The 35th Annual New Mexico Music Awards were handed out on Sunday, May 22nd at Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque. Awards were presented in 42 categories in a variety of Genres.
Thanks to all of the songwriters, musicians, engineers, producers and supporters who made the 2022 New Mexico Music Awards a success this year. There were terrific performances from singer/songwriter Rooster Blackspur from Truth or Consequences, the Albuquerque Metal band Anesthesia, Reggae masters Mister Kaili and Joseph General with High Vibration, Bernalillo’s Chris Cordova Latin Jazz Ensemble and Santa Fe’s David Phillips and the Pleasure Pilots.
The 2022 NMMAs fielded 713 entries in 42 categories.
The New Mexico Music Awards is sponsored by Quickbeam Systems Inc, Guitar Center of Albuquerque, Jason’s Music Publishing, Sandia Resort & Casino, The Candyman Strings and Things in Santa Fe, listenNM.com, Grandma’s Music and Sound, Two Pups Boutique, Winston Foto and Moonlight Talent Management.
Eric Larson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
Phil Appelbaum, Michael Herndon and the band Nosotros
This year the New Mexico Music Awards honored two of New Mexico’s fallen heroes and one iconic band.
When you consider the list of people Phil Applebaum worked with, it reads like a history of New Mexico music, from Carl Silva, The Muttz, Alma, Chuck Coulter, Strictly Taboo, The Strawberry Zotz, The Philisteens, Femme fatale, Cadillac Bob & the Rhinestones, Chris Dracup, Wendy Beach, Bert Dalton….the list is endless.
He had world class chops, but preferred to practice his art in New Mexico after moving from Chicago via LA in 1974. He worked with national and international artists including Spencer Davis, Harriet Schock, Chris Calloway, Doug Lawrence and many more. He did work for NASCAR and NBC television. You could find him in the company of people like the Rolling Stones or Todd Rundgren.
Phil won no fewer than 37 MIC Awards, the progenitor of the NM Music Awards, including Album of the year in 1992 and 1994 for Strictly Taboo’s Playing with Fire and their follow up, Speak No Evil, also taking home the best producer award in 1992.
Phil was meticulous, at one time re-setting all the clocks in his house and studio before his morning coffee. We will always remember him drink in hand, never drunk, but nursing that same drink all evening long.
Phil in his element.
Michael Herndon was the voice in the Duke City and much of New Mexico. Michael was constantly in demand for recording sessions, live gigs and benefits.
His command of his instrument was inspiring, so much so that other vocalists stood in line for a chance to perform with him. He worked with everyone and in many genres, but was at his best with jazz and rhythm and blues. We remember him giving his all in every performance, thrilling audience and bandmembers alike. There will never be another one like him.
Michael Herndon in performance
This group of gentlemen began their journey in las cruces as a guitar trio. What they quickly learned was that people really like to dance. Over time they added another new member, then another and then another until they had the right formula for making music the way they wanted to. Now, nearly thirty years later, they are one of the most sought after bands in the southwest. Nosotros is truly a New Mexico original.
They are Glenn Contreras and Carlos Fontana- Vocals, Shane Derk – Guitar, Randy Sanchez – Tres, Guitar, Gilbert Uribe – Bass, Dennis Javier Jasso – Drums, Manu Ramirez – Saxophones, Ricky Carrido – Congas and Jesse Joaquin Parker – Vibraphone, Percussion.
2022 New Mexico Music Award Winners
Unless otherwise indicated, finalists are listed as follows:
Artist
Title
Producer(s)
Studio Name
Studio Location (City)
Single Length Categories-Original Music Only
Adult Contemporary/Adult Pop
Jamie M Harrison
All of the Love Songs
Jamie M Harrison, Skafish, Glinda Harrison
Santa Fe Center Studios, Thunderclap Recording Studio, Home Studio
Albuquerque
Ambient
Joel Atkins
Breathe
Joel Atkins
Santa Fe Soundworks
Santa Fe
Americana
Grant Collinsworth
This House of Glass
Grant Collinsworth
Studio on Britain Drive
Santa Teresa
Bluegrass
David Kuncicky
New Mexico Home
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios
Santa Fe
Blues
Felicia Ford
Social Media Blues
Mathew McClinton
Frogville Studio
Santa Fe
Children’s Music (Tie)
Natanya Manson
Me
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Jordan Wax
Germs, Germs
Jordan Wax
Stop Golus Studios
Lone Butte
Country
Louis Sheridan
Things Mamma Used to Say
Louis Tafoya
Torreón Studio
Santa Fe
Electronica
Dare N Wade & Autumn
Intoxicated (f/ Autumn)
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studios
Albuquerque
Folk
Hoth Brothers Band
Judith
Boris McCutcheon, Baird Edrington, Sarah Ferrell, Bill Palmer
Old Dog Run Studios
Santa Fe
Hip-Hop
Outstanding Citizens Collective
Art of Oz
Antholonius Monk
RaRa Room Recordings
Santa Fe
Indie
Ross Ingram
Sell The Tape Machine
Ross Ingram
Brainville
Sunland Park
Jazz
Harry Musselwhite & Kenyon Carter
Circus March, Mvt. 3 from “Irish in Albuquerque”
Harry Musselwhite/Kenyon Carter
Harryproduction
Los Lunas
Latin
Chris Cordova Latin Jazz
Happy People
Chris Cordova
Chris Cordova Productions
Bernalillo
Metal
Anesthesia
Devoured
Jake Pacheco, Dax Lujan, Aaron Bustamante, Jon Singleton
Tres Cuarto
Albuquerque
Modern Rock
Micah Thunder
How It Ends
Edgar Wonder
Monsoon Recording /On The Moon Studios
Albuquerque
Native
Chris Burton & Fredrick Aragon
Frontiers
Chris Burton & Fredrick Aragon
Emerson Studios
Ranchos de Taos
Novelty
Todd Lowry
Take Me to Your Leaders
Todd Lowry
Downstairs Studio
Albuquerque
Pop
Andres Joseph
Come 2 My Party
John Wall
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Rhythm & Blues
David Phillips
It’s Been Fun
David Phillips, Fred Spencer, Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Rap
Juan Gambino f/George Hernandez
Borrachera
David Sala/Juan Gambino
La Colonia Inc/Cartel Music Group
Estancia
Reggae
Lili G Evans
I See You Jah
Fred Hernden & Joseph General Evans
Cloud Studios
Albuquerque
Religious
Rooster Blackspur
Unholy Saints
Berto (Rob) Stroup
Taproot Recording Studio
Truth or Consequences
Singer/Songwriter
BeBe LaLa-Maryse Lapierre & Alicia Ultan
Rosie
BeBe LaLa & John Wall
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Western
Escape On a Horse
Jack The Joker
Escape on a Horse
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
World
Bette Korber
Veneration
Bette Korber
Moonflower Sounds Studio
Taos
Performance Specific Categories
Best Arrangement Original Composition (Arranger)
Anna Rudolph
for
Anna Rudolph
One Two Three
Cover Song
Alison Reynolds
All Along the WatchTower/Carry on My Wayward Son
Alison Reynolds
Home studio
Las Cruces
Route 66 Cover (Tie)
Angelo Unale
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Dave Heidt
Route 66 Music
Bernalillo
David Kuncicky
Theme from Route 66
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios
Santa Fe
Best Instrumental Performance (Artist and Title Only)
Robb Janov-Violin Electric Loop
for
Bachalypso
Best Mastering Engineer (Engineer, Artist, Title, Facility & Location)
Andy Rogulich
for
Eb & Hal
On My Way Home
High Fidelity Mastering
Albuquerque
Best Recording Engineer (Engineer, Artist, Title, Facility & Location)
Jono Manson
for
David Phillips
What Happened to Love
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Best Original Song (Composer)
Wayne James Dotson
for
Wayne James Dotson
Angels Whisper Your Name
Best Vocal Performance (Artist and Title)
Entourage Jazz
for
How High the Moon
Non-Performance Categories (Artist, Title, Additional Tech Production or Artwork)
Best Video
Barbara Bentree
for
“Listen Here”
Director / Producer-Barbara Bentree
Best Album Design (Artist, Title, Design by)
David Phillips
for
What Happened to Love
Fred Spencer-Artwork
Photography Michael Delheim
Layout-Chris Kro
Full Length Categories
Blues Album
Eryn Bent
Red
Eryn Bent
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
Best Country Album
Rich Rajacich
Grain of Truth
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Jazz Album
Terry Lee Burns
Behind the Mask
Terry Lee Burns
Song Speak Studio
Rio Rancho
Pop Album
Kito Peters
Waterfall
Kito Peters, Simon Snaize
Home Studio
Santa Fe
Rock Album
EEP
Winter Skin
Ross Ingram
Brainville
Sunland Park
Norman Petty Producer’s Award
Boris McCutcheon
for
Alto Street
Alto Street
Torreon Studios
Santa Fe
Best of the Year
Eb & Hal
I’m On My Way Home
Eb Lottimer, Hal Howren, Dave McRae, Anna Darrah
Third Eye Studios
Tijeras