MeShell Ndgeocello’s album Bitter actually turned out to be quite sweet for the Maverick recording artist at the 4th Annual Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards April 24, garnering her nods for Female Artist and Album as well as the GLAMA’s Outmusic Award. Aside from the special award, Ndegeocello now has 4 GLAMAs (two in 1998).
Other multiple winners include Meg Hentges’ song “This Kind of Love” (for Rock/Alternative Performance and Song of the Year with lyricist Jude O’Nym) and the Off Broadway hit rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Cast Recording and a Score for Film or Theater nod for songwriter Stephen Trask).
MeShell; Curtis
Noted jazz pianist Fred Hersch received the GLAMA for Male Artist in addition to the prestigious Michael Callen Medal of Achievement.
Three-time GLAMA recipient Catie Curtis took home another this year for “What’s the Matter?” from her Rykodisc recording A Crash Course in Roses. Curtis received her first GLAMA in 1996 for both Out Song and Out Recording; she also received the 1998 GLAMA for Album of the Year.
“I’ve been to many awards ceremonies,” Curtis said upon accepting her GLAMA for Out Song. “But at GLAMA, I feel like I’ve found my musical home.”
Awards were handed out in 28 categories (a full list follows) in addition the two special awards. Performing at the ceremony were Ndegeocello, SONiA of disappear fear, Mary Gauthier, KAMYS, the cast of Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Casey Collins, Michael Holland, Joi Cardwell and Lea DeLaria.
ACOUSTIC/FOLK: SONiA of disappear fear for the title track of her album Me, Too (Disappear Records)
CABARET: Lee Lessack for the title track of his album I Know You By Heart (LML Music)
CAST RECORDING: Cast of Hedwig & the Angry Inch for “Origins of Love” (Atlantic)
CHORAL (tie) : Amasong: Champaign-Urbana’s Premier Lesbian/Feminist Chorus for Shenandoah from their album AMAI (Amasong) ; Turtle Creek Chorale for “In This Heart of Mine” from the album The Best of Turtle Creek Chorale (TCC Recordings)
CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE: Theresa Bogard for “Alleluia In Form of a Toccata” from her album Music of Louise Talma (CRI)
COMEDY: Suzanne Westenhoefer for her cut “Uterus Free” from her album I Am Not Cindy Brady (Uproar Entertainment)
CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUAL: Christian Andreason for the song “Everybody Else” from his album A Boy Called Sue (Wonderboy Records)
COUNTRY: Mary Gauthier for the title track to her album Drag Queens In Limousines (In The Black)
DANCE MUSIC: Joi Cardwell for “Last Chance For Love (Hidden Mix) ” on her album Deliverance (No-Mad Records)
JAZZ: Zrazy for the song “Remember That You Did It First With Me” from their album Private Wars (Alfi)
OUT RECORDING: Melissa Etheridge for the song “Scarecrow” from her album Breakdown (Island/Def Jam)
POP: Luscious Jackson for the song “Nervous Breakthrough” from their album Electric Honey (Capitol/Grand Royale)
POP INSTRUMENTAL: John Boswell for “Recollection” from his album Love (Hearts of Space)
ROCK/ALTERNATIVE: Meg Hentges for “This Kind of Love” from the album Brompton’s Cocktail (Robbins Entertainment)
CONTEMPORY CLASSICAL COMPOSER: Kristina Boerger/Michael Cameron for “Draum om Nedsnødde Bruer (Dream of Snow-covered Bridges) ” from the album AMAI by Amasong: Champaign-Urbana’s Premier Lesbian/Feminist Chorus
OUT SONG: Catie Curtis for the “What’s The Matter?” from the album A Crash Course in Roses (Rykodisc)
SCORE FOR FILM OR THEATER: Stephen Trask for the cast recording of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Atlantic)
SONG OF THE YEAR: Meg Hentges/Jude O’Nym for “This Kind of Love” on the album Brompton’s Cocktail
VIDEO: Peter Martinez for his direction of “Rhythm Is My Bitch,” performed by Kevin Aviance
DJ: Susan Morabito, From a live event at The Pavilion, Fire Island Pines
MUSIC REPORTING/CRITICISM: Gretchen Lee for her article “Rock Star: Interview with Melissa Etheridge” in Curve Magazine
LIVE RADIO BROADCAST: Charlie Dyer, Producer for TraQz on the GAYBC Radio Network (Internet)
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Indigo Girls and John Reynolds for the song “Trouble” on the Indigo Girls’ album Come On Now Social (Epic)
FEMALE ARTIST: MeShell Ndgeocello for her album Bitter (Maverick)
MALE ARTIST: Fred Hersch for his album Fred Hersch Live at Jordan Hall: Let Yourself Go (At lantic/Nonesuch)
BAND/DUO/GROUP: The Butchies for their album Population: 1975 (Mr. Lady Records)
DEBUT: Patrick Arena and Andy Monroe for their album Night Cap (Arenamusic)
ALBUM: MeShell Ndgeocello for Bitter (Maverick)