TOP HARD ROCK GROUP
MAE WEST
1992 BUFFALO MUSIC AWARDS
MANIKINS – NOVEMBER 23, 1992
JOE PUBLIC
WELCOMED WARMLY AT MUSIC AWARDS
Reprint The Buffalo News
November 24, 1992
by Anthony Violanti
News Critic
The 12th annual Buffalo Music Awards took on an added luster Monday night with an appearance by Joe Public, one of the most successful bands in the world, who come from the East Side.
Joe Public returned to a triumphant homecoming at Manikin’s Night Club in Tonawanda, site of the awards ceremony. The ban’s self-titled album on Columbia Records was released early in 1992, and produced a top-five single, “Live and Learn.” The album is close to earning a gold record.
Rick Falkowski, who originated the Buffalo Music Awards, stepped on stage and presented Joe Public a special achievement award.
“This is a band that has sold more records than any other from Buffalo this year and has brought recognition to the music community of this city,” Falkowski said.
“Thank you Buffalo for your support, without you none of our success would be possible,” said Jake Carter of Joe Public. The three other band members - JR Sayles, Kev Scott and Drew Wyatt – joined him on stage and seemed genuinely touched by the honor.
“It’s like all our dreams have come true but this is where we live and it’s more special in Buffalo,” Scott said. “Buffalo will always be our home.”
The award for Joe Public was symbolic of the expanding musical diversity in the Buffalo Music Awards. This year, for the first time, there was heavy emphasis on rhythm and blues bands and nightclubs. Also, metal and alternative music had higher visibility.
“I think this is the first time the awards are truly representative of the city, and its music scene,” Falkowski said. “Look around here tonight and you see all ages, races and all kinds of music.”
“It’s cool that so many metal bands are here,” said Angst, lead singer of RULE!. “The important thing is that the younger metal bands who are coming up and making this music are starting to get recognition. This is just a start, it’s going to get better as the years go on.”
The sentimental favorite among the crowd of about 1,000 fans and musicians was the induction of R&B great Lance Diamond into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. “Anytime you are honored by the people you work with, and make music for, it’s a special honor,” Diamond said.
“I don’t see this as just an honor for Lance Diamond. I see it as an honor for every R&B band working in Buffalo. It’s a tough life for all of us , and you have to love it to keep playing.”
Another touching moment came when Mark Freeland of Electroman, took a moment to remember his brother, bass player Jimbo Freeland, who was killed earlier this year in a motorcycle accident. “I just want to say a wonderful person left us this year, and he was my brother. We all miss him,” Freeland said.
In addition to Diamond, six other musicians were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Terry Sullivan, lead singer of the Headhunters; Guy Nichols, Greg Gizzi, Michael Hund, Rick McGirr and Joe Head…
Winners listed by category:
METAL BAND
Zero Tolerance
ROCK BAND
Trolls
CLASSIC ROCK
Tight Grip
CLASSIC TOP 40
Only Humen
HARD ROCK
Mae West
NEW GROUP
NY2LA
POP ROCK
Alibi
TOP 40
Joyryde
ORIGINAL BAND
Cheshire Cat
NEW ORIGINAL
Homeboy Sacred
WORLD BEAT
Outer Circle Orchestra
R&B
Pulse
GROUP VOCALS
Grand Ilusion
BLUES
Win, Lose or Draw
OLDIES
Be Bops
SOLO ARTIST
Tim Wright
DUO
The Thirds
MALE VOCALIST
Calvin Nichols
FEMALE VOCALIST
Gretchen Schultz
GUITARIST
Tony Scazzaro
METAL GUITARIST
Mytch Meadows
BLUES GUITARIST
Jack Civiletto
BASS PLAYER
Rodney Appleby
DRUMMER
Bruce Morgan
KEYBOARDIST
Matt Young
SAXOPHONE
Jack Prybylski
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Lance Diamond
Terry Sullivan
Guy Nichols
Greg Gizzi
Michael Hund
Rick McGirr
Joe Head
