TOP ORIGINAL
ACOUSTIC PERFORMER
TOM STAHL
CAROL WINCENC RECEIVES HALL OF FAME INDUCTION FROM
RICK FALKOWSKI
AT KLEINHANS
MUSIC HALL
BPO CONCERT INTERMISSION
1998 BUFFALO MUSIC AWARDS
THE FUNHOUSE
CALANDRA INDUCTED INTO HALL
KIMALIN WINS R&B HONOR
Reprint Buffalo News
by Anthony Violanti
News Critic
It was an eventful night Wednesday at the Buffalo Music Awards.
In addition to the awards presentations, the late Tommy Calandra was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, which will soon have a new home in the Market Arcade.
Rick Falkowski, who inducted Calandra during a special ceremony at the awards event in the Funhouse , founded the Hall of Fame 15 years ago, along with his wife, Marsha. He announced Tuesday that the Hall will be opened November 18 at the visitors center in the downtown Market Arcade.
“It’s finally going to happen, everything is set,” Falkowski said. He added that all members of the Hall of Fame, including the 1998 inductees, will be invited to a special ceremony in the Tralfamadore Café on Nov. 18. “It’s going to be a great night and our dream has finally come true.”
It was an emotional evening, as Falkowski called up Nick Veltri, a Hall of Fame member and close friend of Calandra, who suffered a fatal heart attack in July. “This is in recognition for everything Tommy did for local musicians,” Falkowski said.
Veltri accepted the honor on “behalf of the Calandra family, especially his wife Edith. I know if Tommy were here he would thank you, because he was a very caring person.”
“I would personally like to thank Tommy for defining the Buffalo sound and giving musicians like myself an identity.”
The Buffalo Music Awards…honored a variety of performers and musical styles. “This means a lot because you’re here with so many other musicians who play in Buffalo,” said the singer known as Kimalin, who won the R&B vocalist category.
Kimalin and her band have been playing nearly two years and view the award as a way to measure success. “We’ve worked so hard and getting something like this means it’s paying off,” she said. “It’s recognition and a step up.”
Robert Garrett, who won for best R&B drummer, shared that feeling. “It means something special because all the musicians are in this together,” he said. “You want to be acknowledged in front of your peers.”
Sandy Belsky plays with the band Why on Earth, which won the rock alternative category for the second consecutive year.
“I love it because people took the time to recognize you and honor us. To win two years straight is unbelievable, because it’s easy to get pushed aside in the business. Local musicians in Buffalo need all the support they can get and this is the way of doing that.”
The Funhouse on Abbott Road was filled to capacity and a number of acts performed including: Kimalin, Boys of Summer, the Morvells and Wendall Rivera. It was a diverse night of music and entertainment.
“That’s the way it should be, because that’s what music can do, bring people together,” said Van Taylor, of Taylor Made Jazz, who will be inducted this year into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.
The Categories and winners:
ROCK BAND
Black Widow
HARD ROCK / ALTERNATIVE
Blackest Red
ROCK ALTERNATIVE
Why On Earth
CLASSIC ROCK
Jonsie & the Cruisers
TRIBUTE
Day For Night
OLDIES GROUP
Boys of Summer
TOP 40 GROUP
Eclipse
GROUP VOCALS
Boys of Summer
NEW GROUP
Boogie Monsters
ROCK MALE VOCALS
Joe Spina
ROCK FEMALE VOCALIST
Lana Hergert
ROCK GUITARIST
Dan Kaplin
ROCK KEYBOARDIST
Pat Annunziata
ROCK BASSIST
Rick Ryan
ROCK DRUMMER
Johnny Magnum
SOLO
Tom Sartoti
DUO / TRIO
Blind Ambition
BLUES BAND
Danny Lynn Wilson Band
BLUES MALE VOCALIST
Jack Civiletto
BLUES FEMALE VOCALIST
Robin Mayerat
BLUES GUITARIST
Paul Bruschini
BLUES KEYBOARDIST
Ron Davis
BLUES BASSIST
Andy Romanek
BLUES DRUMMER
Mike Phelps
BLUES SAX
Jeff Hackworth
BLUES HARMONICA
Rick Holland
ORIGINAL HARD ROCK
Evil Rufus Kay
ORIGINAL ROCK
Scott Carpenter & the Real McCoys
ORIGINAL POP
Spinpop
ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE
Schwannoma
PUNK / SKA
Girlpope
INDUSTRIAL
Yellow 5
NEW ORIGINAL
Dollywatchers
ORIGINAL ACOUSTIC
Tom Stahl
ORIGINAL MALE VOCALIST
Mike Oliver
ORIGINAL FEMALE VOCALIST
Alison Pipitone
ORIGINAL GUITARIST
Mike Criscione
ORIGINAL BASS
Rob Peltier
ORIGINAL KEYBOARDS
Dave Schulz
ORIGINAL DRUMMER
Joe Cross
ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTALIST
Geoff Perry
Hall of Fame Inductees:
Anatara
Brian McKnight
Carol Wincenc
Junction West
New Breed
Steve Jordan
Tommy Calandra
Tony Galla
Van Taylor
