2007 New Mexico Music Award Winners

The 20th Annual New Mexico Music Awards was held on Sunday, May 20th, 2007 at the Marriot Pyramid North hotel in Albuquerque and featured performances from Grammy Award winners Black Eagle, Karen de Aguero, Kito Peters, Cristen Grey, Ryan McGarvey, Susan Clark and Ron Helman. Guest presenters included Allison Shaw of Hyperactive Magazine, Dan MAyfield of the Albuquerque Journal, Juan Velasco and Ann Perkins of 92.3 KRST FM, Nancy Laflin, Executive Director of the New Mexico Music Commission, Albert Cata of KSFR radio Santa Fe and from the Albuquerque Music Allience, Cheryl Hooks. Thanks to our sponsors Grandma’s Music & Sound and Quickbeam Systems.

The 2007 awards program fielded 419 entries in 35 categories from across New Mexico.

Eric Larson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient-Producer Jose A Ponce

In 2005, after the passing of New Mexico Music Awards co-founder Eric Larson, the state of the NMMA’s was in flux. A volunteer committee that had helped to produce the NMMAs for years was left without its guiding voice. For many years, Eric Larson had taken on the heavy lifting of producing the awards show. After some soul searching and research, it was decided that the program should remain a private concern. Unfortunately, the program had never been registered as a business and no one was officially in charge.

Jose and his wife Kathy stepped in to fill the void left by Eric’s passing. With all of the financial and legal work being handled by Kathy, Jose was left free to concentrate on the production of the program itself. The couple also created the Eric Larson Endowment in 2005 to provide scholarship money for students at the University of New Mexico studying audio recording or music. The endowment became solvent in 2008 and began giving scholarships out.

Since 2005, Kathy and Jose have produced every awards show and have added workshops, sponsorships and other opportunities for musicians year round. Jose Ponce was caught off guard by the award, planned and executed by his wife Kathy with the help of producer John Wall.

The Eric Larson Endowment at UNM provides unrestricted funds for juniors or seniors who have chosen music or the recording arts as their major and have maintained a 3.0 GPA. Eric Larson was co-founder of the New Mexico Music awards and passed away in 2005. The New Mexico Music Awards contributes annually to the scholarship fund. To donate, go to ericlarsonendowment.com

Winners are listed as follows except where otherwise indicated:

Title

Artist

Writer(s)

Producer(s)

Engineer(s)

Studio

Studio Location

Adult R & B


Heart of Mine (The 3RD)
Jaynez
Jovanii Nez-Writer
Jovanii Nez-Producer
Jovanii Nez-Engineer
Dream1 Studios
Gallup


Americana


A Kiss From the Dead
Adam Seligman
Adam Seligman-Writer
Adam Seligman, Peter Blackman-Producer
Peter Blackman-Engineer
College of Santa Fe
Santa Fe


Blues


Cryin’ Over You
Ryan McGarvey
Ryan McGarvey-Writer
John Wall, Pat & Ryan McGarvey-Producers
John Wall-Engineer
Seth Launer-Asst. Engineer; David Cain-Mastering
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque


Country


You’re Not Coming Home
Ramsey Scott
Ramsey Scott-Writer
Ramsey Scott & Michael Hearne-Producers
Jon Gold-Engineer
Dead Horse Studio
Taos


Electronica


Paradigm
Joey Belville & Chrissy Jeter
J. Belville, C. Jeter-Writers
Joey Belville-Producer
Joey Belville-Engineer
The Echoing Green
Albuquerque


Hip Hop


So Long
TuMan Presents DarbStar
Matthew Lowe, Michael Jaramillo, Colin Darby-Writers
Matthew Lowe & Michael Jaramillo-Producers
Matthew Lowe & Michael Jaramillo-Engineers
TuMan Studio
Albuquerque


Hispanic-Contemporary


Hermosa
Nosotros
Dennis Jasso-Writer
Nosotros & J. Douglas Geist-Producers
J. Douglas Geist & Matt Pavaliotis-Engineers
Steven B. Turpin-2nd Engineer
Santa Fe Center Studios
Albuquerque


Hispanic-Traditional


Esta Vida
Karen deAguero
Karen deAguero-Writer
Steve Chavez-Producer
Steve Chavez-Engineer
Chavez Studio
Espanola


Jazz


Empty
Kito Peters, Ben Wright, David Cragin
Kito Peters-Writer
Ben Wright-Producer
David Cragin-Engineer
The Eagle’s Nest
Cerillos


Native-Contemporary


Sweet Protector
Shelley Morningsong & Larry Mitchell
Shelley Morningsong-Writer
Larry Mitchell-Producer
Larry Mitchell-Engineer
Insatiable Studios Southwest
Santa Fe


Native-Traditional


Morning Star
Black Eagle
Tim Toya-Writer
Tom Bee-Producer
J. Douglas Geist-Engineer
Ryan Cangiolosi-Mastering
Santa Fe Center Studios
Albuquerque


New Age/Contemporary


Moonrise
Liquid Electricity-Dave Williams & Tim Veltkamp
Dave Williams-Writer
Dave Williams & Tim Veltkamp-Producers
Dave Williams & Tim Veltkamp-Engineers
Silver Sage Studios
Albuquerque


Rap


I Stand Alone
Relikis
Relikis – Steve Valdez-Writers
The Madik – David Lucero-Producers
The Madik – David Lucero-Engineers
Alumni Studio
Albuquerque


Religious/Gospel


Pray a Prayer
Xaltar
Father Scott Mansfield-Writer
Scott Chapin-Producer
Scott Chapin-Engineer
Rob Martinez-Vocal Arrangement
Creative Services
Placitas


Rock-AC


Absolute
Cristen Grey
Cristen Grey-Writer
Cristen Grey & Brian Widger-Producers
Cristen Grey & Brian Widger-Engineers
Tire House Studios
Santa Fe


Rock-Alternative


Safety Net
Man Born Blind
Man Born Blind-Writers
Darrick Hurst-Producer
J. Douglas Geist-Engineer
Santa Fe Center Studios
Albuquerque


Rock-Mainstream


Rest Assured
Nunchuk
Nunchuk-Writer
John Wall & Nunchuk-Producers
John Wall-Engineer
Dereld Padilla-Asst. Engineer; David Cain-Mastering
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque


Rock-Metal


The Waste
Left Brain
Left Brain-Writers
Left Brain & Sid Garcia-Producers
Sid Garcia-Engineer
Sight 16 Studios
Albuquerque


Western


Just A Guitar
Rex Warren
Rex Warren-Writer
Rex Warren, J. Douglas Geist-Producers
J. Douglas Geist-Engineer
Santa Fe Center Studios
Albuquerque


World Beat


Within the Red Circle
Brule
Paul LaRoche-Writer
Paul LaRoche, Tom Bee & Robby Bee-Producers
Robby Bee & Paul LaRoche-Engineers
J. Douglas Geist-Mastering
Studio Bee
Albuquerque


Best Arrangement of an Original Composition


Until Next Time
Nosotros
Dennis Jasso & Inga Hendrickson-Writers
Nosotros & J. Douglas Geist-Producers
J. Douglas Geist & Matt Pavaliotis-Engineers
Steven B. Turpin-2nd Engineer
Santa Fe Center Studios
Albuquerque


Best Artist’s Website


www.leftbrainband.com
Left Brain


Best Recording Engineer


J. Douglas Geist & Matt Pavaliotis
Mama Tierra
Dennis Jasso-Writer
Nosotros & J. Douglas Geist-Producers
Steven B. Turpin-2nd Engineer
Santa Fe Center Studios
Albuquerque


Best Instrumental Performance


On Green Dolphin Street
Ron Helman
Bronislau Kaper-Writer
Bert Dalton-Producer
Jon Gagan-Engineer
The Electric Company
Santa Fe


Best Live Recording


Stone Creek
Gathering of Nations-Derek, Lita & Melonie Mathews
Stone Creek-Writers
Gathering of Nations-Derek, Dr. Lita & Melonie Mathews-Producers
Audio Excellence, Steve Puton-Engineer
The University of New Mexico Arena
Albuquerque


Best Vocal Performance


El Paso
Syd Masters
Marty Robbins-Writer
Syd Masters-Producer
Lonnie Otha-Mayer, Michael Chavez, Syd Masters-Engineers
Thunderbird Studio & Stepbridge Studios
Edgewood & Santa Fe


Best Song


Meet Me in New Orleans
Susan Clark
Susan Clark-Writer
Susan Clark, Ed Schultz & Randy Clark-Producers
Randy Clark & Ed Schultz-Engineers
Zuzax Trax
Tijeras


Best Remake


El Paso
Syd Masters
Marty Robbins-Writer
Syd Masters-Producer
Lonnie Otha-Mayer, Michael Chavez, Syd Masters-Engineers
Thunderbird Studio & Stepbridge Studios
Edgewood & Santa Fe


Best Packaging


Man Born Blind
Man Born Blind


Best Rock CD


Lists
Unit 7 Drain
Tim Stroh-Producer
Michael Chavez & Paul Johnson-Engineers
Stepbridge Studios
Santa Fe


Best Pop CD


Quicksand
Ivan Rane & Billy Tapia
Ivan Rane-Producer
Ivan Rane-Engineer
Rane Studio
Rio Rancho


Best Producer


Susan Clark, Ed Schultz & Randy Clark
Waitin’ for the Wind
Randy Clark & Ed Schultz-Engineers
Zuzax Trax
Tijeras


Best of the Year


Susan Clark/Waitin’ for the Wind
Susan Clark, Ed Schultz & Randy Clark
Susan Clark, Ed Schultz & Randy Clark-Producers
Randy Clark & Ed Schultz-Engineers
Zuzax Trax
Tijeras