The source of this information is an article written by Jon Bream in the Star Tribune, dated July 12, 1996.  Only the winners were reported; information on nominees would be very welcome. 

I apologize for any misspellings of anyone’s name; it could be from the source, or it could be from my typing.  Please contact me if you need to have something corrected.  Thanks!

For other years, see MINNESOTA MUSIC AWARDS.

---

DATE:  July 11, 1996

PLACE:   First Avenue

NOTES:

Awards in 48 Categories were presented.  All but the Connie Hechter Award were elected and voted on by 264 members of the MMA.

This Awards ceremony was sponsored by the St. Paul Saints Baseball team, who threw peanuts and Crackerjack out to the crowd.  Some Saints front-office personnel sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and the Saints’ pig, Tobias, delivered the envelopes with the winning names to the stage.

---

MAJOR AWARDS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR:  Prince

MAJOR LABEL ALBUM: “Down by the Old Mainstream,” Golden Smog

SELF-PRODUCED ALBUM: “Black Lake,” Barbara Cohen and Little Lizard

INDIE LABEL RECORD: “Dog Day Afternoon,” Eller Lynch

SONG OF THE YEAR: “Good Day,” Paul Westerberg

NEW ARTIST:  Dustbunnies

FEMALE SONGWRITER:  Barbara Cohen

MALE SONGWRITER:  Paul Westerberg, “Good Day”

---

MUSICIANS’ AWARDS

ACOUSTIC GUITAR:  Billy McLaughlin

ELECTRIC GUITAR:  Billy Franze

BASS:  Jim Anton, Greazy Meal

DRUMS: Noah Levy

KEYBOARDS:  Tommy Elm, Greazy Meal

HORNS:  Brian Gallagher

FEMALE VOCALIST:  Laura Schlieske

MALE VOCALIST:  Julius Collins, Greazy Meal

OTHER INSTRUMENTALIST:  Dave Boquist

---

AMERICANA/ROOTS/RETRO:  Honeydogs

AMERICAN ROOTS RECORDING: “Everything, I Bet You,” Honeydogs

BLUES ARTIST: (tie)

• Jonny Lang & the Big Bang
• Willie Murphy and the Angel Headed Hipsters

BLUES RECORDING: “Still Blowin’ Strong,” Mojo Buford

BLUEGRASS ARTIST:  Stoney Lonesome

CHILDREN’S ARTIST:  Teddy Bear Band

COUNTRY ARTIST:  Trailer Trash

EXPERIMENTAL, INSTRUMENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL RECORDING: “Spirit of the Wood,” Glen Heigeson

TRADITIONAL & MODERN FOLK ARTIST:  Spider John Koerner

TRADITIONAL & MODERN FOLK RECORDING: “Larry’s Road Trip,” Cooker John

GOSPEL ARTIST:  Minneapolis Community College Choir

HIP-HOP ARTIST:  Phull Surklle & Casino Royale

JAZZ GROUP:  Billy Franze Trio

JAZZ RECORDING: “Live at Mackenzie,” Billy Franze Trio

POLKA ARTIST: Wendiger Brothers

POP ARTIST:  Semisonic

HARD ROCK ARTIST:  Babes in Toyland

MODERN ROCK ARTIST:  Tribe of Millions

OVERALL ROCK RECORDING: “West Coast Shakes,” Balloon Guy

R&B ARTIST:  Greazy Meal

R&B RECORDING: “Funkin’ at the Bunker,” Dr. Mambo’s Combo

WORLD MUSIC:  Eight Head

WORLD FOLK ARTIST:  Tim Sparks

OVERALL WORLD MUSIC RECORDING: “Whole Wide World,” Machinery Hill

---

TECHNICAL

ORIGINAL RECORDING COMPILATION ALBUM: “Minneapolis Does Denver,” various artists, produced by John Strawberry Fields

LOCAL MUSIC RADIO SHOW: “Local Sound Dept.,” KFAI-Radio

DANCE ARTIST OR DJ:  Jezus Juice

PRODUCER OR ENGINEER:  Tom Herbers

SOUND PERSON:  Rob Curtis

MUSIC VIDEO: “Sweet ’69,” Babes in Toyland

---

SPECIAL

PERPETUALLY OUTSTANDING PERFORMER:  Vocalist Debbie Duncan and drummer Michael Bland

CONNIE HECHTER AWARD:  Steve McClellan, General Manager of First Avenue.  This was the only award selected by the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Music Academy.  McClellan was introduced by First Avenue’s CEO and Steve’s longtime friend Jack Meyer, who commended him for his “integrity, commitment and stubbornness” and for “putting Minnesota and First Avenue on the map as the place where music comes first.”  At that time, he had been there 23 years, and he would remain there until 2004.  Bream reported that McClellan “received the most prolonged applause of the long night.”