Announcing the Winners!

The 5th Annual Ozark Music Awards was held at Dave's on Dickson Wednesday, November 5th. The evening began with a performance during the social hour by Son Cinco, a Latin jazz combo featuring Alvin Matlock on keyboards. Shortly after emcee Joe Giles opened the show, Ocie Fisher, Pat Pathoumtong and Darren Novotny presented Matlock with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Matlock gave a beautiful and exuberant speech, "sending a shout out" to his family, his friends and to the late Porky Hill, who inspired him.

Dave Stiles & Jones Crusher then rocked the house, which was filled with members of the music community and their fans. Other performances during the evening were by The Thomas Grey Band, Hal & Trey Live, Shabby Chic and Jennifer B & the Groove Kings.

The evening included two inductions into the OMA Hall of Fame: Trout Fishing in America for the Duo of the Year category, and Cherry Brooks for the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Artists are inducted into the Hall of Fame after winning the award in their category for three years.

Sponsors for OMA 2003: In the Mix were: All About Town, Big Daddy's Sports Bar & Grill (who provided a BBQ buffet), Tyson Foods, 104.9 The X, and Jim "Dr. Blues" Rose III.

Glass trophies were presented to honorees and winners in the following
categories:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Alvin "Mokki" Matlock

HALL OF FAME AWARDS
Trout Fishing in America
Cherry Brooks

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jennifer B & the Groove Kings

NEW BAND OF THE YEAR
Thomas Grey Band

CREATIVITY AWARD
Confunktion Junction

MUSICIANSHIP AWARD
Cherry Brooks & Pulse 192

ROCK BAND OF THE YEAR
Big Bad Bubba

METAL BAND OF THE YEAR
Bob Kramer Incident

BLUES BAND OF THE YEAR
Jennifer B & the Groove Kings

R&B BAND OF THE YEAR
Cherry Brooks & Pulse 192

DANCE/PARTY BAND OF THE YEAR
Joe Giles & the Homewreckers

COUNTRY BAND OF THE YEAR
Marshall Mitchell & the Rockville Rangers

ALTERNATIVE BAND OF THE YEAR
Flip Off Pirates

JAZZ/SWING BAND OF THE YEAR
Dr. 6

FOLK BAND/ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Wildwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Darren Ray (Big Bad Bubba)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jennifer Beaver

SOLO PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Darren Ray

DUO PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR
Hal & Trey Live

PORKY HILL MEMORIAL
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Matt Fincher (Big Bad Bubba)

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TIE:
Russ Hutchison (Homewreckers)
Cal Jackson (Pulse 192)

BASS GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ron Eoff (Cate Brothers)

KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Derek Van Lynn (The Odds)

HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Grey (Eckobase)

ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Russ Hutchison (Darren & Russ)

ACOUSTIC STRING INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TIE:
Joe Villines (Wildwood)
Pat Villines (Wildwood)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
TIE:
Big Bad Bubba: Unleashed
Wildwood: Lonesome Hideaway

ALBUM COVER ARTWORK OF THE YEAR
TIE:
Big Bad Bubba: Unleashed, by Jeannette Sinclair of In House Creative
Korey Montgomery: Five Past Ten, by Ken Warren of Justin Time Graphics

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Buffalo Joe - Joe Villines/Pat Villines, Wildwood

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Nick Masullo

SOUND TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR
Mark "Boochie" MacDonald (Michael Burks Band)