WinslowYerxa
1183 posts
Aug 08, 2016
6:51 PM
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Every year SPAH bestows its Bernie Bray award. This year SPAH is announcing not only this year's recipient at the convention banquet on Saturday night, but also the nominations submitted by SPAH members.
The Bernie Bray Harmonica Player of the Year Award
Criteria:
· Candidates’ proficiency should be a source of pride for the community – the award should be for excellence in actually playing the instrument.
· Award should be for distinction demonstrated or attained recently, preferably during a twelve-month period prior to the deadline for nominations.
PT Gazell
Whose previous nominations include the Pete Pedersen award in 2015 and 2016
From his early work with Johnny Paycheck and Ricky Scaggs to his current career as a purveyor of swing on his Gazell method Seydel diatonics, PT has amassed a solid body of work and left a trail of excellence; his support of and activity with SPAH in the last several years has enriched our conventions.
Deak Harp, whose accomplishments were described in his nomination for the Stan Harper Award.
John Nemeth
Who was also nominated for this award in 2013.
A highly talented soul and blues harmonicist, entertainer and vocalist, over the past four years John has won an album of the year award and been nominated for a long list of other honors, including a current Living Blues Award nomination.
Paul Oscher
Paul Oscher was the first Caucasian member of the Muddy Waters Blues Band while Jim Crow laws were still in effect, and since then has built a fine reputation in his ongoing and reinvigorated career as a triple threat on guitar, piano, and harmonica – even bass harmonica and melodica in a blues context!
Mickey Raphael
Mickey is nominated for his lifelong body of work in playing the harmonica in Willie Nelson’s band and being a quintessential accompanist who has inspired so many on the harmonica.
Jason Ricci
Who was previously nominated for the Bernie Bray Award in 2015.
Jason is both one of the most creative and virtuosic diatonic harmonica players working at present, and a highly visible ambassador for the harmonica as a harmonica educator, tireless touring performer, a recording artist, winner of multiple awards, including a Grammy, and who has even represented the late Paul Butterfield in a performance honoring Butterfield’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
Steve Watne
Past president and motivating force behind the highly successful Twin Cities Harmonica club and as a harmonica educator for players of all ages, Steve is also an excellent classical harmonicist and, as we’ll see tonight, he shines in a harmonica trio as well. Steve plays all the harmonicas, and is also active as a musical arranger for harmonica groups.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder has been wowing the world with his singing, keyboard playing, and harmonica playing with a string of hit songs going back nearly 50 years. But when he guests on other people’s recordings and concerts, it’s most often as a harmonica player. He brings to the chromatic harmonica a unique and personal voice that is instantly recognizable and is known and loved worldwide.
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Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Join us in 2016 for SPAH on the San Antonio River Walk!
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