin, guitar/ bass
Outstanding Rock/Pop Recording — Liz Larin, The Story of O-Miz
Outstanding Rock/Pop Songwriter — Vinnie Dombroski, Sponge/Orbitsuns/Crud
Outstanding Rock/Pop Vocalist — Liz Larin
Outstanding Studio — Tempermill
Outstanding Traditional Jazz Artist/Group — Matt Michaels Trio
Outstanding Urban/Funk Artist/Group — Brothers Groove
Outstanding Urban/Funk Musician — Chris Codish, keyboards, Brothers Groove
Outstanding Urban/Funk Songwriter — Chris Codish, Brothers Groove
Outstanding Urban/Funk/Hip-Hop Recording — Black Bottom Collective, Stay Low, Keep Moving
Outstanding World Artist/Group — Blackman and Arnold
Outstanding World/Reggae/Ska Instrumentalist — Sean Blackman, Guitar, Blackman and Arnold
Outstanding World/Reggae/Ska Recording — Immigrant Suns, Supernova
Outstanding World/Reggae/Ska Songwriter — Tom Varga, Immunity
Outstanding World/Reggae/Ska Vocalist — Benny Cruz, Benny Cruz y La Buena Vida
Brian Smith is the music editor of Metro Times. E-mail [email protected]
