It's hard to believe that 19 Zodiacs have come & gone since the
1st Review Music Awards Ceremony was held at the Fordney
Lounge back in 1987. Obviously, a lot of changes have come &
gone in that time span. Many talented musicians in the area
such as Larry McCray, Donny Brown & Sharrie WIlliams have
gone on to achieve national & international acclaim, while
others such as Charlie Brown, Bob Logan, Nick Andros and
Bob Grundner are sadly no longer with us.

But despite the beating metronome of time, one thing has
remained constant: our commitment to honoring the many
talented voices, musicians, groups & individuals that truly
define the sound of our time here in the tri-cities and enrich
our area with their talent & accomplishment. And when it
comes to 'cool & hip cities', few events validate the strength
of the tri-city area more than our annual Music Awards
Ceremony.

Our 19th Music Awards Ceremony was held on May 2nd
at Shooters of Saginaw and witnessed over 500 people in
attendance. This year we received 2,286 nominating & final
award ballots. The total number of nominees is listed below
each category, with the top five nominees and final selection
listed at the bottom.

Throughout the summer we will be profiling various winners,
and trust you will enjoy this 'Special Edition' of The Review.

- Robert E. Martin * Editor & Publisher
 

 

 

 

ROCK

BEST ROCK BAND
(32 nominations)
The Banana Convention
Burnaround
Empty Pockets
The Sinclairs
Radio Therapy
Jedi Mind Trip
Winner: 2nd System

BEST ROCK VOCALIST
(35 nominations)
Dan Ardouin  (Jedi)
Dennis Beson (Sinclairs)
Pat Brennan
Mike McMath (Empty Pockets)
Chris Mohn (Lovelys)
Winner: Rod Wagner

FEMALE ROCK VOCALIST
(14 nominations)
Trish Chandler
Mel Curry
Lauren Davis
Double Bubble Girls
Jessica Faught
Winner: Noel Howland

ROCK GUITARIST
(36 nominations)
Bobby Balderama (Robert Lee)
Justin Jacqmain (Somewhere Safe)
Rod Loomis (The Sinclairs)
Mike Manges (Empty Pockets)
Winner: Chris Mohn

ROCK DRUMMER
(37 nominations)
Fletch Balanski
Matt Burgie
Jeremy (Jay) Bolt
Dan Fish
Randy Hurry
Winner: Oscar Gomez

ROCK KEYBOARDS
(19 nominations)
Noel Leaman
Jeff Ott
Jim Perkins
Frank Rodriquez (Robert Lee)
Dan Sliwinski (Count 'n Change)
Winner: Noel Howland

ROCK BASSIST
(38 nominations)
Sean Haller
Chris Jarema (Sinclairs)
Mark Miller (Lovelys)
Tom Towns (Radio Therapy)
Mark Weiler (Burnaround)
Jay Weirrach
Sue Light (Serving Chaos)
Winner: Mike McMath
(Empty Pockets)

ROCK
INSTRUMENTALIST
(10 nominations)
Mike Crampton (Lovelys)
Kevin Gramada
Oily McBride
Darin Scott (Abattoir 3000)
Winner: Earl 'The Squirrel Tiffin

ROCK SONGWRITER
(25 nominations)
Pat Brennan
Brian Delbosque (Silverspork)
Scott McMath (Empty Pockets)
Mike McMath (Empty Pockets)
Winner: Dave Kellan

ROCK BAND DWR
(35 nominations)
Empty Pockets
The Lovelys
The Banana Convention
Second System
Stomping Ground
Winner: Somewhere Safe

ROCK MUSICIAN DWR
(35 nominations)
Pat Brennan
Christopher Howard
Rick Manges (Empty Pockets
Mark Zimmer
Winner: Mel Curry (The Lovelys)

BEST ROCK CLUB
(22 nominations)
Hamilton St. Pub
Northern Lanes
Rumors
The Westown
Whites Bar
Woody O'Briens
Winner: Shooters of Saginaw

ROCK ROOKIE OF
THE YEAR (25 nominations)
Tony Barr, Jr.
Mel Curry
Honesty Elliot
Empty Pockets
Winner: The Banana Convention

MISC

METAL THRASH BAND
(15 nominations)
Killshot
Silverspork
Miscreants
Room 813
Winner: Guilty

ALTERNATIVE BAND
(20 nominations)

Banana Convention
Born
Room 813
Somewhere Safe
Winner: Negative Sleep

VARIETY BAND
(23 nominations)
Count n Change
Empty Pockets
Jedi Mind Trip
Kindred
The Lovelys
The Sinclairs
Tongue
Winner: Robert Lee Band

ORIGINAL BAND
(32 nominations)
Burnaround
Empty Pockets
Guilty
Radio Therapy
Second System
Negative Sleep
Winner: The Banana Convention

RAP ARTIST
(8 nominations)
Beaver Shoot
JP
AK
Winner: Tie: Astray & Jekel

BEST SOLO ARTIST
(14 nominations)
Jen Cass
Dave Kellan
Andrew Kitzman
Jim Metevia
Winner: Tie - Dave Kellan
and Jim Perkins

BEST CD RELEASE
(17 nominations)
Abattoir 3000
Splashzooka
Nut Brown Hair w/Julie Mulady
Winner: tie - Empty Pockets
& Radio Therapy

BEST WEBSITE
(19 nominations)
Abattoir 3000
Guilty
Jedi Mind Trip
Second System
Winner: Somewhere Safe

BEST LIGHTMAN
(10 nominations)
Jon LaCross
Tim Reid
Lenny Jaskowski
Kathy Pisarski
Winner: Al Limberg

BEST SOUNDMAN
(10 nominations)
Jon LaCross
Lenny Jaskowski
Tim Reid
Tony LaFrance
Winner: Al Limberg

BEST DJ/MC
(12 nominations)
Silky
Matt Barnard
Chad & Jeremey
Winner: Lionel Braddock
(DJ Fade)

BEST WAITRESS/
WAITER
(16 nominations)
Kristine Neumayer
Kelli Crawford
Jenny Zimmerman
Kristy Woods
Winner: Amanda White

BEST BARTENDER
(20 nominations)
Kristy White-Avram
Chris (Ham. St. Pub)
Dawn Dickerson
Isaac (Lucky's)
Winner: STREZ

COUNTRY

BEST COUNTRY BAND
(4 nominations)
Broken Arrow
Jamie Sue Seal & Radiotown Flyers
Young Country
Winner: Laurie Middlebrook Band

MALE VOCALIST
(5 nominations)
Jeff Walikangas
Greg Jenkinson
Arlyn Willet
Tom Neumeyer
Winner: Russ Scripture

FEMALE VOCALIST
(4  nominations)
Jamie Sue Seal
Vicky Fellow
Jen Cass
Winner: Laurie Middlebrook

COUNTRY GUITARIST
(8 nominations)
Tom Neumeyer
Russ Scripture
Bob Hausler
Greg Jenkinson
Winner: Scott Vandell

COUNTRY DRUMMER
(8 nominations)
Mark Dault
John Cashman
Tom Dolson
Oscar Gomez
Winner: Mike Hill

COUNTRY BASSIST
(6 nominations)
Tom Randel
Dave Keeney
Willie Love
Thumbs Harvey
Winner: Lonny Widerhold

INSTRUMENTALIST
(3 nominations)
Andy Chorkey
Mike Hawks
Winner: Bob Hausler

SONGWRITER
(4 nominations)
Jamie Sue Seal
Dan Ardouin
Tim Neumeyer
Winner: Laurie Middlebrook

COUNTRY MUSICIAN
DWR (5 nominations)
Mark Dault
Laurie Middlebrook
Tommy K
Tim Neumeyer
Winner: Jamie Sue Seal

COUNTY BAND DWR
(2 nominations)
Lauire Middlebrook Band
Winner: Jamie Sue Seal

BEST COUNTRY CLUB
(6 nominatnions)
Tommy K's
Rumors
Rodeitcher's
Club 20
Winner: White's Bar

BLUES

BEST FUNK BAND
(14 nominations)
Dave Kellan Band
Stamp'd
Count n Change
Matt Besey Band
Winner: Robert Lee Band


BEST BLUES BAND
(12 nominations)
Robert Lee Band
Dave Kellan Band
TNT Blues Band
Muddy Gumbo
Winner: Matt Besey Band

FEMALE BLUES VOCALIST
(8 nominations)
Lauren Davis
Mel Curry
Caitlin Berry
Julie Mulady
Winner: Sharrie Williams

MALE BLUES VOCALIST
(10 nominations)
Matt Besey
Tom Dolson
Dave Kellan
Butch Burden
Jeff Scott
Winner: Bobby Balderama

BLUES GUITARIST
(13 nominations)
Bobby Balderama
Dave Kellan
Bob Hausler
Jeff Scott
Winneer: Matt Besey

BLUES DRUMMER
(15 nominations)
Mike Williams
Kasey Callison
Mark Dault
Eddie Garcia
Matt Burgie
Winner: Randy Hurry

BLUES KEYBOARDS
(9 nominations)
Dan 'Swivel' Sliwinski
Andy Chorkey
Bob Hausler
Paul Vanston
Winner: Frank Rodriguez

BLUES BASSIST
(9 nominations)
Tom Randle
Mark Miller
Tom Towns
Bruce Crawley
Winner: Ron Dozier

INSTRUMENTALIST
(12 nominations)
John Grundner
Jeff Wiles
Jeff Hall
Darin Scott
Winner: Earl Tiffin

BLUES SONGWRITER
(12 nominations)
Matt Besey
Scott Baker
Bobby Balderama
Sharrie Williams
Winner: Dave Kellan

BLUES BAND DWR
(9 nominations)
Billy & the Beertones
Matt Besey Band
Muddy Gumbo
Robert Lee Band
Winner: Dave Kellan Band

BLUES MUSICIAN
DWR (14 nominations)
Mark Dault
Tom Dolson
Dave Kellan
Matt Burgie
Winner: Scott Baker

BEST BLUES CLUB
(8 nominations)
Baywood Lounge
Wiseguys
Bistro 101
Davenport Inn
Winner: White's Bar

JAZZ

BEST SMALL COMBO
(9 nominations)
Saginaw Jazz Quartet
Robert Lee Band
Jeff Hall Band
Bryan Rombalski
Winner:
Brush/Lopez Quartet

JAZZ BIG BAND
(9 nominations)
Jeff Hall Band
Robert Lee Band
Out of the Past

SVSU Ensemble
Winner:
Classic Graffitti

MALE JAZZ VOCALS
(5 nominations)
Jerry Jones
Matt Besey
Mike Brush
Jeff Scott
Nick Oppermann
Winner:
Bobby Balderama

JAZZ FEMALE VOCALS
(7 nominations)
Honesty
Caitlin Berry
Sharrie Williams
Erin Boyer
Winner: Julie Mulady

JAZZ GUITARIST
(10 nominations)
Darin Scott
Matt Besey
Dan Erben
Dave Kellan
Winner: Ron Lopez

JAZZ DRUMMER
(8 nominations)
Tony Ioppolo
Mark Dault
Mike McHenry
Mark Zimmer
Winner:
Randy Hurry

JAZZ KEYBOARDS
(9 nominations)
Jerry Jones
Paul Vanston
Troy Kiel
Frank Rodriguez
Winner:
Mike Brush

JAZZ BASS
(7 nominations)
Tom Randle
Mark Miller
Bob Eastham
Nick Colandro
Winner:
Bruce Crawley

JAZZ INSTRUMENTALIST
(11 nominations)
Jeff Hall
Earl Tiffin III
Renee Pawloski
Shabazz
Winner: Yoon-Il Auh

JAZZ SONGWRITER
(11 nominations)
Darin Scott
Jeff Hall
Bryan Rombalski
Dave Kellan
Winner: Mike Brush

JAZZ BAND DWR
(11 nominations)
Darin Scott Band
Robert Lee Band
Color Tour
Bryan Rombalski
Winner:
Classic Graffitti

JAZZ MUSICIAN DWR
(13 nominations)
Darin Scott
Jim Pawloski
Michael Atkinson
Mark Dault
Winner: Julie Mulady

BEST JAZZ CLUB
(6 nominations)
Double Tree
White's Bar
JD Cove
Bistro 101
Winner:
Spencer's of Saginaw