Top San Diego Musicians Honored at Awards Show
Asphalt Ballet and Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder took top honors Wednesday night at the San Diego Music Awards, winning for best group and best artist, respectively. (Though Pearl Jam is based in Seattle, Vedder was eligible because he’s a local product, joining the group before its rise to national prominence.)
Sentimental favorite Tom Cat Courtney, the venerable local blues artist, won the best solo or duo category, and country singer-songwriter Calman Hart won for best new artist.
Other local musicians honored during the second annual awards show at Humphrey’s by the Bay on Shelter Island were:
The People Movers for best contemporary band, A.J. Croce and His Band for best mainstream or progressive jazz, Fattburger for best pop-jazz group and Tobacco Road for best Dixieland.
The Benny Hollman Orchestra took best big band, the Rugburns won best folk or acoustic. Sol e Mar were best Latin, Willie Jaye and His Texas Hurricanes were voted best blues band and Rockola garnered best classic rock.
The Cardiff Reefers, best reggae or world beat; Prairie Fire, best country; the Paladins, best original rock; Rocket From the Crypt, best alternative rock;Asphalt Ballet, best hard rock, and Crystal, club band of the year.
The best independent album was “Jungle Party” by Bill MacPherson and World Beat. Best album (national release) was “Blue Not Blues” by Earl Thomas.
Winners in the 21 categories received a “Sammy” figurine in the shape of a music staff.
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