LA Music Awards Voting Party - Stevie Hawkins Rocks Hollywood At The Whisky A Go-Go

Oct. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- The Whisky A Go-Go rocked in West Hollywood, California, as Emphasis Records recording artist Stevie Hawkins delivered an entertaining, energetic and heavy-hitting funk music set to a packed house of over eight-hundred people at the 22nd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards Voting Party, sponsored by Rainbow Records.

As the moon arose over the Sunset Strip, in true Hollywood form, the Whisky A Go-Go came to life, buzzing with excitement, when independent recording artists, fans and celebrities from around the world congregated for this exclusive event. Music, glitz, en vogue hairdos, paparazzi, and the eclectically fashionable were in abundance.

Adding fuel to the celebrity fire at the event was the presence of music industry icon and multi-platinum record Producer/Engineer Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, The Who, Ozzy Osbourne, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chicago, Foreigner, Heart, Bad Company, Thin Lizzy), French actor Pierre Dulat, Brian Stewart (Music Connection Magazine), Rock Riddle (Actor, former Pro Wrestler and owner of APS Entertainment), Freddie Salem (former guitarist for The Outlaws), Producer/Arranger/Composer Miles Grayson (Patti LaBelle, Bobby Womack, Johnny Taylor, Z.Z. Hill, B.B. King), and Earl Foster (label owner Rizing Sun Records-Los Angeles), among others. Anonymously, they co-mingled for a look and listen to the new up and coming independent artists.

The event commenced with a panel of music industry professionals on the Whisky A Go-Go stage, discussing various topics and answering questions from the audience related to succeeding in the entertainment industry. Panelists included Mikey Jayy (Program Director KGUP 106.5), Liz Rodriguez (EMR Media), Jonathan George (Jonathan George Entertainment), Dr. John Carvalho (an advocate for the arts, music and entertainment in the city of West Hollywood), and Brad Mercer (Fantasy Springs Casino Host of "The Rock Yard"). Al Bowman, co-founder and executive producer of the LA Music Awards, moderated the panel discussion.

Upon completion of the panel discussions, on a stage set with full production, dynamic live performances were given by various LA Music Awards nominees to include, Stevie Hawkins, Akron, Sheyna Gee, Marirose & The Gypsies, Aoede, Black Raven, Dezmond Meeks, Cheating Daylight, and Jay Gordon & Blues Venom.

Hawkins' robust concert performance that blended funk, R&B, soul, rock and jazz styles into his own musical mixtures were well worth the price of admission alone. His distinctive tenor voice and superb drumming were on the mark. Songs included in the set were "Procrastination", "Only You", and "Good Times", and were nothing short of sensational. At 56, he remains a funk beast unleashed on the stage.

According to Al Bowman, "Stevie's is the most unique and best solo performance I have seen in the twenty-two year history of our events. Smoking hot! His set had the room dancing and shaking, which is very a rare sight at our events, and a tribute to Stevie and the strength of his music. To possess the ability to move an audience comprised of musicians and music industry pros, is quite an accomplishment to say the least. His drum playing was impeccable and his voice, note perfect. This guy is such a pro".

The Whisky A Go-Go and S.I.R. (Studio Instrument Rental-Los Angeles) production crew at the event aptly described Hawkins as, "virtuosically talented". "He plays with an extremely refined funk technique, employing precise ghost notes in his almost Dave Garibaldi or Dennis Chambers like grooves, with a tight jazz touch in his cymbal work. Yet, his style and technique is of his own". High accolades indeed from a team of veteran production professionals who have worked with the best of the best.

The 22nd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards Voting Party also featured all nominees in thirty musical categories, where each nominee had the opportunity to sing along to a thirty-second audio clip of their song on stage, in effort to persuade votes and to win their respective category. During and in between performances, fans solicited votes among the crowd for their favorite nominees, as the artists worked the room vying for votes themselves. The industry panel of judges inked their final decisions for the winners of this year's awards on the night. The competitiveness was fierce, yet, there appeared to be a humbling sense of camaraderie among the peers as well.

The Los Angeles Music Awards was founded in 1991 to honor the rising stars of independent music and offer them a platform to move towards commercial success by creating a Red Carpet media event that generates high profile publicity. This is an awards show that draws in major press coverage to benefit the LAMA nominees and winners. Many major recording artists have launched successful careers at this annual awards event.

As evidenced by the reaction to Hawkins' Hollywood debut, new and longtime fans of funk music are sure to be drawn to his efforts. The reason for Hawkins’ recent artistic renewal of funk music is clear. Since the release of the fantastic “What The Funk?” album, Hawkins emphasizes a blend of funk, soul, blues, jazz, Latin and rock, incorporating those elements into melodic - rhythmic pieces that showcase his vocal and drumming deftness, as well as strength in lyric content co-written with Charlotte Hannon, and the musical mastery of his veteran all-star band.

The LA Music Awards Red Carpet main event produced by Al Bowman and Susanna Griffie is set for November 15, 2012 at the Avalon Theater Hollywood. Hawkins is nominated in two musical awards categories, "The Mark Vigil Male Singer/Songwriter of the Year", and "Record of the Year" for his new album "What The Funk?”.

Hawkins will be performing at the main event with special guest group "Contagious", whose dance routines have been added to Hawkins' set. Contagious is the world's newest and most exciting pop boy band! The four band members, Daniel (age 18), Terry (age 18), Christian (age 17) and Bryant (age 18), were recently signed to Right Recordings LTD/Universal Records-UK, and are rising up the charts with their hit single "Dance With Me". Their individual talents combine to create a special sound and unique style, and they are hotly tipped to be the next top boy band to emerge from the US. The group is currently on an extensive world tour. Contagious will be receiving the LA Music Awards "International Live Performance Band of the Year" on the Red Carpet at the LAMA main event.

For further information regarding Stevie Hawkins, please visit http://www.steviehawkins.com. For further information regarding the 22nd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards or to acquire tickets to the event, please visit http://www.lamusicawards.net/events. For further information regarding Contagious, please visit their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/contagioustheband.