2016 New Mexico Music Awards Winners
The 29th Annual New Mexico Music Awards took place on June 16th, 2016, a month later than usual because of a problem with the preliminary judging process. Rather than move forward with the program as scheduled, it only seemed fair to halt the judging process and begin again in order to assure a fair process.
The event took place at the Embassy Suites and Spa in Albuquerque and featured performances from Connie Long & Fast Patsy, The Joseph General Band, Levi Platero, Drastic Andrew and the Latin band Nosotros.
Photography by Alan Winston of Winston Foto. Thanks to our sponsors Grandma’s Music & Sound, Quickbeam Systems, listen!ABQ, High Fidelity Mastering, Moonlight Talent Management and the Albuquerque Film & Music Experience.
The 2016 NMMAs fielded 695 entries in 42 categories.
Eric Larson Lifetime Achievement Recipient-Nick Luchetti
Nick Luchetti started drum lessons at 12 years old and played in Junior High and High School Bands. At 16 he moved on to trumpet and piano, joined the U.S. Air Force at 20 and later attended the University of New Mexico and Santa Monica City College, eventually graduating from UCLA in 1960. He returned to New Mexico and worked a second job playing six nights a week with Chick Singer and the Paul Muench Quartet. He began teaching drums and played for some traveling shows, such as Mel Torme, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Bob Hope. In 1965 he opened Luchetti Music Store, Later Luchetti Drum & Guitar in Albuquerque where he treated his customers like the talented people they were, always willing to loan a piece of equipment, give his opinion or share a tip or technique. Nick introduced Latin percussion instruments to Albuquerque and helped create a whole new dynamic in New Mexico music. Luchetti’s closed in September 2001. Nick’s students include Jay Shellen of Badfinger and rock icon Randy Castillo who went on to play for Ozzy Osborne and Motle Crue. He still teaches and still plays with the likes of Bob Brown, Arlen Asher and many more.
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
The finalists are listed in the following order unless otherwise noted:
Artist
Tittle
Producer
Studio / City
Listed in the order in which they were presented.
Adult Contemporary
Cali Shaw
Hold On To You
Cali Shaw
Elephonic Studios / Albuquerque
Americana
Indigie Femme
You Taught Me To Love
Larry Mitchell
Indigenous Solutions Inc. Studios / Santa Fe
Blues
Levi Platero
Take Me Back
Levi Platero and Lee Padilla
Sanctuary Sounds / Albuquerque
Bluegrass
The Lost Howlin’ Coyotes
Morgan Jones
Lee Padilla & Tony Mora
Sanctuary Sound Studio / Albuquerque
Children’s Music
Diana D. James
Paint The World Anew
Diana D. James & Lisa Carmen
The Palace Studio / Santa Fe
Country
Joe Mark Angelo & Hard Livin’
Where To Go From Here
Archie Maestas & Eddie Garcia
ATM Recording Studio / Hernandez
Electronica
Michael Rogel
Martyr
Michael Rogel
Home Studio / Corrales
Folk
Paul Kelly
I Am Here For You
Paul Kelly
Santa Fe Soundworks / Santa Fe
Hip-Hop
skye – Tawanika Skye
The Art of Expression
T-Nyse – Tony Minter
the Workshop / Albuquerque
Indie Rock
Kid Dinosaur
Meeting Monsters
John Wall
Wall of Sound / Albuquerque
Jazz
Kodama Trio
Milepost 22
Jeremy Bliech, Robert Muller & Mitlton Villarubia
Grasshopper Music / Santa Fe
Latin
Nosotros
Olvidarme
Dennis Javier Jasso & Nosotros
Fw Studios / Santa Fe
Metal
Countdown To Overkill
Ripper
Adrian Clay
Man O War Studios / Albuquerque
Modern Rock
Andrew MacLauchlan
Plunder Away
Ben Wright
Frogville Studios / Santa Fe
Native American
Bébé La La, Alicia Ultan & Maryse Lapierre ft. Oatzinu She’e’lake’e
Ruins
Bébé La La & John Wall
Wall of Sound / Albuquerque
New Age Cotemporary
Jim Oliver
Galactic Soul
Jim Oliver
Oliver Music Studio / Santa Fe
Novelty / Humorous
Don Shearer
I’m Flotsam
Don Shearer
Fat Blob Productions / Rio Rancho
Pop
Entangled Dreams
High
John Wall
Wall of Sound / Albuquerque
R&B
Robyn Christina
Out of This World
David Madik Lucero
Madik Innovation / Albuquerque
Rap
Red Coalescence
Your Every Move
David Madik Lucero
Madik Innovation / Albuquerque
Reggae
Joseph General
Burn Through the Lies
Gilbert Uribe & Joseph General
Soulcialite Productions / Albuquerque
Religious / Gospel
Jay, Ellie, Michael – American Jem
Anthem of Joy
Jay Cawley
Smilin’ Fish Studio / Santa Fe
Singer / Songwriter
Bébé La La, Alicia Ultan & Maryse Lapierre
Sister Sister
Bébé La La & John Wall
Wall of Sound / Albuquerque
Western
Gary Paul Hermus
Santa Fe Trail (Kit Carson’s Last Ride)
Lisa Carman, Gary Paul Hermus
The Palace Studio / Santa Fe
World
Baracutanga
Paixao
Kilko “Paz” Rivera & Baracutanga
Wall of Sound & Third Eye Studios
Albuquerque & Tijeras
Best Arrangement Original
Daniel Ward
Lucila
Daniel Ward
Third Eye Studio / Tijeras
Best Cover
David Kuncicky
Walk of Life
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios / Santa Fe
Best Instrumental
Entourage Jazz
Waltz for Geraldus
Emerson Susan Corley, Roger Baker
Eagle Rock Studios / Albuquerque
Best Mastering Engineer
Dominick Maita
for
After
The Studio on The Hill / Santa Fe
Best Recording Engineer
Roger Baker
for
Entourage Jazz
Things Are Looking Up
Eagle Rock Studios/Albuquerque
Best Song
Don Conoscenti
for
What Else Could I Do?
Best Vocal Performance
Holy Water And Whiskey
Night Hymn
John Wall
Wall of Sound / Albuquerque
Best Video
Andrew MacLauchlan
Drastic Andrew
Alien Creature
Video: Craig Hanke
Best Packaging Design
Luke Dorman and David Berkeley
Cardboard Boat
David Berkeley
Best Country CD
Connie Long & Fast Patsy
Hello There
Connie D. Long
Sarah’s Old Room Studio / Santa Fe
Best Hip-Hop CD
Coolio Da’unda’dogg
The Ghosts of the Hustlers Past
Dobh Graystone
Pushin’ Dope Productions
Best Jazz CD
Kodama Trio
Kodama Trio
Jeremy Bliech, Robert Muller & Mitlton Villarubia
Grasshopper Music / Santa Fe
Best Pop CD
Entangled Dreams
In Color
John Wall
Wall of Sound / Albuquerque
Best Rap CD
Kabby & Brother Justice Whitaker
Grounded EP:A
Matthew Kabakoff
Kabby Sound / Santa Fe
Best Rock CD
Drastic Andrew
Live Without Warning
Ben Wright
Frogville Studios / Santa Fe
Norman Petty Producer’s Award
Dennis Javier Jasso & Nosotros
Nosotros
En El Más Allá
Fw Studios / Santa Fe
Best of the Year
Drastic Andrew
Live Without Warning
Ben Wright
Frogville Studios / Santa Fe