The Detroit Music Awards celebrated its 30th annual Awards on Sunday virtually and recognized metro Detroit-area musicians’ achievements and amplifying esteemed music industry performers for their longstanding work.
Honorees received a variety of awards from numerous musical genres ranging from rap and gospel to Americana and electronic.
Since 1992, The Detroit Music Awards Foundation (DMAF) has supported and recognized Detroit’s musical community to celebrate all genres of Detroit music.
The DMAs are like the Grammy Awards. Award winners are determined by local musicians and music industry professionals in southeast Michigan, and presented in these eleven music genres; Americana, Blues, Jazz, Gospel/Christian, Country, Classical, Rock, Urban, Electronic/Dance, Rap and World Music. The DMAs are the only local music awards in the nation to be presented by a not-for-profit organization.
Top winners included Redd who swept the rap category taking home all of the awards. Top recognition in the Gospel/Christian category went to the Detroit Youth Choir who won the categories of Outstanding Gospel Choir and Outstanding Gospel/Christian Recording. For Blues, Tosha Owens took home two awards in the categories of Outstanding Blues Artist / Group and Outstanding Blues Songwriter.
Below is the full list of the 2021 winners:
AMERICANA
Outstanding Americana Artist Group
Jill Jack
Outstanding Americana Instrumentalist
Larry Labeck – Pedal Steel
Outstanding Americana Recording
The Whiskey Charmers – “Lost On The Range”
Outstanding Americana Songwriter
Jill Jack
Outstanding Americana Vocalist
Jill Jack
BLUES
Outstanding Blues Artist / Group
Tosha Owens
Outstanding Blues Instrumentalist
Jimmie Bones – Keyboards
Outstanding Blues Recording
Laura Rain and The Caesars – “Different State Of Mind”
Outstanding Blues Songwriter
Tosha Owens
Outstanding Blues Vocalist
Thornetta Davis
CLASSICAL
Outstanding Classical Composer
Patrick Prouty
Outstanding Classical Instrumentalist
Takashi Iio – Bass
Outstanding Classical Recording
Jill Fitzgerald – “Go Tell It On The Mountain”
Outstanding Classical Small Ensemble
Chamber Music At The Scarab Club
Outstanding Classical Vocalist
Eve Evola
Outstanding Community Orchestra
Dearborn Symphony Orchestra
COUNTRY
Outstanding Country Artist/Group
The Orbitsuns
Outstanding Country Instrumentalist
Dave Feeny – Pedal Steel
Outstanding Country Recording
Julianne Ankley – “With Love From Lake Huron”
Outstanding Country Songwriter
Vin Dombroski
Outstanding Country Vocalist
Julianne Ankley
ELECTRONIC/DANCE
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Artist/Group
Flashclash
Outstanding Electronic/Dance DJ
Anison “The Impaler” Roberts
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Recording
Luis Resto & Salar Ansari – “Ambient Sounds, Vol. 1”
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Writer/Producer
Yorg Kerasiotis
GENERAL
Outstanding Anthology/Compilation/Reissue
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels – “Sockin’ It To You: The Complete Dynovoice/New Voice Recordings”
Outstanding Children’s/Family Music
Bob & Coltrane
Outstanding Live Performance
Bugs Beddow & The Good Stuff
Outstanding Live Performance (VIRTUAL)
The Detroit Jazz Festival
Outstanding Live Sound Technician
Mike Carr
Outstanding Local Record Label
Detroit Music Factory
Outstanding National Major Label Recording
Eminem – “Music To Be Murdered By”
Outstanding National Single
Alice Cooper – “Our Love Will Change The World”
Outstanding National Small/Independent Label Recording
Bettye LaVette – “Blackbirds”
Outstanding Record Producer
Josh “Motor City” Ford
Outstanding Recording Studio
Tempermill
Outstanding Tribute Band
Magic Bus
Outstanding Video / Limited Budget
Tosha Owens – “We’ve Got Hate On The Run”
Outstanding Video / Major Budget
Alice Cooper – “Our Love Will Change The World”
GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Artist or Group
Sweet Crystal
Outstanding Gospel Choir
Detroit Youth Choir
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Instrumentalist
Blu Lucas – Keyboards
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Recording
Detroit Youth Choir – “A Holiday With You”
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Songwriter
Peggy Turner-Carr
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Vocalist
Peggy Turner-Carr
JAZZ
Outstanding Modern Jazz Artist/Group
Straight Ahead
Outstanding Traditional Jazz Artist/Group
Sky Covington
Outstanding Jazz Composer
Gayelynn McKinney
Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist
Ralphe Armstrong – Bass
Outstanding Jazz Recording
Sky Covington – “Club Crescendo, Vol. 3”
Outstanding Jazz Vocalist
Sky Covington
RAP
Outstanding Rap Artist or Group
REDD
Outstanding Rap Composer
REDD
Outstanding Rap MC
REDD
Outstanding Rap Producer
REDD
Outstanding Rap Recording
REDD – “Symphony of Sympathy”
ROCK
Outstanding Rock/Pop Artist/Group
The Reefermen
Outstanding Alt/Punk/Indie Artist/Group
Elsie Binx
Outstanding Heavy Rock Artist/Group
Warhorses
Outstanding Rock Instrumentalist
Johnny “Bee” Badanjek – Drums
Outstanding Rock Recording
Gasoline Gypsies – “Playing With Fire”
Outstanding Rock Songwriter
Dirk Kroll
Outstanding Rock Vocalist
Gia Warner
URBAN
Outstanding Urban Artist/Group
Bugs Beddow & The Good Stuff
Outstanding Urban Instrumentalist
Phil Hale – Keyboards
Outstanding Urban Recording
Kat Orlando – “Terry Got A Pitbull”
Outstanding Urban Songwriter
Laura Rain & George Friend
Outstanding Urban Vocalist
Laura Rain
WORLD
Outstanding World Artist/Group
Corktown Popes
Outstanding World Instrumentalist
Sean Blackman – Guitar
Outstanding World Recording
Muruga Booker – “Boom, Zoom”
Outstanding World Songwriter
Lisa Goedert
Outstanding World Vocalist
Tracy Kash
2020 WINNERS
AMERICANA
Outstanding Americana Artist Group
Billy Brandt & The Sugarees
Outstanding Americana Instrumentalist
Chris Codish – Multi
Outstanding Americana Recording
Billy Brandt & The Sugarees – “Riverside”
Outstanding Americana Songwriter
Billy Brandt
Outstanding Americana Vocalist
Emily Rose
BLUES
Outstanding Blues Artist / Group
Motor City Josh & The Big 3
Outstanding Blues Instrumentalist
Laith Al-Saadi – Guitar
Outstanding Blues Recording
Brett Lucas – “Soul & Courage”
Outstanding Blues Songwriter
Josh “Motor City” Ford
Outstanding Blues Vocalist
Tosha Owens
CLASSICAL
Outstanding Classical Composer
Patrick Prouty
Outstanding Classical Instrumentalist
Bugs Beddow – Trombone
Outstanding Classical Recording
Tosha Owens – “We’ve Got Hate On The Run”
Outstanding Classical Small Ensemble
Motor City Brass
Outstanding Classical Vocalist
Jill Fitzgerald
Outstanding Community Orchestra
Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra
COUNTRY
Outstanding Country Artist/Group
Julianne Ankley & The Rogues
Outstanding Country Instrumentalist
Larry Labeck – Pedal Steel
Outstanding Country Recording
Julianne Ankley – “Why”
Outstanding Country Songwriter
Julianne Ankley
Outstanding Country Vocalist
Julianne Ankley
ELECTRONIC/DANCE
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Artist/Group
Detroit Bureau of Sound
Outstanding Electronic/Dance DJ
DJ Linda Lexy
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Recording
Various Artists – “Pure Sounds Of Michigan”
Outstanding Electronic/Dance Writer/Producer
Liz Larin
GENERAL
Outstanding Anthology/Compilation/Reissue
Dennis Coffey – “Live At Baker’s 2006”
Outstanding Children’s/Family Music
Mr. Bob’s Rubber Band
Outstanding Live Performance
Motor City Josh & The Big 3
Outstanding Live Sound Technician
Kelly Tucker
Outstanding Local Record Label
Detroit Music Factory
Outstanding National Major Label Recording
Alice Cooper – “Breadcrumbs”
Outstanding National Single
Greta Van Fleet – “Lover, Leaver”
Outstanding National Small/Independent Label Recording
Iggy Pop – “Free”
Outstanding Record Producer
Chuck Alkazian
Outstanding Recording Studio
Tempermill
Outstanding Tribute Band
Major Dudes – A Steely Dan Tribute
Outstanding Video / Limited Budget
Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences Choir – “One Nation: Detroit’s Tribute To The Funk”
Outstanding Video / Major Budget
The Raconteurs – “Help Me Stranger”
GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Artist or Group
Sweet Crystal
Outstanding Gospel Choir
David Whitfield & Whitfield Productions
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Instrumentalist
Marq Speck – Keyboards
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Recording
Tosha Owens – “Build A Bridge”
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Songwriter
Marq Speck
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Vocalist
David Winans II
JAZZ
Outstanding Modern Jazz Artist/Group
Ralphe Armstrong
Outstanding Traditional Jazz Artist/Group
Sky Covington
Outstanding Jazz Composer
Scott Gwinnell
Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist
Takashi Iio – Bass
Outstanding Jazz Recording
Dennis Coffey – “Down By The River”
Outstanding Jazz Vocalist
Thornetta Davis
RAP
Outstanding Rap Artist or Group
Trick Trick
Outstanding Rap Composer
REDD
Outstanding Rap MC
Leaf Erikson
Outstanding Rap Producer
Tony “T-Money” Green
Outstanding Rap Recording
REDD – “Drip 2 Clean”
ROCK
Outstanding Rock/Pop Artist/Group
Gasoline Gypsies
Outstanding Alt/Punk/Indie Artist/Group
The Beggars
Outstanding Heavy Rock Artist/Group
Dead In 5
Outstanding Rock Instrumentalist
Johnny “Bee” Badanjek – Drums
Outstanding Rock Recording
The Muggs – “Eye to Eye”
Outstanding Rock Songwriter
Dirk Kroll
Outstanding Rock Vocalist
Barbara Payton
URBAN
Outstanding Urban Artist/Group
Nadir Omowale
Outstanding Urban Instrumentalist
Tony “T-Money” Green – Bass
Outstanding Urban Recording
Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences Choir – “One Nation: Detroit’s Tribute To The Funk”
Outstanding Urban Songwriter
Nadir Omowale
Outstanding Urban Vocalist
Nadir Omowale
WORLD
Outstanding World Artist/Group
Sean Blackman’s In Transit
Outstanding World Instrumentalist
Sean Blackman – Guitar
Outstanding World Recording
James Simonson – “Realities”
Outstanding World Songwriter
Marbrisa
Outstanding World Vocalist
Maggie McCabe
accomplished entirely via the Internet.
For a list of 2021 nominees and past winners, please visit www.detroitmusicawards.net.