Jarrod Birmingham was named Entertainer of the Year at the 2005 MTM Texas Music Awards held Sunday, Feb. 20, at Big Texas Dancehall & Saloon. 

Birmingham, of Inez, TX, was a three-time winner at the third-annual awards show, also picking up the Album of the Year award for “Live & Kickin’ at Schroeder Hall,” and Song of the Year for ‘Best I Can.” 

The awards show, honoring established and independent Texas music artists, presented awards in 12 categories, plus special awards presented to other industry and media professionals for their support of Texas music. The showcase is sponsored by MyTexasMusic.com, one of the country’s fastest-growing national web sites promoting Texas artists. 

The event’s highlights were its showcase performances by nominees and past winners, kicking off with Shake Russell, the 2004 Entertainer of the Year winner and culminating three hours later with the wrap-up performance by the Jay Johnson Band. Johnson had received the award as Best Male Vocalist earlier in the evening. 

The Jay Johnson Band, of Richardson, TX, had the most nominations ever in the history of the awards. 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). 

Unlike some awards shows based on industry votes or fan polls, the MTM Texas Music Awards winners were 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.

2005 MTM Texas Music Awards Winners 

**New category for 2005

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jason Allen - 3 A.M. (artist - Texas Renegade Band)
 
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Kasey Klepfer - Harmonica - Texas Renegade Band, San Marcos, TX
 
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jay Johnson – Richardson, TX

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brennen Leigh – Austin, TX
 
VOCAL GROUP or DUO OF THE YEAR
Mike Blakely & Whiskey Traders – Marble Falls, TX

RISING STAR AWARD
5 Mile Band – Elgin, TX
 
**SINGER/SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ken Gaines – Conroe, TX

SONG OF THE YEAR
(award given to artist AND songwriter, if applicable)
Best I Can - Jarrod Birmingham, Inez, TX
 
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Live & Kickin' At Schroeder Hall - Jarrod Birmingham 

RECORD OF THE YEAR
Home Made Of Stone - John Arthur Martinez, Horseshoe Bay, TX

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jarrod Birmingham – Inez, TX
 
**DISC JOCKEY OF THE YEAR
Justin Frazell - 99.5 The Wolf  - Dallas

In addition there were three Palmwood Awards, named for the Petrified Palmwood stone, the official State Rock of Texas, "which is formed over time, steadfast in its resolve and faces the future with great certainty and purpose" - Presented to supporters of Texas music and MyTexasMusic.com who demonstrate a solid and unwavering dedication to the music, people and culture of the Republic of Texas.  Listen

Guidry News Service - Jim and Lynda Guidry

Greg Barr

John Gibson