BACKGROUND

The Connie Awards were conceived, organized by, 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 27, 1968

PLACE:  Grand Ballroom, Sheraton-Ritz Hotel in Minneapolis

HOST:   Bill Carlson of WCCO TV

GUEST SPEAKER:  Charles Fach, VP of Mercury Records, NYC:  “The Music Industry – The Friendly Minotaur.”

NOTES:

• Second Annual Connie Awards
• Wilson Pickett was expected to speak, but apparently was not there.
• Music provided by Dick Whitbeck and his 15-piece Blue Diamonds Orchestra.
• See scans of the program on Jerry Lenz’s blog.
• Presented by the Midwest Academy of Contemporary Music and the Insider.
• The top five nominees were determined by ballots sent in by Insider readers.  Ballots were included in two issues of the Insider, and each reader was entitled to send in those two ballots.  “If you are not familiar with the Recording Category, do not vote in this section.”

The Academy members were listed as:

• Torp’s Music Center
• Magoo’s – New City Opera House
• Wagener Music
• The Barn
• Vavro Music
• Schmitt Music
• Traficante Music
• Soma Recording Co.
• Heilicher Bros., Inc.
• Musicland Stores
• All Records Sales
• Willlong Publishing
• Celann Publishing
• Danames Publishing
• Pickwick International
• T.L. Marsh, Inc.
• B Sharp Music Store
• Cabaret
• Trestman’s Music
• Prom Center

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NOMINEES AND WINNERS

Nominees are listed for each category.  The winner is the first one on the list and the rest are listed as they appear on the program.

RECORDING CATEGORY

BEST PRODUCER

• Menten and Steinberg for “Twenty Years Ago,” Candy Floss
• Warren Kendrick for “Distortions,” Warick
• Marshall Edelstein for “Sugar and Spice,” Fox
• Peter H. May for “Little Picture Playhouse,” Falcon
• Peter H. May for “Hey Joe,” Falcon
• Menten and Steinberg for “World War II in Cincinnati,” Atco

BEST COMPOSER

• Menten, Steinberg, Paulik and Goldberg for “Twenty Years Ago”
• David Sandler for “Blow to my Soul,” on Falcon
• Rico Rosenbaum for “It’s Gonna Rain Today,” on Metrobeat
• Menten Steinberg, Paulik and Goldberg for “World War II in Cincinnati”

ARTIST AND REPERTOIRE

• Menten and Steinberg for “Twenty Years Ago”
• Marshall Edelstein for “Sugar and Spice”
• Dale Menten for “Mickey’s Money,” Falcon
• Peter H. May for “Hey Joe,” Falcon
• Menton and Steinberg for “World War II in Cincinnati”

RECORDING ENGINEER

• Darrel Arvidson for “Sugar and Spice”
• Darrel Arvidson for “Boom Boom,” Westchester
• Darrel Arvidson for “Distortions,” Warick
• Darrel Arvidson for “Twenty Years Ago”
• Bob Schultz for “Sweetest Girl in the World,” Metrobeat

ALBUM

• “TC Atlantic” Dove
• “Money Music,” Various Artists, August
• “Distortions,” Litter

SINGLE

• “Twenty Years Ago,” TC Atlantic
• “Little Picture Playhouse,” Stillroven
• “Sugar and Spice,” Grasshoppers
• “Mickey’s Monkey,” CA Quintet
• “Hey Joe,” Stillroven

INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY

BEST OTHER INSTRUMENT

• Mike Holm, System, Autoharp
• Mike Wright, Sir Raleighs, Harmonica
• Mickey Stevens, Danny’s Reasons, Tambourine
• Jiggs Lee, Grasshoppers, Maracas
• Roger Brunner, Happy Dayz, Tambourine

BEST OTHER HORN

• Peter Brynildson, System, French Horn
• Dick Burt, Sir Raleighs, Trombone
• Steve Solem, Sparklers, French Horn
• Dave Hanson, Mystics, Trombone

BEST TRUMPET

• Dave Hanson, Mystics
• Ken Erwin, CA Quintet
• Tom Buckman, Sparklers
• Doug Franzen, Metropolitan Soul
• Peter Brynildson, System
• Chuck Dahle, Sparklers
• Mark Skok, Happy Dayz
• Keith Larson, Hot Half Dozen

BEST SAXOPHONE

• Greg Hartman, Mystics
• Dave Gustafson, Society
• Fred Draper, Hot Half Dozen
• Larry Ankurm, Metropolitan Soul

BEST KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT

• Gary Peterson, Metropolitan Soul
• Fred Freeman, TC Atlantic
• Dennis Libby, Castaways
• Dave Mrocek, Del Counts
• Gregory Maland, Castaways
• Butch Stokes, Mystics

BEST BASS GUITAR

• Dick Hedlund, Mystics
• Larry Wiegand, South 40
• Doni Larson, Underbeats
• Bob Falen, Del Counts
• Tim Black, Grasshoppers
• Jim Erwin, CA Quintet

BEST RHYTHM GUITAR

• Tom Acheson, Grasshoppers
• Dan Rinaldi, Litter
• Charles Schoen, Del Counts
• Rico Rosenbaum, Underbeats
• Gus Dewey, Happy Dayz
• Dave Middlest, South 40

BEST LEAD GUITAR

• Tom Caplan, Litter
• John Howarth, Stillroven
• Dick Wiegand, South 40
• Ben Hamar, Grasshoppers
• Steve Miller, Del Counts
• Loren Walstead, Underbeats
• Jeff Adilman, Convoys
• Dale Menten

BEST DRUMMER

• Steve Maurer, Happy Dayz
• Jim Faragher, Chancellors
• Kelly Vincent, Del Counts
• Rod Eaton, TC Atlantic
• Ceedy Van Dusen, Danny’s Reasons
• Tom Murray, Litter
• Denny Craswell, Castaways
• Phil Scollard, Grasshoppers
• Harry Nehls, South 40

MOST VERSATILE MUSICIAN

• Charles Schoen, Del Counts
• Mike Holm, System
• Mark Skok, Happy Dayz
• Peter Brynildson, System
• Wes Hayme, Mystics
• Keith Larson, Hot Half Dozen
• Bob Jones, Hot Half Dozen

BEST INSTRUMENTAL GROUP

• Mystics
• Del Counts
• Hot Half Dozen
• South 40
• Underbeats
• TC Atlantic

SHOW AND VOCAL CATEGORY

BEST VOCAL SINGLE

• Dave Waggoner, South 40
• Jiggs Lee, Grasshoppers
• Danny Stevens, Danny’s Reasons
• Charles Schoen, Del Counts
• Rico Rosenbaum, Underbeats
• Fred Freeman, TC Atlantic

BEST SHOWMAN

• Jiggs Lee, Grasshoppers
• Dave Waggoner, South 40
• Charles Schoen, Del Counts
• Dennis Waite, Litter
• Honeybear, Nickel Revolution
• Pete Huber, Jokers Wild
• Roger Brunner, Happy Dayz
• Fred Freeman, TC Atlantic
• Danny Stevens, Danny’s Reasons

BEST VOCAL GROUP

• Chancellors
• Del Countys
• System
• Underbeats
• Grasshoppers
• New Generation

BEST SHOW GROUP

• Happy Dayz
• Grasshoppers
• Hot Half Dozen
• Nickel Revolution
• Youngsters
• Danny’s Reasons
• Del Counts
• Mystics
• Litter
• Society
• Perspectives
• Paisleys
• CA Quintet

MAJOR AWARDS

BEST NEW MATERIAL

“Oscar Crunch,” Nickel Revolution.  The Insider promised that the winner of this new category would receive a disc release from Mercury Records.  Before the award was made, Connie said, “We feel this is a big forward step in securing national recognition by a major record label for songwriters in this area.”  Although “Oscar Crunch” got some traction, again it was just a novelty song and probably not what Connie was hoping for in new material.  Plus the Nickel Revolution hated it.

 

MOST PROMISING NEW BAND

• Sparklers
• Jokers Wild
• Youngsters
• System
• Metropolitan Soul
• Paisleys
• CA Quintet
• Happy Dayz

BEST BAND

• Mystics
• Underbeats
• Grasshoppers
• Stillroven
• Del Counts
• Litter
• TC Atlantic
• South 40