The 34th New Mexico Music Awards were held at the Uptown Funk Dueling Piano Bar located inside Revel Entertainment Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Newest entertainment complex. The post-pandemic event featured performances by Bluegrass artist Zephaniah Stringfield with Peter Oviatt and Nick Cohon from Taos; Americana artist Larry Lesser with producer Bill Radcliff, Amamda Zeitlin and Ross Ingram; Paula Rhae McDonald, Marc Malin and their band Roadside Distraction; Kevin Miller with members of two bands, 50 Watt whale and 9999; and from Carlsbad, the rock band Stranded.
The New Mexico Music Awards had 721 entries in 41 categories this year. Thanks to our sponsors, Quickbeam Systems, Revel Entertainment Albuquerque, Guitar center of Albuquerque, The Candyman Strings & Things in Santa Fe, Grandmas Music & Sound, Jason’s Music Publishing, listen!NM, Two Pups Boutique and Moonlight Talent Management
Photo by Lori Levine
Eric Larson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Kathy Gutierrez
Kathy Gutierrez or Kathy G, was the center Rhinestone in the vocal group, the Rhinestones comprised of Kathy, Denise Brissy and Joan Cere. Paired with the band Cadillac Bob, the group took New Mexico by storm with Kathy’s voice soaring above it all. She was one of a group of wonderful vocalists from New Mexico who live and work in New Mexico. Kathy passed away after a long illness in June of 2021, but she will be remembered for her soaring, bluesy voice and never quit attitude.
Eric Larson Endowment at UNM
In 2020, the Eric Larson Endowment handed out three emergency grants to students that had lost their income during the pandemic.
Hyorin Kim-An international student from South Korea an a graduate student majoring in Flute performance and a Woodwind Quintet graduate. Once his degree is complete, Kim will move on to pursue a doctorate of Musical Arts.
Kaitlyn Norman-A UNM senior undergraduate and Vocal Performance Major. (Soprano) She will be the first in her family to graduate from college when she completes her bachelors in spring of 2021. She performed her first opera in spring of 2020
Samps J Taylor-A first-year graduate Music Performance Major whose principle instrument is Tuba. studying under Dr. Richard White. His scholarship money has helped him to pay down his student debt.
To donate to the scholarship fund, send a check or money order to:
Eric Larson Music Endowment
UNM Foundation
700 Lomas NE
Two Woodward Center
Albuquerque, NM 87102
To donate online, go to https://www.unmfund.org/fund/eric-larson/
For more about the UNM Foundation, go to https://www.unmfund.org/about/
New Mexico Music Awards
2021 Winners
Listings are as follows unless otherwise indicated
Artist
Title
Producer(s)
Studio
Studio Location (City)
Single Length Categories
Judged on Composition, Production, Performance
Adult Contemporary/Adult Pop
Eli del Puerto
Go Get It Girl
Shaun Hettinger
Neon Moon Studios
Albuquerque
Americana
Kipp Bentley
Genevieve
Nathan Dunton
Kabby Sound Studios
Santa Fe
Blues
Jay Galván Heneghan
It’s Not About You
Jason Reed, Jay Heneghan
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
Bluegrass
Zephaniah Stringfield
Logan Harvey
Peter Oviatt and Zephaniah Stringfield
Moonflower Sounds Studio
Taos
Children’s Music
Alameda August
Hush
Abiding Blue Productions
Abiding Blue Productions LLC
Las Cruces
Country Music
Johnny Lloyd
Don’t Think About Com’n Back
Baird Banner
Klugit Sound
Santa Fe
Electronica
K Dutch
Tortugal
KC Dutcher
K Dutch Music
Santa Fe
Folk Music
Ronny Cox
Portales
Tom (Panda) Ryan
The Kitchen Sink Studios
Santa Fe
Hip-Hop
Just Dave
Way Up (feat. Kata)
David Apodaca
Home Studio
Santa Fe
Indie Rock
Kevin Miller/9999
Uptight Meat
Kevin Miller
Arroyo Borealis Records
Santa Fe
Jazz
Daniel Ward with Justin Bransford and Mark Clark
Tube Tone
Daniel Ward, David McRae
Third Eye Studios
Tijeras
Latin
Juan Gambino
Que Mas Quieres ft/ Jo Amber
Juan Gambino
La Colonia Inc.
Estancia
Metal
Fibber
No Doom, Bright Joy
Tim Schmoyer
The Kitchen Sink Studios
Santa Fe
Modern Rock
Stranded
Angel’s Bridge
Raul G Ortega, Mike Ybarra, Dario Velasquez, Lawrence Gamble, Jason Vigil
Stranded Studio
Carlsbad
Native American
Felix Gato Peralta
Comanche Highway
Felix Gato Peralta
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
Novelty/Humorous
Larry Lesser
Max (The Bark Mitzvah Song)
Larry Lesser and Bill Radcliffe
Brainville Studios
Sunland Park
Pop
G Precious
Unforgettable f/ Macy Gray
Jared Lee Gosselin
Chavez Recording Studio
Espanola
Rhythm & Blues
Steve O’Neill
What’s Your Pleasure
Steve O’Neill
Home Studio
Santa Fe
Rap
Sepsis
2 in 1
J Cassin
Septicemia Records
Albuquerque
Reggae
Johnny Visable
Leave it for Tonight
John-Michael Vasquez
FW Studios
Santa Fe
Religious/Gospel
Tom Russell
Teach Me Father
Route 66 Music
Route 66 Studios
Bernalillo
Singer/Songwriter
Rooster Blackspur
Big Dipper
John Wall
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Western
Gabriel Lucero
Dog-gone Shame
Joel Racheff, Gabriel Lucero
Green Chili Records
Farmington
World
GANG
Un Treno Per Riace
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink Studios
Santa Fe
Performance Specific Categories
Best Arrangement of an Original Composition
Nathan Dunton
for
Kipp Bentley
Long Snake Moan
Kabby Sound Studios
Santa Fe
Cover Song
The Cowboy Way
Ghost Riders/Pipeline
Mariam Funke
GMF Recording Studios
Santa Fe
Best Instrumental Performance
Entourage Jazz
Old Devil Moon
Emerson Corley & Roger Baker
Downstairs Studio & Third Eye Studio
Tijeras
Mastering Engineer
Andy Rogulich
for
Delirium
Aaron Pickett, Tyler Hooker
High Fidelity Mastering
Albuquerque
Recording Engineer
Steve O’Neill
for
Steve O’Neill
What’s Your Pleasure?
Best Song (Composition)
Busy McCarroll
for
Divided States
Best Vocal Performance
Marc Malin, Paula Rhae McDonald
I Got a Notion
Marc Malin, Paula Rhae McDonald
The Kitchen Sink Studios
Santa Fe
Non-Performance Categories
Best Video
Lara Manzanares
Census Song
Lara Manzanares
Lara Manzanarez-Videographer, editing
Lara’s Casita/Kitchen Sink Studios
Corrales
Best Packaging Design
Brenda Atencio
for
G Precious-The Forgotten
Full Length Categories
Best Country Album
Rich Rajacich
The Least I Can Do
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink Studios
Santa Fe
Best Hip-Hop/Rap Album
K Dutch
Tularosa
KC Dutcher
K Dutch Music
Santa Fe
Best Jazz Album
Long Shot Trio
Llano
Outpost Performance Space
Albuquerque
Best Pop Album
Kito Peters
Unmasked
Kito Peters
Home Studio
Santa Fe
Best Rock Album
Alien Space Kitchen
Surfing the Psychedelic Swamp
Richard Blair
Secret Sound 505
Rio Rancho
Norman Petty Producer’s Award
Tom (Panda) Ryan
for
Ronny Cox-Live at the Kitchen Sink
The Kitchen Sink Studios
Santa Fe
Best Album of the Year
Kipp Bentley
Rose of Jericho
Nathan Dunton
Kabby Sound Studios
Santa Fe