NAMMA Awards celebrate top local musicians

by Joshua Maloni
Dispatch, Sentinel, Tribune, June 17-19, 2004

The thunderous noise coming from Niagara Falls these days isn’t the water.

It’s the music.

Long ignored thanks to a wealth of musical talent emanating from Buffalo, Niagara Falls is starting to make waves with local headbangers. From tribute bands to cover artists to original rockers, the Cataract City is cruising with musical cool these days.

To celebrate area musical talent, the first Niagara Area Molson Music Awards were held June 10 to celebrate the best of the bunch. NAMMA, the brainchild of local artists and promoters - most notably Lisa Churakos of White Chocolate - offered awards in a dozen categories, mixed together with five Niagara Music Hall of Fame inductions and live performances from Marc Scibilia, Bareback Jack and Seventh Sign, among others.

Winners were chosen by fan vote. For 16 weeks, local rockers jammed at area venues, while fans were afforded the opportunity to pick NAMMA winners.

Taking home a NAMMA Award was:

Best Rock Band/Cover	Seventh Sign
Best Blues Band/Cover	Thurman Bros.
Best Dance/Party/Cover	Forgotten Dreams
Best R&B/Cover	Soul Providers
Best Jazz	Chu Nero Trio
Best Tribute	Strictly Hip
Best Original	Host Echo
Best Acoustic/Soloist	Mombrea Bros.
Best Country Band	90 West
Best Hip Hop	Jullian Bones
MVP Guitar	Nori Bucci, Tribal Reign
MVP Bass	Kenny McCoy, White Chocolate
MVP Drummer	Dan Stoll, Stoll Bros.
MVP Keyboard/Piano	Bob Volkman, Slam
MVP Wind	Dave Mombrea, Mombrea Bros.
MVP Vocalist	Corey Donovan, Seventh Sign
Hall of Fame Inductees:	Tommy Tedesco (posthumously) Jerry D'Amico Vanik Aloian Bobby Jones Mark Dixon