Texas Music Stars to Shine at 2005 MTM Texas Music Awards

Jay Johnson Band

The awards show, honoring established and independent Texas music artists, features numerous live music performances by nominees, and will be hosted by KHOU-Channel 11 personalities Eileen Faxas and Johnathan Walton. The showcase is sponsored by MyTexasMusic.com, one of the country’s fastest-growing national web sites promoting Texas artists.

The event, which includes a kick-off performance by Shake Russell – named Entertainer of the Year at the 2004 MTM awards showcase – gets under way at 2 p.m. at Big Texas Dancehall & Saloon, 803 E. NASA Road 1.

Shake Russell

“This year’s MTM awards show promises to be a true reflection of the broad musical spectrum that is Texas music,” said Lucky Boyd, MTM co-founder. “We’re particularly pleased that Shake Russell, the 2004 Entertainer of the Year, will perform at this year’s event.”

Leading the way among this year’s crop of nominees in 12 categories is The Jay Johnson Band of Richardson, TX. Johnson scored six nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (Royal Blue Moon), Song of the Year (Josephine) and Musician of the Year (Mark LaFon, lead guitar, and Jim Harrington, bass guitar). Johnson will also perform at the showcase.

Five nominees are on the ballot for the 2005 Entertainer of the Year Award: Johnson, Tommy Alverson, Jarrod Birmingham, John Arthur Martinez and the Cosmic Dust Devils. Previous Entertainer of the Year winners include Shake Russell and Smokey Wilson (2003).

Unlike some awards shows based on industry votes or fan polls, the MTM Texas Music Awards winners are chosen through a unique blended vote of musician and industry peers, with on-line fan voting also counting for a percentage of the final award tally. Two new categories were added this year: Singer/Songwriter of the Year, and Disc Jockey of the Year, the only winner to be chosen strictly by fan balloting. In addition, a special founder’s award will be presented, honoring the Musical Event of the Year.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the event. Ticket-holders are invited to stay for the awards show after-party. After-party tickets can also be purchased for $5. To purchase advance tickets visit www.mytexasmusic.com.

2005 MTM Texas Music Awards Nominees

**New category for 2005

Artists’ city of residence also included in list of nominees

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jason Allen for 3 A.M. (artist - Texas Renegade Band)
Billy High for White Man's Blues (Smokey Wilson)
Robert Metzgar/Tony Migliore for Coffee, Chocolate & Men (Jen Rathbun)

Chris Nichols for It's A Wonderful Life (Mercury Legion)
Larry Nye/Mike Blakely for Any Sky (Mike Blakely)

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Brian Duarte - Lead Guitar - Lil' Bit & The Customatics, San Antonio
Jim Harrington - Bass Guitar - Jay Johnson Band, Richardson, TX
Kasey Klepfer - Harmonica - Texas Renegade Band, San Marcos, TX
Mark LaFon - Lead Guitar - Jay Johnson Band
Matt Otavka - Lead Guitar - Mercury Legion, Houston

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Mike Clifford - Austin
Craig Dillingham - Nashville
Quincy Harper – Manchaca, TX
Jay Johnson – Richardson, TX

Mark Jungers – Martindale, TX

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Mindy Hughes - Houston
Brennen Leigh – Lake Park, Minn.
Lynn Logan – Humble, TX
Jen Rathbun - Houston
Jean Synodinos - Austin

VOCAL GROUP or DUO OF THE YEAR
Back At The Ranch – Brenham, TX
Mike Blakely & Whiskey Traders – Marble Falls, TX
Jiggernaut - Houston
Lil' Bit & The Customatics – San Antonio

Sprague Brothers – North Hollywood, CA

RISING STAR AWARD
5 Mile Band – Elgin, TX
Robby Abel & Gringo All-Stars – Martindale, TX
AntHill Society – San Antonio
Dog Men Poets - San Antonio
Highspeed Hayride – Victoria, TX

**SINGER/SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Steve Brooks - Austin
Tommy Elskes – Albuquerque, NM

Ken Gaines – Conroe, TX
Lu Mitchell - Dallas
Gary Taylor - Houston

SONG OF THE YEAR
(award given to artist AND songwriter, if applicable)
Best I Can - Jarrod Birmingham, Inez, TX
I Forgot I Don't Live Here Anymore - Sherwin Phillips, Burleson, TX (Brian Burns,  songwriter, Arlington, TX)
Josephine - Jay Johnson
Nothin' To Say (Austin vs. Nashville) - Brian Burns
Stepping Stone - Smokey Wilson, Cuero, TX

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Birth Of The Cool - Dog Men Poets, San Antonio
Heavy Weather - Brian Burns
Live & Kickin' At Schroeder Hall - Jarrod Birmingham
One For The Crow - Mark Jungers, Martindale, TX
Royal Blue Moon - Jay Johnson Band

RECORD OF THE YEAR
Call Me Sometime When You've Been Drinking - Craig Dillingham, Nashville
Comin' Home - John Vandiver, deceased
Home Made Of Stone - John Arthur Martinez, Horseshoe Bay, TX
Leave Me A Lone Star - 5 Mile Band – Elgin, TX
Texas Dancehall - Smokey Wilson

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Tommy Alverson – Arlington, TX
Jarrod Birmingham – Inez, TX
Cosmic Dust Devils – Marble Falls, TX
Jay Johnson – Richardson, TX
John Arthur Martinez – Horseshoe Bay, TX

**DISC JOCKEY OF THE YEAR
Justin Frazell - 99.5 The Wolf  - Dallas
Jeremy Halliburton - Texas Radio 98.7 – Victoria, TX
Kelley Peterson - KICKS 99FM – Odessa/Midland, TX
Mattson Rainer - KNBT FM – New Braunfels, TX
Leslie T. Travis - 100.3 KILT FM - Houston