CONNIE AWARDS
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BACKGROUND
The Connie Awards were Connie Awards
thought up, 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.
1967
DATE: May 22, 1967
PLACE: Sheraton-Ritz Hotel in
Minneapolis
HOST: Charlie Boone
NOTES: First year. 325 guests. Winners were determined by the Midwest Academy of Contemporary
Music.
The nominees for best band were Danny’s
Reasons, T.C. Atlantic, the Underbeats, the Hot Half Dozen,
and the Del Counts. They performed on Sunday, May 21, at a dance at the Wakota
Arena in South St. Paul for nearly 2,000 kids.
See
pictures.
Winners that year were:
- The Del Counts - best band
- Grasshoppers - most promising new band
- Dave Brady & the Stars - best show group, best vocal
group
- Don Beauclaire, Hot Half Dozen - best trumpet, most
versatile musician
- Freddy Freeman of T.C. Atlantic - best keyboard
player
- Jim Johnson, Underbeats - best lead guitar
- Charles Schoen, Del Counts - best rhythm guitar
- Bob Gonea of Danny's Reasons - best bass guitar
- Ceedy Van Dusen, Danny's Reasons - best drums
- Dennis Libby, Castaways - best other instrument -
electric piano
- Greg Hartman, Mystics - best saxophone
- Underbeats - best instrumental band
- Danny Stevens - best vocal single, best showman
single
1968
DATE: May 27, 1968
PLACE: Grand Ballroom, Sheraton-Ritz Hotel in
Minneapolis
HOST:
Bill Carlson of WCCO TV
NOTES:
-
Second Annual 1968 Connie Awards
-
Wilson Pickett was expected to speak, but apparently was not there.
-
Connie
showed his rather un-hip sensibilities by making the event black tie and hiring
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 Academy members were listed as:
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 & 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 Ranaldi, 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 Countys
- 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
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
1969
DATE: May 19, 1969
PLACE: Pick-Nicollet Hotel in
Minneapolis
HOST: Charlie Boone
NOTES:
-
Over 300 in attendance
-
Panel discussion with record
company reps, local disk jockeys, and Hechter.
KQRS was accidentally not invited.
-
Keynote address by Dick LaPalm from
Chess Records, Chicago.
From the
June 7, 1969 issue of the Insider:
The 1969 Connie Awards on May 19 packed the ballroom
of the Pick-Nicollet Hotel in Minneapolis with over 300
musicians and industry personalities who came in their
finest threads to witness the selection of the best pop
talent in the area as determined by the votes of club
and ballroom operators and a triad of musicians.
The audience dined on an eight course dinner and
listened to Chess Records' advertising and promotion
director Dick LaPalm deliver an informative discourse on
the record industry before the Awards ceremonies began.
It was a most colorful and exciting evening.
The Jokers Wild won the award for Best Show Band, which
was an achievement for a three-man band! Photo below
from June 7-21, 1969 Insider by Mike Barich.
Lonnie Knight (the tall one in the middle) also won for Best
Lead Guitar and Best Other Instrument (harmonica/blues harp).
![](jokersconnie1969.jpg)
Other winners:
- Best Band: Mystics; next closest were the Del Counts
and Crow
- Promising new band: Zarathustra
- 21+ Club band: (tie) Danny's Reasons, Dave
Mark Syndicate
- Instrumental group: Mystics
- Best Single:
The Nickel Revolution for "Oscar Crunch," a song
they weren't particularly fond of. Thanks to
Jerry Lenz of the Nickel Revolution for posting the
"Oscar Crunch" and Candy Floss story on his blog.
- Male Vocal: Grant Gulllickson (Zarathustra),
Jimmy Lawrence (Danny's Reasons)
- Showman: Danny Stevens
- Female Vocalist: Susan Drude
- Versatile Musician: Dale Menton, Blackwood
Apology
- Drummer: Bill Lordan, Mystics
- Rhythm Guitar: Mike Stokes, Mystics
- Bass Guitar: Willie Weeks, Mystics
- Keyboard Instruments: Gary Peterson
- Saxophone: Wes Hayne, Mystics
- Trumpet and Other Horn (trombone): Dave
Hanson, Mystics
- Producer: Warren Kendrick for "Paupers and
Poets" by White Lightning
House of Leather won a bunch of awards:
- Recording Engineer: Bob Schultz
- A&R, Composer, and Most Versatile Musician: Dale Menten
- Album of the Year
- Best Vocal Group: Blackwood Apology
1970
DATE: June 1, 1970
PLACE: Pick-Nicollet Hotel in
Minneapolis
HOST: John Pete, KQRS Program
Director
NOTES:
-
National rock
promoter Bill Graham was planned to be the featured speaker,
but the honors were done by Jon Carroll from Rolling Stone
Magazine, Amos Heilicher, and Vince Pernicano,
Midwest Promotion Director, Warner Bros. - 7 Arts
Records
-
Music by Dick Whitbeck and his
Orchestra
-
The Sir Douglas Quintet performed.
-
Michael's Mystics
provoked Connie Hechter's ire when they didn't show up.
-
Connie was
also upset that WDGY did not promote the awards or attend.
-
Envelope Girls courtesy of the
Patricia Stevens School
-
Presented by the Midwest Academy of
Contemporary Music
Academy Members were listed in the
Program As:
-
Torp's Music
-
Traficante Music
-
The Prison
-
Audio Tech Recording Sudio
-
Soma Records
-
Musicland Stores
-
Trestman Music
-
Schmitt Music
-
Pickwick International
-
Celann Publishing
-
Park Music
-
Heilcher Brothers
-
The Barn
-
Young America Clothing Stores
-
Minneapolis Musicians Association
-
St. Paul Musicians Association
-
Northwest Organ
-
J.L. Marsh Company
Panel Participants were:
- Randy Cook, WWTC
- Ray Moss, KUXL
- Charlie Boone, WCCO
- Don Bleu, KDWB
- John Pete, KQRS
- Ira Heilicher
- Ron Picollo of Columbia Record Sales
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 in the program. (Thanks, Mike Jann!)
RECORDING CATEGORY
*
Best Producer:
Best Composer:
-
Larry Weigand for "Evil Woman"
-
Jim Kane and Mark Gallager for
"Future of the Past"
-
Jim Kan and Tom Murray for
"Feeling"
Artist & Repertoire:
Recording Engineer:
-
Tom Jung, Sound 80, for "Gimme
Gimme Good Lovin'"
-
Jerry Adams for "Groovin' in Easy"
-
Roger Wilhelms for "Thundertree"
-
Bob Schultz for "Pain"
Album:
- "Thundertree," Thundertree
Single:
- "Pain," Mystics
- "Groovin' is Easy," Dave Mark Syndicate
- "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin," Fenatiks
- "Sunshine," Cure of Ares
INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY *
BEST OTHER INSTRUMENT
- Larry Ankrum, Marauders, Flute
- Lonnie Knight, Flash Tuesday, Harp
- Larry Loud, Marauders, Tambourine
- Gary Anderson, Cricket, Harmonica
- Jiggs Lee, Bananas, Tambourine
BEST OTHER HORN
- Jerry Wolf, Pride and Joy, Trombone
- Bob Haglund, Mystics, Trombone
- Dave Hanson, Evolution, Trombone
- Lee Smith, Sir Raleighs, Trombone
BEST TRUMPET
- Eddie Shaw, Sir Raleighs
- Bob Gurrola, Mystics
- Dave Hanson, Evolution
- Wally Warhol, Pride and Joy
BEST SAXOPHONE
- Wes Hayne, Evolution
- Larry Ankrum, Arauders
- Andy Wilson, Pride and Joy
- Larry Forbord, Fenatiks
- Rick O'Dell, Sir Raleighs
BEST KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT
- Gary Peterson, Marauders
- Greg Maland, Jumbo
- Greg Inhoffer, Pepper Fog
- Butch Stokes, Mystics
- Steve Solornonson, The Fenatiks
- Mike Holm, The System
- Bruce Jackson, Cricket
- Dick Bert, Pride and Joy
BEST BASS GUITAR
- Dick Hedlund, Zarathustra
- Bob Jones, Jumbo
- Kent Saunders, Dave Mark Syndicate
- Tim McCarter, Pride and Joy
- Bob Phalen, Del Counts
- Wayne Cafanella, Sir Raleighs
- Dick Erickson, the System
BEST RHYTHM GUITAR
- Mike Stokes, Mystics
- John Northrup, Marauders
- Rick Johnson, Dave Mark Syndicate
- Grant Meyer, The Fenatiks
- Larry Seuss, Del Counts
BEST LEAD GUITAR
- Chuck Dahle, Sir Raleighs
- Lonnie Knight, Flash Tuesday
- Zippy Caplan, White Lightning
- Lloyd Forsberg, Bananas
- Steve Miller, Del Counts
- Larry Grants, Sunshine World
BEST DRUMMER
- Denny Craswell, Crow
- Edgar Murphy, Mystics
- Bill Gent, Danny's Reasons
- Kelly Vincent, Del Counts
- Tom Murray, Litter
- Rick LiaBrasten, Thundertree
- John Hughes, Big Island
MOST VERSATILE MUSICIAN
- Mike Holm, The System
- Jim Kogel, Marauders
- Larry Ankrum, Marauders
- Larry Forbord, Fenatiks
- Dick Burt, Pride and Joy
BEST INSTRUMENTAL GROUP
- Fenatiks
- Marauders
- Sir Raleighs
- White Lightning
- Dave Mark Syndicate
- Pride and Joy
- Mystics
- Big Island
- Pepper Fog
SHOW AND VOCAL CATEGORY *
BEST MALE VOCAL
- Dave Waggoner, Crow
- Doug Maynard, Zarathustra
- Jim Lawrence, Danny's Reasons
- Mickey Stanhope, White Lightning
- Larry Seuss, Del Counts
- Carl Bradley, Mystics
- Danny Stevens, Danny's Reasons
- Dennis Teien, The System
- Johnny Elms, Sir Raleighs
BEST FEMALE VOCAL
- Gale Winkler, Salt, Pepper and Spice
- Sue Huble, Zarathustra
- Tracy Black, Dave Mark Syndicate
- Gale Young, 19th Amendment
- Gwen Needham, Brave New World
- Char Holman, Char and Maryann
BEST SHOWMAN
- Danny Stevens, Danny's Reasons
- Larry Loud, Marauders
- Jiggs Lee, Bananas
- Dave Mark, Dave Mark Syndicate
- Jim Lawrence, Danny's Reasons
- John Elms, Sir Raleighs
BEST VOCAL GROUP
- Zarathustra
- Danny's Reasons
- Del Counts
- Brave New World
- Noys
- System
- Chesterfield Gathering
BEST SHOW GROUP
- Sir Raleighs
- Danny's Reasons
- Mystics
- Fenatiks
- Bananas
- Zarathustra
MAJOR AWARDS
MOST PROMISING NEW BAND
- Fenatiks (tie for winner)
- Brave New World (tie for winner)
- Noys
- Salt, Pepper and Spice
- Pepper Fog
- Chesterfield Gathering
- Cricket
BEST BAND
- Mystics
- Marauders
- Danny's Reasons
- Big Island
- Sir Raleighs
- Paisleys
- Del Counts
BEST 21 AND OVER BAND
- Sir Raleighs
- Big Island
- XL-5
- Dave Mark Syndicate
- Joey Strobel
- Danny's Reasons
- Zarathustra
SPECIAL AWARDS *
RECORD PROMOTION MAN OF THE YEAR
- Timothy D. Kehr, Columbia Records
- Jerry Bix, Heilicher Brothers
- Pat Devine, Heilicher Brothers
- Buddy Fritz, Jather Distributing
- Doug Lee, Decca Records
- Ira Heilicher, Heilicher Brothers.
Crow won a special award for "making it" on the
national scene
The Titans, house band at Duff's, won an award for
"consistently drawing the people who dance and drink."
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