BACKGROUND

The Connie Awards were conceived, organized, and named after Connie Hechter, jazz drummer and editor of the T.M.C. (later Connie’s) Insider.  He and Marsh Edelstein thought it would be good for the industry to show some recognition for the booming music scene in the Twin Cities.  The program for the 1968 ceremony stated the mission:

The Connie Awards symbolize professionalism, best of class, and consistency of performance within that class.

The purpose of the awards is to recognize the top pop music talent in this market, attract national attention to the musical resources in this Upper Midwest market, and to unify our industry.

A note on spelling:  between typos in the original documents, bad copies of microfilm, and my own prolific typos, there is every chance that names are spelled wrong.  Please contact me and I will be grateful for any corrections.  Thanks!

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DATE:  May 22, 1967

PLACE:  Sheraton-Ritz Hotel in Minneapolis

HOST:  Charlie Boone, WCCO Radio

NOTES:

• First year.
• 325 guests.
• Presented by the T.M.C. Insider (precursor to Connie’s Insider) and the Midwest Academy of Contemporary Music.
• Nominees and winners determined by reader poll.
• Music by Dick Whitbeck and the Blue Diamonds

GUEST SPEAKERS:

• Thomas Noonan, Director or National Promotion, Columbia Records, NYC:  “New Acts – what record companies look for,” and “Today’s Radio Scene – local breakouts.”
• Felton Jarvis, Artist and Repertoire Producer, Assistant to Chet Atkins, RCA Victor Records, Nashville:  “The Performance of an A&R Man”
• Ray Brack, Midwest Editor, Billboard Magazine, Chicago:  “The Rose of a Trade Paper.”

The first Connie’s got good press in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune.  Hechter was quoted in one article as saying “I hope that Minneapolis-St. Paul will eventually mean to popular music what Nashville means to the country sound.”   (May 21, 1967)

As for the ceremony, Connie was clearly excited:

Imagine!  Pop musicians arriving in limousines and hotrods, dressed in tuxedos, their long hair hanging down to their shoulders, spotlights lighting up the sky, a 15-piece band playing overtures, and guests receiving the red carpet treatment as they enter the hotel.  It will really be something to see … just like the national Academy Awards.

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BEST BAND NOMINEE DANCE

The nominees for best band performed on Sunday, May 21, 1967, at a dance at the Wakota Arena in South St. Paul for nearly 2,000 kids.  They were:

• Danny’s Reasons
• T.C. Atlantic
• The Underbeats
• The Hot Half Dozen
• The Del Counts

The Fabulous Flippers also performed two shows.

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NOMINEES AND WINNERS

All nominees are listed below; winners, when known, are indicated in bold.

RECORDING CATEGORY

Producer Nominees:

• Pete Steinberg: Mona
• Ira Heilicher and Dick Shapiro:  Liar, Liar
• Ira Heilicher:  Heat Wave
• Marsh Edelstein:  What is the Reason

COMPOSER

• Charles Schoen:  With Another Guy
• Dale Menton:  You May See Me Cry
• Don Beauclaire:  Cherie
• John Howarth:  My Woman Sunny Day

ARTIST AND REPERTOIRE

• Ira Heilicher & Dick Shapiro:  Heat Wave
• Marsh Edelstein:  What is the Reason
• Dale Menton:  You May See me Cry
• Warren Kendrick:  Action Woman
• Pete Steinberg:  Flight Reaction

RECORDING ENGINEER

• Darrel Arvidson:  Shake – Dove
• John Michaelson:  Heat Wave – Kay Bank
• Darrel Arvidson:  Dirty Old Man – Dove

BEST ALBUM:  Big Hits of Mid-America, Volume II

BEST SINGLE RECORD

• Mona:  T.C. Atlantic
• What is the Reason:  Del Counts
• Heat Wave:  Hot Half Dozen
• What Good is Love:  Joey Strobel
• Faces:  T.C. Atlantic

INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY

OTHER INSTRUMENT:

• Don Beauclaire:  Trombone – Hot Half Dozen
• Joe Kanan:  Sitar – T.C. Atlantic
• Mickey Stevens:  Tamborine – Danny’s Reasons
• Dennis Waite:  Tamborine – Litter
• Dennis Libby:  Electric Piano – Castaways

TRUMPET

• Don Beauclaire:  Hot Half Dozen
• Dick Larson:  Mauraders
• Dave Hanson:  Mystics
• Jim Salt:  Hot Half Dozen
• Jack McManus:  Belmonts

SAXOPHONE

• Fred Draper:  Hot Half Dozen
• Greg Hartman:  Mystics
• Dick Larson:  Marauders
• Bob Rockwell:  Runaways
• Ron Geslin:  Hot Half Dozen

KEYBOARDS

• Don Beauclaire:  Hot Half Dozen
• Greg Maland:  Castaways
• Fred Freeman:  T.C. Atlantic
• Gary Neilson:  Nite Caps
• Dave Dean:  Stillroven

BASS GUITAR

• Steve Munson:  Lynchmen
• Joe Kanan, T.C. Atlantic
• Bob Gonyea: Danny’s Reasons
• Dan Holm:  Chancellors
• Donald Larson:  Underbeats

RHYTHM GUITAR

• Rico Rosenbaum:  Underbeats
• Mike Judge:  Chancellors
• Darrel Litchee:  Hot Half Dozen
• Charles Schoen:  Del Counts
• Danny Kane:  Stillroven

LEAD GUITAR

• Daryl Lichy:  Hot Half Dozen
• Dale Menton:  Escapades
• Steve Miller:  Del Counts
• Jim Johnson:  Underbeats
• Ralph Burger:  Chancellors

DRUMS

• Jim Faragher:  Chancellors
• Dennis Craswell:  Castaways
• Ceedy Van Dusen:  Danny’s Reasons
• Rod Eaton:  T.C. Atlantic
• David Steineck:  Hot Half Dozen

MOST VERSATILE MUSICIAN

• Don Beauclaire:  Hot Half Dozen
• Jim Salk:  Hot Half Dozen
• Charles Schoen:  Del Counts
• Dick Reese:  Prophets
• John Luttio:  High Spirits

BEST INSTRUMENTAL GROUP

• T.C. Atlantic
• Hot Half Dozen
• Underbeats
• Del Counts
• Danny’s Reasons

SHOW AND VOCAL CATEGORY

VOCAL – SINGLE

• Danny Stevens:  Danny’s Reasons
• Rico Rosenbaum:  Underbeats
• Charles Schoen:  Del Counts
• Tom Nystrom:  Underbeats
• Mike Flaherty:  Escapades

SHOWMAN – SINGLE

• Danny Stevens:  Danny’s Reasons
• Rico Rosenbaum:  Underbeats
• Charles Schoen:  Del Counts
• Tom Nystrom:  Underbeats
• Mike Flaherty:  Escapades

VOCAL – GROUP

• Chancellors
• Dave Brady & The Stars
• Underbeats
• Del Counts
• Escapades

SHOW – GROUP

• Chancellors
• Hot Half Dozen
• Danny’s Reasons
• Marauders
• Dave Brady & The Stars

MAJOR AWARDS

MOST PROMISING NEW BAND

• Escapades
• Litter
• Grasshoppers
• New Generation
• South 40

BEST BAND

• Underbeats
• T.C. Atlantic
• Del Counts
• Hot Half Dozen
• Danny’s Reasons