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“The Charlotte Music Awards? It sounds like a good idea, but what exactly is it?” That was a typical response when Jeffrey Cheen and I began floating the concept almost a year ago.
“Our goal is to up the profile of the music community in this area while supporting local music and local artists,” says Cheen. “The region has a rich musical tradition, and we want to build on that.”
Cheen had just relocated to Charlotte to “retire” after 40-plus years in the music business. His brother, a media analyst at Wachovia Securities, introduced him to me. Cheen mentioned his role as a Board member of the L.A. Music Awards, and I suggested that something like that was needed in Charlotte. We ran the idea past some musicians, some venue owners and some fans, and the response was overwhelmingly encouraging.
The Charlotte Music Awards is formally affiliated with the L.A. Music
Awards, which is the oldest major awards show for independent artists in the country. “Bands line up to play in the L.A. Music Awards showcases,” says Cheen, “and the annual awards ceremony has become another Hollywood icon.” I attended the 2006 L.A. Music Awards ceremony and was recognized for starting up the Charlotte Music Awards.
We are frequently asked: Why the “Charlotte Music Awards” as opposed to, say, the “Carolina Music Awards”? Charlotte has a solid but relatively unknown music scene. We have as much to offer in terms of a talent base as the somewhat better known music scenes in Asheville, Chapel Hill/Raleigh or Columbia. Charlotte is the center of our initiative, but our focus is on the Carolinas, hence, our 'It's a Carolina thing' subtitle.
The Charlotte Music Awards presents showcase concerts at different venues in a variety of genres leading up to an annual awards ceremony, the first of which will be held on September 6th at Ovens Auditorium (see sidebar). The ceremony will honor musical talent in the Carolinas across a range of genres. This is the first such effort in Charlotte to recognize and reward the singers and musicians of the Carolinas. L.A. Music
Awards founder Al Bowman will attend the inaugural Charlotte ceremony.
Many talented artists throughout the Carolinas have participated in the showcases from as far away as Kinston, Durham and Columbia. “The talent at each showcase has been outstanding,” says Cheen, “making the judges' decision-making somewhat difficult.”
Profiles of some showcase winners follow.
Acoustic Showcase | Mike Garrigan & Mark Kano
Garrigan and Kano performed at the Acoustic Showcase at the Wadsworth House, which also serves as the Charlotte Music Awards headquarters. Although from Greensboro, Garrigan and Kano had a large and enthusiastic following at this Charlotte showcase.
The music of Garrigan and Kano features enticing power pop with strong melodies and engaging lyrics. The duo's experience and the quality of the songwriting are clearly evident.
Garrigan honed his songwriting skills while attending Carolina. While still in school, he released two notable albums: Building a Hole and The Lessons of Autumn. His first post-college project, Collapsis, charted on Billboard with the hit Automatic. In 2001, Garrigan joined forces with Kano in the band Athenaeum. After Athenaeum, Garrigan and Kano again collaborated as part of mg4, and subsequent to that began doing dates as a duo.
“Like Simon & Garfunkel,” says Cheen, “they have great harmonies and outstanding songwriting--a must-see live performance.”
Alternative/Hard Rock Showcase | Joe Davis Band
The Joe Davis Band, which comes from nearby Kannapolis, made an impression on the audience at the legendary Milestone Club during the Charlotte Music Awards rock showcase. The band's high-energy performance defies genre labels. “We have created a unique sound that meshes slide guitar, metal, hard rock, swamp rock and even acoustic,” says Davis.
Straight-ahead rock 'n' roll doesn't get much better than this. With the Joe Davis Band, you get hard, driving rock from fine musicians with a strong sense of professionalism.
Davis says that he has a “passion for all forms of guitar music-classical, blues, folk, heavy metal and southern rock.” In the early 1990s, Davis was part of the southern hard rock band Dark Horse. Later, he formed an “adrenaline-charged rock band” called Super Mule. The buzz from Super Mule led to interest from a recording label and pressure to change the band's name to The Joe Davis Band. The band focuses on original material, some of which is featured on their current CD, Tales from the Hard South.
“The Charlotte Music Awards brings a new backbone to the ever-changing Charlotte music scene,” says Davis. “With this [comes] an opportunity for all bands and all types of music to join forces to [bring] national attention to the area, which in turn helps create new fans, media attention and endless possibilities for musicians. The Charlotte Music Awards is not just a Carolina thing...it's a great thing.”
Gospel Showcase | Shameia
Shameia performed at the Charlotte Music Awards' Gospel Showcase, which was held at the Charleston House Restaurant. A North Carolina native, Shameia started singing at the age of 2 1/2. Her father, a minister and a musician, taught her to sing. During her teens, Shameia gained local exposure by appearing with Greg Hoover and the Charlotte Community Singers, and Patrick Love. Those early experiences helped to further develop her talent.
Shameia's a dynamic young performer whose gospel sound infuses elements of hip-hop and urban R&B with the traditional R&B one typically expects of gospel music. Her stage presence is powerful, creative and energetic.
During college, she discovered additional range and expanded her versatility by excelling in classical singing (opera). As a professional singer, Shameia has appeared with such gospel stalwarts as Twinkie Clark, Pastor John Kee, Tonex and Kim Burrell. She has also been a background singer for Lejuene Thompson.
“She features high energy gospel with great songwriting and showmanship,” says Cheen. “Shameia's a hard act to follow.”
Singer/Songwriter Showcase | Trip Rogers
Trip Rogers, performing with percussionist Jeff Chester, won the inaugural
Charlotte Music Awards showcase, a singer-songwriter event at the Evening
Muse. Rogers has a number of musical personas: the solo “coffeehouse combat guitarist,” the Thistledown Tinkers (a duo with multi-instrumentalist Tom Eure), the Trip Rogers Trio, the Southern rock/outlaw country/punk band Cattletruck, and the Celtic fusion ensemble Gael Warning. In addition, he is a featured musician on the Modern Renaissance Man TV series.
Chester was a founding member of Gael Warning and now plays with the Trip
Rogers Trio, as well as backing up Rogers at his solo shows. In addition, Chester hosts “No Static At All,” a program that features local artists, on Cotswold Community Radio.
On his latest album, Trip Rogers Trio Live, Rogers continues to pursue his schizophrenic, yet addictive, live persona, alternating between touching tales of personal engagement and humorous reflections on society.
“Over the years I've become jaded about participating in music activities that only promise 'exposure,'“ says Rogers. “I've played dozens of them, and by now I ought to be more 'exposed' than your average Penthouse centerfold. Those gigs rarely seem to make much difference.”
The Charlotte Music Awards “has been the notable exception,” notes Rogers.
“I've gotten additional press in various print media, and even an interview and performance on a local TV news show. This is one exposure gig I'm glad I did!” Indeed, Rogers and Chester were asked to be the house band for Fox News Rising after appearing on a segment with the Charlotte Music Awards co-founders.
The Charlotte Music Awards has had a busy first year. In addition to the showcases and the annual Awards Ceremony, the Charlotte Music Awards engages in a number of other activities:
• Contributing to charitable causes, including the Sickle Cell Regional Network, for which the Charlotte Music Awards arranged for Wayne Henderson of the Jazz Crusaders to do a tribute to Miles Davis
• Cosponsoring other music events such as Cinco de Mayfest
• Hosting a songwriting contest, for which the winning song will be presented to the Spinners for possible inclusion on their new album, which will be recorded in Metrolina
• Coordinating an educational music project with percussionist Art Nash (called Bach-N-Roll) to help youth better understand and appreciate classical music
• Planning a Walk of Fame to recognize significant contributions from music-related individuals who hail from the Carolinas or developed their career in the Carolinas
The Charlotte Music Awards is supported by a Board that includes Cheen and
myself, as well as City Council Representative Nancy Carter, former judge
Shirley Fulton (who is also president of the Charlotte Jazz Society), and Art Nash of Heineman Medical Research, Inc., and former drummer for the band Mason Proffit. An Advisory Council supports the Board and aids in the decision-making process for the award recipients.
The idea that was nurtured a year ago has blossomed into a litany of outlets to support the local and regional music communities. Folks don't know what they're missing. There is outstanding music being made and performed in your own backyard. Perhaps you can find out at the Charlotte Music Awards ceremony on September 6th at Ovens Auditorium.
~ Michael Evans
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