The Washington Area Music Association proudly honored area musical talent at the 12th annual Wammie Awards Tuesday night, gathering a diverse group of artists from the rock, jazz, country, hip-hop, go-go and classical worlds.
Bad weather; out-of-town engagements (and maybe even a more-interesting-than-usual State of the Union address) were to blame for the absence of top awardees, including Toni Braxton, Dru Hill, Me'Shelle Ndegeocello and DJ Kool.
Nothing, however, could have prevented jazz singer Tony Gil's appearance to take home a record seven awards - artist of the year, best Latino vocalist, best Latino recording ("Yo Te Recuerdo"), best male jazz vocalist, best recording, best record design and album of the year.
Nor did it muffle the thunderous applause filling Lisner Auditorium when WAMA Hall of Fame inductee Ruth Brown made her grand entrance onstage.
"Before R&B stood for rhythm and blues, it first stood for Ruth Brown!" the singer exulted after a boisterous performance of her trademark number, "If I Can't Sell It, I'm Gonna Keep on Sittin' on It"
The upbeat sound of the Latin jazz band Rhumba Club and an entertaining song by folk singer Tom Paxton about an airline that broke the neck off his guitar got the audience in the mood for the acts that followed, especially hip-hop band 31G's energetic "La La (What Do You Expect?)" which had the all-age audience waving their hands in the air to the music. The evening's other highlights were courtesy of Tony Gil and Pam Bricker, Bridges to Bliss, the Michael Sheppard Group and Ruthie and the Wranglers.
John Jennings' clever video for "Everybody Loves Me" won over Dave Matthews' "Crash" and Jimmie's Chicken Shack's "High" for the video of the year award.
Award presenters included DC 101's Buddy Riser, WHFS' Weasel, WBIG's Goldy and the godfather of go-go, Chuck Brown. After the awards, winners, nominees and special guests walked over to Bertucci's on Pennsylvania Avenue NW to continue the celebration at the bar and on the dance floor. - Shira Levine
Washington Times, January 30, 1998