Connie Awards: 1968

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!

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

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