CLASSIC TOP 40 GROUP
BLEEDING HEARTS
TOP ROCK FEMALE VOCALIST
MARIA SEBASTIAN
1995 BUFFALO MUSIC AWARDS
BLIND MELLONS OCTOBER 1995
BUFFALO MUSIC AWARDS
WARMED BY HARD- ROCKING ANTHRACITE
Reprint: Buffalo News
by Anthony Violanti
News Critic
Rodney Appleby and Tony Scozzaro rocked their way into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Wednesday night at Blind Mellons. The only problem for the two frontmen in the band Anthracite is finding a drummer with staying power.
“We’re on our third drummer right now, “Scozzaro, lead guitarist for the jazz/fusion trio, said with a laugh. “It’s like Spinal Tap; we’ve got seven more to go.”
Gordy Rogers, current drummer for Anthracite, was able to match Scozzaro’s scorching guitar licks and Appleby’s equally intense bass. The trio stormed its way through a ferocious set that sounded something like Jimi Hendrix meets Cream before a packed house at the 15th Annual Buffalo Music Awards and Hall of Fame inductions.
“For what it’s worth, I think it’s pretty cool going into the hall – especially with someone like Rodney,” Scozzaro said. “There’s always some backlash about these kinds of awards, but I find it flattering to be in the same Hall of Fame with people like Billy Sheehan, Bobby Militello and Ted Reinhardt. They were heroes to me.”
“I’ve been playing music around Buffalo for more years than I care to remember,” Appleby said. “It feels good tonight to be accepted into the Hall of Fame. It’s like hearing people say, “Hey, all right, you belong.”
The other hall of fame inductees included the Goo Goo Dolls, J.C. Thompson, Bobby Militello and Only Humen.
The Goo Goo Dolls, like Militello, were performing out of town and were unable to attend. Lance Diamond, a fellow hall of famer who has recorded with the Goo Goo Dolls, accepted the award for them. The Goos are currently on tour in support of their smash album, “A Boy Named Goo.”
Diamond, wearing a top hat, tails and white gloves, added a touch of class to the event as he took the stage and told how Johnny Rzeznik and Robby Takac had called him on the phone to talk about the honor. George Tutuska, the band’s original drummer who is no longer with the group, did not attend.
“Johnny and Robby just wanted me to say how much this means to them,” Diamond said. “These guys have worked so hard to get where they are today, they just wish they could be here.”
“They love Buffalo and Buffalo loves them. It’s an honor for me to accept this for them. They got their stuff together, and now they’re in the Hall of Fame. It’s like they always tell me, “Lance, that’s what show biz is all about.”
The Hall of Fame expanded its musical
boundaries who with the induction of Militello, who specializes in jazz with his saxophone and flute, and J.C. Thompson, the first country artist to make the hall.
“It’s really special to be part of this place and I think it shows just how popular country music is in Buffalo.” Thompson said. “To be the first country act to be inducted is really a thrill.
“I started out in a rock band, and I listen to all kinds of music. I think the hall goes beyond any style of music. It’s about the artists and musicians in Buffalo who make music special in this community.”
Only Humen has been playing rock and Top 40 music for nearly a decade. The band’s current line-up features Frank Pusateri, his son Frank, Jr., Ray Wood and Paul Varga.
New music forms such as rap and hip-hop were recently added to the Buffalo Music Awards. Twin brothers Divine and Devenaire won the award in the hip-hop/rap category.
“It means a lot to us because we’re trying to get out a positive message,” Devenaire said. “Our music is being accepted in the streets because it’s real. It’s nice to see it being accepted here.”
Tom Fenton, who plays with the Fibs and often appears with Gretchen Schultz, captured the award for best original guitarist. “It’s always nice to get some recognition,” Fenton said. “It’s pretty tough trying to make it in the clubs in Buffalo.”
THE NEED - TOP ORIGINAL POP BAND
George Puleo -HOF, Jim Linsner -1995 BMA Original Drummer,
Sue Kincaid - 1995 BMA Original Vocalist and
John Caruso
- 1995 BMA Original Bass player
Sue Kincaid added to her reputation as one of Buffalo’s most talented singers. She won the Original Female Vocalist category and her band, The Need, won for Original Pop Group
HARD ROCK GROUP
Stealin’
ROCK GROUP
Painted Pony
TOP 40 GROUP
Joyryde
POP GROUP
Release
CLASSIC ROCK GROUP
Jonsie & the Cruisers
CLASSIC TOP 40 GROUP
Bleeding Hearts
OLDIES GROUP
Bedrock Boys
NEW ROCK GROUP
Jump Kings
SOLO ARTIST
Randy Milligan
DUO/TRIO
Lady Fire
MALE VOCALIST
Steve Golovin
ROCK GUITARIST
Joni James
ROCK DRUMMER
CJ Styles
ROCK FEMALE VOCALIST
Maria Sebastian
ROCK BASSIST
Kevin Buck
ROCK KEYBOARDIST
Rick Allen
WORLD BEAT GROUP
Caribbean Extravaganza
JAZZ/FUSION
Anthracite
BLUES BAND
Win, Lose or Draw
R&B MALE VOCALIST
Jeffrey Varner
R&B FEMALE VOCALIST
Annette Batia
R&B DRUMMER
Robert Garrett
R&B BASSIST
Kim Ellison
R&B GROUP
Special Guest
NEW ORIGINAL GROUP
Industry of Life Divine
BLUES FEMALE VOCALIST
Donna Rose
BLUES KEYBOARDIST
Steve Stepion
BLUES GUITARIST
Tommy Z
BLUES BASSIST
Jim Brucato
BLUES DRUMMER
Paul Campanella Jr.
BLUES HARMONICA
Harmonica John
SAXOPHONE PLAYER
Pete Howard
ORIGINAL HARD ROCK BAND
Jive Injection
ORIGINAL POP BAND
The Need
ORIGINAL ROCK BAND
McCarthyizm
ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE BAND
Elk
ORIGINAL GUITARIST
Tom Fenton
ORIGINAL KEYBOARDIST
Joleen Williams
ORIGINAL MALE VOCALIST
D. Sacred
ORIGINAL FEMALE VOCALIST
Sue Kincaid
ORIGINAL DRUMMER
Jim Linsner
ORIGINAL BASSIST
John Caruso
HIP HOP / RAP
Divine and Devenaire
TRIBUTE BAND
Diver Down
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:
Bobby Militello
Goo Goo Dolls
JC Thompson
Only Humen
Rodney Appleby
Tony Scozzaro
