Jackson Free Press

The Jackson Music Awards is a time-honored Jackson tradition spanning 34 years, and this year the producers of the awards stressed its connection with the storied past of the Jackson blues, gospel and R&B traditions. Music and local radio legends Denise Lasalle, The Chi-lites, Jobie L. Martin, Verbia "Lady Vee" Harden, Joseph Melvin Shamell (posthumously), Terri Lynn and Al Jenkins, Tommy Marshall, Rip Daniels, Edie Jones and Joe "Big Daddy" Lewis were honored at the event for their contributions to the Jackson music scene.

Jackson Music Award Winners:

Gospel

National Female Soloist of the Year
Carolyn Traylor

Song of the Year by a National Single Artist
"Where Would I Be" by Stan Jones & Tarrylyn Ramsey

National Male Lead Singer of a Group
Paul Porter

Local Musician of the Year
Donavon Thigpen

Local Female Vocalist of the Year
Tonya Ware

Local Male Vocalist of the Year
Terrell Brinson

Local Group of the Year
The Cork Singers

Dance Ministry of the Year
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Mime Ministry

National Announcer of the Year, The Roy Wooten Award
Ederic Kearney- KUBD-FM- Sardis, Miss.

Jackson Gospel Radio Announcer of the Year
Torrez Harris

Mississippi Gospel Radio Announcer of the Year
Sarah Hall – WNLA – Indianola, Miss.

National Musician of the Year
Merlin Lucious

Local Church Choir Director of the Year
Victoria Clemmons

Songwriter of the Year
Stan Jones "I Recommend Jesus"

National Producer of the Year
Stan Jones

National Male Soloist of the Year
Melvin Williams

Male Chorus of the Year
Caney Creek

Best Song Recorded by National Group
"I Recommend Jesus" The Canton Spirituals

Album of the Year Recorded by an Upcoming Artist
Da Minister – "Keep It Holy"

Album of the Year Recorded by a National Group
"Driven" The Canton Spirituals

WAPT National Group of the Year
The Canton Spirituals

Local Church Choir of the Year
Caney Creek

Community Choir of the Year
Dathan Thigpen & Holy Nation

Female Lead Singer of a Local Church Choir
Latoya Knight

Best Engineered Recording
"Crazy Like Love" Melvin Williams – Engineered by Stan Jones & Randy Everett

The Linzy Don Dixon Memorial Award (Sponsored by the Farish Street Festival)
Ester Wooten

The Frank Williams Memorial Award
Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson

Rhythm and Blues

Background Vocalist of the Year
Tonya Youngblood

International Producer of the Year
Willie Clayton for "A Woman Knows" by Willie Clayton

"Pop Group of the Year"
Fade 2 Blue

The Local R & B Group of the Year
Compozitionz

Country Music Award
Sweet Water Jade

International Songwriter of the Year
Omar Cunningham for "My Life" by Omar Cunningham

Best Engineered Recording
Ron Carbo for "A Woman Knows" by Willie Clayton

International Female Vocalist of the Year
Denise LaSalle

International Male Vocalist of the Year
Mel Waiters

Poetry/Spoken Word
Kanika Welch

International CD of the Year
"My Tyme" by Willie Clayton

Local Blues Artist of the Year
Eddie Cotton

National Blues Artist of the Year

Best Recording By A Single Artist
"You Still Got It" by Floyd Taylor,

The King Mose Memorial Award
Jessie Robinson

Urban Disc Jockey of the Year
Alice Marie

Local Entertainer of the Year
D-Mar & Nu Funk Society

Musician of the Year
Ezzra Brown

Statewide R&B Announcer
Dalton Hill – WTYJ Natchez, Miss.

R & B Disc Jockey of the Year
Outlaw- WMPR

Jazz Group of the Year
Jessie Primer III

Local Female Vocalist of the Year
Beverly Ellis

Local Male Vocalist of the Year
Dexter Allen

International Entertainer of the Year
David Banner

Rap Artist of the Year
Young Tut

Hip Hop Female Artist of The Year
Infinite

Hip Hop Male Artist of The Year
Benz

Hip Hop Group of The Year
Affiliated

Hip Hop Entertainer of the Year
David Banner

Previous Comments

ID

132098

Comment

You know, I really wish they would call this awards show what it truly is...The Jackson Blues Awards.

Author

Queen601

Date

2008-07-15T16:28:25-06:00

ID

132104

Comment

Local Female Vocalist of the Year Tonya Ware Yay, Pastor Tonya!!!! That is all. :-P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-07-15T19:55:49-06:00

ID

132113

Comment

Tonya Ware, one in the same. Glad you posted L.W. I missed that somehow.

Author

Queen601

Date

2008-07-16T09:41:25-06:00

ID

132122

Comment

I read an article on David Banner in the Washington Post Monday while on the east coast. It showed his range or diversity - good and bad lyrics and discussed his fear that going all or totally good would lead to going broke and out of business. It's shameful that fan support has a greater hunger for bad than good, to try to put it simply. What a dilemma?! God bless him and let's hope he does the right thing, what ever that is.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-07-16T11:52:03-06:00