The Charlotte Music Awards

Music:

Member Since: 12/16/2006
Band Website: charlottemusicawards.org
Band Members: The Co-Founders:

Jeffrey Cheen has spent more than 40 years in the music business. He started his career as national promotion director for Bill Cosby’s Tetragrammaton Records, with a list of clients that included Deep Purple, Joan Rivers and Tiny Tim. He then helmed Mercury Records’ Hollywood office before managing Capitol Records’ Rock A&R Department. Subsequently, he headed Far Out Music and Publishing’s management division where he guided the careers of War, Ronnie Laws, Funkadelic and Rick James.

Jeffrey partnered with Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and the L.A. Forum, to present concerts and TV productions. He also produced all the entertainment at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City for three years. Jeffrey then moved his focus to the emerging Asian market, producing the Pacific Rim Festival in Los Angeles and serving as a consultant to the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Culture and the Australian government’s Ausmusic. Jeffrey recently served as vice president of business development for B.B. King’s Blues Clubs, overseeing worldwide corporate licensing and heading the company’s record label.

Jeffrey is currently instituting new marketing strategies in music, performance, TV and film with his international organization, Interstar Media Alliance. Jeffrey is also producing Motor City Memories, a salute to Motown, featuring The Temptations, The Supremes and Jr. Walker’s All-Stars, which he tours worldwide.

Michael D. Evans has more than 30 years experience in communications. From the technical side (typography and editing) to the creative side (writing and public relations), he has done it all. Michael has always kept a foot in the music business, from his early 1980s management and booking venture, Broken English Productions, to his current promotional agency, High Timberline Media. His publishing efforts include a founding role in two of Charlotte’s early alternative publications, The First Amendment and Mandrake. Over the years, he has also been a film critic with his reviews published in Tokyo Today and Postscript. He currently reviews film as part of the Venus & Mars duo. In addition, he has edited a number of books and journals.
Influences:

Headliner Announced for Sweet Tea Jubilee:
An All-Star Show of Supreme Temptation
Free to the Public

Sweet Tea Jubilee
Symphony Park, SouthPark Mall
Saturday, June 21, 2008

Celebrating MOTOWN’s 50th Anniversary in support of Levine Children’s Hospital

Join us for the Summer Concert Event of the year starring:

Three-time Grammy Award winner & Two-time American Music Award winner RICHARD STREET lead singer of THE TEMPTATIONS ‘71–‘95

Performing: “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Ball of Confusion,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Just My Imagination,” “ Get Ready,” “Can’t Get Next To You,” “Psychedelic Shack,” “Cloud Nine,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “My Girl” and many more.

The Sounds of The Supremes with 1970s/1980s Supreme Kaaren Ragland

Performing: “You Keep Me Hanging On,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Love Child,” “Reflections,” “Back in My Arms Again,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Come See about Me,” “Stoned Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Someday We’ll Be Together” and many more.

JR. WALKER’S “ALL STARS”
Performing: “(I’m A) Road Runner,” “Shake & Finger Pop,” “Shotgun,” “How Sweet It Is,” “Cleo’s Mood,” “Walk in the Night,” “These Eyes,” “What Does It Take To Win Your Love” and many more.

SHOW SYNOPSIS

In 1968, “The Temptations” and “The Supremes” recorded an album together called “TCB”. It marked the beginning of a liaison between the music of these two Motown super-groups that has lasted 40 years and continues to this day. Together with Jr. Walker and his All Stars, whose dynamic sax-driven hits delivered an unmistakable soulful “punch” to the music of the 1960s and the 1970s, they formed the backbone of the “Motown sound.”

An All-Star Show of Supreme Temptation puts the music of “The Temptations”, “The Supremes” & “Jr. Walker & The All Stars” into one great show presenting more than 60 musical “hits” in a nonstop celebration of the music of Motown. Do not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to hear the music of these great American Motown legends performed live onstage.

SWEET TEA JUBILEE

The Sweet Tea Jubilee is a free, all-day music and arts festival hosted by the Dilworth Rotary Club to benefit the Levine Children’s Hospital and other local charities. In cooperation with the Morris-Jenkins Charlotte Music Awards, live music will be performed throughout the festival by popular local and regional musicians with An All-Star Show of Supreme Temptation as the national headliner.

On Saturday, June 21, 2008, from noon until 8 p.m., Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall will brim with families and neighbors as the sounds of live music mingle with the tantalizing aroma of funnel cakes, hot dogs, sausages and barbeque, all washed down with good ole sweet tea. Listen to outstanding musical performances, pause to enjoy the excitement of children as they explore the Kids Zone and take in the best offerings of Charlotte’s art galleries.

“It is fun to be in on the creation of an event that will benefit children from all over the Carolinas and will also add to the richness of our community.” — Dewey Jenkins, President of the Dilworth Rotary Club

“We are delighted that Dilworth Charities, Inc., has selected Symphony Park to hold the upcoming Sweet Tea Jubilee event on June 21 to help raise money for the Levine Children’s Hospital. Carolinas Medical Center is one of our partners, so we are thrilled to be involved in this philanthropic effort.” — Nicole Bostic, Director of Mall Marketing, SouthPark

CHARITY: The Dilworth Rotary Club’s Sweet Tea Jubilee supports the Levine Children’s Hospital’s ability to provide a high level of care for our community’s children and other charities supported by the Dilworth Rotary Club.

ENTERTAINMENT: The lineup will include An All-Star Show of Supreme Temptation along with popular local and regional musicians. It will also provide the opportunity to explore new styles and bands in a relaxing family setting. The music will include country, rock, folk, jazz and Americana.

ART: Local artisans will demonstrate their craft and be available for commissioned pieces. Explore the rich abundance of Charlotte’s creative energy that Charlotte offers. The art display will also feature works created by kids currently in the care of the Levine Children’s Hospital. This special exhibit is an expression of their gratitude to all who attend this event.

PURPOSE: We intend to create a sustaining event that celebrates the Spirit of the South, is community-oriented and family-friendly, is philanthropically motivated and works for the better welfare of the children in our community.

SPONSORS: The generous support of organizations within the Charlotte community is bringing this event to life. The initial sponsors are the Dilworth Rotary Club, Personal Legal Plans, Morris-Jenkins, e-Dreamz, the Morris-Jenkins Charlotte Music Awards and Doubletree Guest Suites Charlotte-SouthPark. Additional sponsors are sought (e-mail [email protected]).

For more information visit www.sweetteajubilee.org , e-mail [email protected] or call 704-357-3036 x211.
Sounds Like: Check out what Courtney Devores, music reviewer for The Charlotte Observer has to say:

Posted on Thu, Aug. 30, 2007 Honoring Carolinas roots and growing new audiences COURTNEY DEVORES From bluegrass and jazz to rock and R&B, the Carolinas are rich in musical history. John Coltrane and Nina Simone were born here. James Taylor and Alabama have musical roots here. Jodeci, Anthony Hamilton, Angie Stone and Calvin Richardson grew up here. Doc Watson and Superchunk grounded careers here. And "American Idol" alums Fantasia, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler still call Carolina home.

It's no wonder someone finally established an organization to honor the Carolinas' storied musical roots and homegrown artists.

During its inaugural ceremony Thursday at Ovens Auditorium, the Charlotte Music Awards will pay tribute to the lifetime achievements of Arthur Smith, Charlotte-based Reflection Sound Studios, and the Spartanburg-bred country rock outfit known as the Marshall Tucker Band. The ceremony also will honor artists in categories such as Best Band, Best Female and Male Vocalist and Best Songwriter.

Nominees were compiled from the public, via CMA's Web site (www.charlottemusicawards.org), and from its advisory council. But accolades aside, the organization offers music fans a chance to check out local artists they may not have heard before.

"I can say with a fair degree of certainty that Americana fans haven't been exposed to the urban artists," said co-founder Michael D. Evans.

Performers include MoRisen Records' the Sammies, along with showcase winners Dem Damn Twins from Columbia, gospel singer Shameia, duo Mike Garrigan and Mike Kano, the Joe Davis Band and the Bill Noonan Band. Durham's Flavor Fruit Entertainment is producing an opening number that will include several acts.

The Charlotte Music Awards were founded in October 2006 by Evans and Jeffrey Cheen, who began holding semi-monthly genre-specific showcases modeled after the successful L.A. Music Awards. Winners emerged from 10 events held in Charlotte, Durham and Columbia. (Although it's called the Charlotte Music Awards, the organization aims to include all of the Carolinas. "A lot of people ask about that," Evans said.)

Still in its infancy, the awards by no means cover all genres, all notable artists or all areas in the Carolinas. But as the organization grows, Evans and Cheen aim to include Asheville, the Triangle area and more of South Carolina. They also hope to add Latin music, jam bands and beach music showcases.

Said Evans: "We do want to build it slowly." PREVIEW

Charlotte Music Awards

Its advisory board includes Charlotte City Council member Nancy Carter; Shirley Fulton, head of the Charlotte Jazz Society; and drummer Art Nash.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday.

WHERE: Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.

TICKETS: $15-$22.50; $75 for VIP reception and ceremony.

DETAILS: 704-522-6500; www.ticketmaster.com.
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None