Finally, the "2001Empire Awards."
It's easy to talk about supporting the musicians and others who support the blues in our Inland Empire. But it all comes home
to you when you see them sitting there, waiting for their special category, the anticipation on their faces. The joy when they
find out they've won, the congratulations they hand out to their friends when they win.
It's easy to talk about supporting the musicians and others who support the blues in our Inland Empire. But it all comes home
to you when you see them sitting there, waiting for their special category, the anticipation on their faces. The joy when they
find out they've won, the congratulations they hand out to their friends when they win.
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| Welcome to the 2001 Inland Empire Blues Society "Empire Awards" |
Aaron Richner & the Blues Drivers
Aaron Richner & the Blues Drivers started off with a blistering
set of blues, Aaron Richner style. The 2000 Empire Award
winner for "Best New Blues Band" and 2001 nominee for "Best
New Blues Band" ripped the joint up! ("Best New Blues Band"
covers the previous two years.)
Aaron Richner & the Blues Drivers started off with a blistering
set of blues, Aaron Richner style. The 2000 Empire Award
winner for "Best New Blues Band" and 2001 nominee for "Best
New Blues Band" ripped the joint up! ("Best New Blues Band"
covers the previous two years.)
Vicky & Jan
After the Blues Drivers, hosts Vicky McCarthy, now Vicky Adams
(Treasurer, 9-92 - 5-93; 11-93 - 6-98, and Advertising
representative from the beginning through right now!) and Jan
Fitzgerald (Vice President 2-93 - 5-93; Secretary 7-94 - 9-98;
Board of Directors 6-93 - 5-2000) seemed to have a great time
giving out the awards!
The first category, "Best Writer for Inside Blues" had Craig
Heimbigner, Scott Higgin, and Tom Marion squared off, and Craig
picked up the win. Congratulations Craig, keep writing for Inside
Blues! More often!
"Best Blues Radio Program" came about next, with The
6 O'clock Blues w/Roger Roberts (KEWU) against The Blues
Review w/Tina Bjorklund (KPBX), versus The Blues Power Hour
w/Brother Music (KPND). Tina grabbed her third consecutive win
in this category, placing her in both the Hall of Fame and the
ineligible for the next three years category! (Hall of Fame winners
are ineligible for three years.) Tina thanked everyone for being her friend and voting for her.
Next up, the most hotly contested category this year, the "Best Blues Drummer." Bill Bancroft of Pat Coast & Out of the
Blue, Zach Cooper of The Bone Daddies, and Sha Sta Lasso of Carl Rey & the Blues Gators were all nominated for this one,
and for the third time in the past seven years, we had a tie! In 1997, John Cage (Too Slim & the Taildraggers) and Chris
"Crash" Klettke (Nothin' Personal) tied for this honor, and this year Bill & Zach tied! Bill bangs into the Hall of Fame with this
win. Zach was late, so his mother accepted for him, and Bill was staggered when he received his!
"Best Blues Bassist" nominees Larry Brown (Pat Coast & Out of the Blue), Juel Rowden (Charlie Butts & the Filtertips), and
Ramiro Vijarro (Doghouse Boyz) vied for top honors with Larry Brown edging ahead.
The catch-all "Best Blues Instrumentalist (Other)" pulls in musicians who play any instrument that doesn't have it's own
category, and this year trumpet and saxophone were top nominees, in addition to the fact that the top three nominees were
the same as last year! Charlie Butts (Saxophone, Charlie Butts & the Filtertips), Mike Lenke (Trumpet, Pat Coast & Out of the
Blue), and Chuck Swanson (Saxophone, Pat Coast & Out of the Blue) are all previous winners of this category, and Mike
Lenke repeated his 1995 win!
Also all previous winners, Steve Lime (Papa Glenn & the Border Run Blues Band), Rory Marrero (Charlie Butts & the
Filtertips), and Dave Winslow (Pat Coast & Out of the Blue) were nominated for "Best Blues Keyboardist", and the winner
was Dave Winslow. Dave says that if he doesn't come to the ceremony, he wins. Hmmmm. He wasn't there, so Pat Coast
accepted for him.
After the Blues Drivers, hosts Vicky McCarthy, now Vicky Adams
(Treasurer, 9-92 - 5-93; 11-93 - 6-98, and Advertising
representative from the beginning through right now!) and Jan
Fitzgerald (Vice President 2-93 - 5-93; Secretary 7-94 - 9-98;
Board of Directors 6-93 - 5-2000) seemed to have a great time
giving out the awards!
The first category, "Best Writer for Inside Blues" had Craig
Heimbigner, Scott Higgin, and Tom Marion squared off, and Craig
picked up the win. Congratulations Craig, keep writing for Inside
Blues! More often!
"Best Blues Radio Program" came about next, with The
6 O'clock Blues w/Roger Roberts (KEWU) against The Blues
Review w/Tina Bjorklund (KPBX), versus The Blues Power Hour
w/Brother Music (KPND). Tina grabbed her third consecutive win
in this category, placing her in both the Hall of Fame and the
ineligible for the next three years category! (Hall of Fame winners
are ineligible for three years.) Tina thanked everyone for being her friend and voting for her.
Next up, the most hotly contested category this year, the "Best Blues Drummer." Bill Bancroft of Pat Coast & Out of the
Blue, Zach Cooper of The Bone Daddies, and Sha Sta Lasso of Carl Rey & the Blues Gators were all nominated for this one,
and for the third time in the past seven years, we had a tie! In 1997, John Cage (Too Slim & the Taildraggers) and Chris
"Crash" Klettke (Nothin' Personal) tied for this honor, and this year Bill & Zach tied! Bill bangs into the Hall of Fame with this
win. Zach was late, so his mother accepted for him, and Bill was staggered when he received his!
"Best Blues Bassist" nominees Larry Brown (Pat Coast & Out of the Blue), Juel Rowden (Charlie Butts & the Filtertips), and
Ramiro Vijarro (Doghouse Boyz) vied for top honors with Larry Brown edging ahead.
The catch-all "Best Blues Instrumentalist (Other)" pulls in musicians who play any instrument that doesn't have it's own
category, and this year trumpet and saxophone were top nominees, in addition to the fact that the top three nominees were
the same as last year! Charlie Butts (Saxophone, Charlie Butts & the Filtertips), Mike Lenke (Trumpet, Pat Coast & Out of the
Blue), and Chuck Swanson (Saxophone, Pat Coast & Out of the Blue) are all previous winners of this category, and Mike
Lenke repeated his 1995 win!
Also all previous winners, Steve Lime (Papa Glenn & the Border Run Blues Band), Rory Marrero (Charlie Butts & the
Filtertips), and Dave Winslow (Pat Coast & Out of the Blue) were nominated for "Best Blues Keyboardist", and the winner
was Dave Winslow. Dave says that if he doesn't come to the ceremony, he wins. Hmmmm. He wasn't there, so Pat Coast
accepted for him.
Carl Rey
Another category with the possibility of a Hall of Fame Award was "Best Blues
Harmonica Player" with nominees Dave Allen of Yo Mo Fo, Don Millard, and
Carl Rey of Carl Rey & the Blues Gators. Carl Rey made Hall of Fame, and
what a killer "Mississippi Saxophone" player he is!
"Best Female Vocalist" nominees included Jan Danielson, Tina Denning
(The Other Band), and Anita Royce (The Highrollers). Reese Hodge, guitarist
in The Other Band, accepted the award because Tina was late. When she
finally got there, Tina graciously thanked everyone for her second consecutive
win!
A win in this category would be the first for any of these nominees. Pat Coast of
Pat Coast & Out of the Blue, Erich Munzner of The Bone Daddies, and Carl
Rey of the Blues Gators were on top for "Best Male Vocalist," and the award
goes to: Carl Rey!
Another category with the possibility of a Hall of Fame Award was "Best Blues
Harmonica Player" with nominees Dave Allen of Yo Mo Fo, Don Millard, and
Carl Rey of Carl Rey & the Blues Gators. Carl Rey made Hall of Fame, and
what a killer "Mississippi Saxophone" player he is!
"Best Female Vocalist" nominees included Jan Danielson, Tina Denning
(The Other Band), and Anita Royce (The Highrollers). Reese Hodge, guitarist
in The Other Band, accepted the award because Tina was late. When she
finally got there, Tina graciously thanked everyone for her second consecutive
win!
A win in this category would be the first for any of these nominees. Pat Coast of
Pat Coast & Out of the Blue, Erich Munzner of The Bone Daddies, and Carl
Rey of the Blues Gators were on top for "Best Male Vocalist," and the award
goes to: Carl Rey!
"Best Blues Guitarist" nominees were Pat Coast, Erich Munzner, and Clark Ong of Blue Tattoo. Now a Hall of Fame
member, Pat Coast was all smiles!
A fairly new category, "Best Blues Slide Guitarist" Tim "Too Slim" Langford walked away with the first three years, but
2001 nominees Paul Brasch, Pat Coast, and Don Millard held an extremely close race throughout. Paul Brasch gets to place
this award next to his many others.
Don Millard
Jeff Aker, The Doghouse Boyz, and Don Millard all worked hard
for the "Best Acoustic Blues Act" award, and Don Millard
duplicated his 1997 effort with this win. Don thanked Paul Brasch
for making it possible for other acoustic blues acts to play in our
area. Congratulations Don!
member, Pat Coast was all smiles!
A fairly new category, "Best Blues Slide Guitarist" Tim "Too Slim" Langford walked away with the first three years, but
2001 nominees Paul Brasch, Pat Coast, and Don Millard held an extremely close race throughout. Paul Brasch gets to place
this award next to his many others.
Don Millard
Jeff Aker, The Doghouse Boyz, and Don Millard all worked hard
for the "Best Acoustic Blues Act" award, and Don Millard
duplicated his 1997 effort with this win. Don thanked Paul Brasch
for making it possible for other acoustic blues acts to play in our
area. Congratulations Don!
Blue Tattoo
"Best New Blues Band or Artist (2 years or less)" is a
tough category for me. All of these bands are great: Blue
Tattoo, Aaron Richner & the Blues Drivers, and Yo Mo Fo.
Blue Tattoo gets the win, following 2000 winner Aaron
Richner & the Blues Drivers, the Bone Daddies (99), DC
Black & the Healers (98), The Crawdaddies (97), The
DeSotos (96), and Paul Brasch (95).
"Best New Blues Band or Artist (2 years or less)" is a
tough category for me. All of these bands are great: Blue
Tattoo, Aaron Richner & the Blues Drivers, and Yo Mo Fo.
Blue Tattoo gets the win, following 2000 winner Aaron
Richner & the Blues Drivers, the Bone Daddies (99), DC
Black & the Healers (98), The Crawdaddies (97), The
DeSotos (96), and Paul Brasch (95).
The Bone Daddies, Pat Coast & Out of the Blue, and Carl Rey & the Blues Gators are all well known bands around the
Inland Empire. And, they're all nominees for "Best Blues Band." During the voting process, these bands seesawed back
and forth, first one, then another, then the other being in the lead. Votes had to be counted several times to be sure! Time
ran out, and Pat Coast & Out of the Blue reprised their role of last year as "Best Blues Band."
Inland Empire. And, they're all nominees for "Best Blues Band." During the voting process, these bands seesawed back
and forth, first one, then another, then the other being in the lead. Votes had to be counted several times to be sure! Time
ran out, and Pat Coast & Out of the Blue reprised their role of last year as "Best Blues Band."
Out of the Blue
"Best Blues Album (N.W. Region)" means
that albums (cds) from all over the northwest
are eligible. It's great how these nominees are
all from our area! Black Sun Rising ~ The Bone
Daddies, Bootleg ~ Too Slim & the Taildraggers,
and Live ~ Pat Coast & Out of the Blue are all
excellent releases. Pat Coast and Out of the
Blue grab a solo win this year, after a tie for
first in 2000 with Too Slim & the Taildraggers.
That was the end of the musician awards, and
the beginning of the awards for the "other than
musicians." The I.E.B.S. is extremely proud to
have Axe Attack nominated for "Best Blues
Event (Inland Empire)" along with the 6th Annual
Bronze, Blues & Brews in Joseph, Oregon, and
the 14th Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues
Festival. The first ever win for the Bronze, Blues
& Brews! It was a superb festival!
"Best Blues Album (N.W. Region)" means
that albums (cds) from all over the northwest
are eligible. It's great how these nominees are
all from our area! Black Sun Rising ~ The Bone
Daddies, Bootleg ~ Too Slim & the Taildraggers,
and Live ~ Pat Coast & Out of the Blue are all
excellent releases. Pat Coast and Out of the
Blue grab a solo win this year, after a tie for
first in 2000 with Too Slim & the Taildraggers.
That was the end of the musician awards, and
the beginning of the awards for the "other than
musicians." The I.E.B.S. is extremely proud to
have Axe Attack nominated for "Best Blues
Event (Inland Empire)" along with the 6th Annual
Bronze, Blues & Brews in Joseph, Oregon, and
the 14th Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues
Festival. The first ever win for the Bronze, Blues
& Brews! It was a superb festival!
"Best Blues Club/Venue" nominees were Beachcombers (Coeur d'Alene), Capone's (Coeur d'Alene), and Mootsy's
(Spokane). Tom Capone knows what he's doing, winning this award two years in a row! Tom was sick, so Greg Hales
accepted the award.
Individuals who display exceptional achievements or involvement with the blues is how we describe the "Keeping the
Blues Alive" award. Tom Capone, Craig Heimbigner, and Scott Higgin were the people that our member's felt deserved this
nomination, and for the second year in a row, Scott Higgin humbly accepts the award. Congratulations Scott!
The last two awards were the "Andy Wavada Memorial Award for Exceptional Effort" awards. This award is dedicated
to Andy Wavada, "Inside Blues" editor from August of 1994 to December of 1995, and also the driving force behind the first
"Empire Awards" ceremony, held in September of 1995. Andy made it happen, and put forth exceptional effort! Andy passed
away May 26 of 1998. Each year we remember Andy with this award, and his love of the blues.
(Spokane). Tom Capone knows what he's doing, winning this award two years in a row! Tom was sick, so Greg Hales
accepted the award.
Individuals who display exceptional achievements or involvement with the blues is how we describe the "Keeping the
Blues Alive" award. Tom Capone, Craig Heimbigner, and Scott Higgin were the people that our member's felt deserved this
nomination, and for the second year in a row, Scott Higgin humbly accepts the award. Congratulations Scott!
The last two awards were the "Andy Wavada Memorial Award for Exceptional Effort" awards. This award is dedicated
to Andy Wavada, "Inside Blues" editor from August of 1994 to December of 1995, and also the driving force behind the first
"Empire Awards" ceremony, held in September of 1995. Andy made it happen, and put forth exceptional effort! Andy passed
away May 26 of 1998. Each year we remember Andy with this award, and his love of the blues.
Len Volpe
This award is a Board of Directors award. Its recipients are determined by the
Board of Directors, and their feelings about who is deserving for their special
efforts towards the blues. This year, it was decided that Len Volpe, of Replay
Music (1927 W. Northwest Blvd., 509-668-7421) is deserving for his years of
support of the blues, and musicians in general. Len is a huge supporter of Blues
Cats For Kids, and in fact built and donated the gorgeous guitar that we are
currently raffling off. Congratulations to Len, and keep it up!
Our last "Andy" went to a very deserving lady, Marva Ulleland of The Ritzville
Blues Festival. Marva has put together this incredible festival for eight years! No
matter the personal, work, or festival problems, Marva overcomes them, and the
Ritzville festival is a "Hall of Fame" winner for "Best Blues Event" to prove it.
Marva, you're the best! DON'T STOP!
This award is a Board of Directors award. Its recipients are determined by the
Board of Directors, and their feelings about who is deserving for their special
efforts towards the blues. This year, it was decided that Len Volpe, of Replay
Music (1927 W. Northwest Blvd., 509-668-7421) is deserving for his years of
support of the blues, and musicians in general. Len is a huge supporter of Blues
Cats For Kids, and in fact built and donated the gorgeous guitar that we are
currently raffling off. Congratulations to Len, and keep it up!
Our last "Andy" went to a very deserving lady, Marva Ulleland of The Ritzville
Blues Festival. Marva has put together this incredible festival for eight years! No
matter the personal, work, or festival problems, Marva overcomes them, and the
Ritzville festival is a "Hall of Fame" winner for "Best Blues Event" to prove it.
Marva, you're the best! DON'T STOP!
DX Biscuit: Arthur Dunn, Shawn Irelan, Bert Baker, Bruce Guy, and Robert Sandidge
That finished the awards, and then it was time for DX Biscuit, formerly the "King Biscuit Blues Band!"
It was easy to see why this band was voted Central Washington's "Best Band" and "Best Rhythm & Blues Band" in 1999, 2000,
and 2001. They started out with high energy, and took it right to the top, hot, sweaty, dancin' music! And the dancers filled the
floor and stayed there until the end!
It was a great evening for the blues. Wish you had been there!
That finished the awards, and then it was time for DX Biscuit, formerly the "King Biscuit Blues Band!"
It was easy to see why this band was voted Central Washington's "Best Band" and "Best Rhythm & Blues Band" in 1999, 2000,
and 2001. They started out with high energy, and took it right to the top, hot, sweaty, dancin' music! And the dancers filled the
floor and stayed there until the end!
It was a great evening for the blues. Wish you had been there!
| Maintenance by IEBS © 2008 Inland Empire Blues Society Contact: ieblues@ieblues.org |
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