The Cincinnati Enquirer

A sold-out crowd of more than 1,110 local music lovers packed Jillian's Sunday for the seventh annual Cammys - the Enquirer Pop Music Awards. They came to hear some of the city's best music and to see some of its best musicians honored. They weren't disappointed.

PHOTO GALLERY

10 CAMMY PHOTOS

Carole Walker could hardly contain herself when she was named Best Urban/Hip-Hop Vocalist. "It was very much a blessing. My mom was expecting me to win, but I wasn't. I had a lot of angels. People should fear no music; they should go out and see everything."

Jazz pianist Billy Larkin dedicated his Cammy for Best Jazz Instrumentalist to his late mom. "Mom, this is for you," he said from the stage, holding the Cammy high. His band Triage was also up for Best Jazz Band, but that award went to Pavilion Music Company. "I've started singing now, too," he said later. "Mostly my original material. I'm still chasing that dream."

H-Bomb Ferguson, winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award, surprised emcee Blair Shannon and everyone else when he waltzed out without his trademark blond wig. "I didn't wear my wig on purpose. I did that to fool the people," he said backstage while his wig was being combed out. He then put it on and went out and played "Little Mary" with backup by the Star Devils.

Kim Taylor and her band opened the portion of the show dedicated to the rock awards. "I'm really excited about the big crowd. I toured with Over The Rhine and I got to open their show at the Taft Theatre. But this is certainly the biggest audience I've played for on the local scene."

The winners:

Best Jazz Band
Pavilion Music Company
Best Jazz Instrumentalist
Billy Larkin
Best Jazz Vocalist
Shauna Snyder (Pavilion Music Company)
Best Blues/R&B Band
Sonny Moorman Group
Best Blues/R&B Instrumentalist
Sonny Moorman
Best Blues/R&B Vocalist
P. Ann Everson-Price
Best Garage/Rock/Power Pop Band
Buckra
Best Roots Rock Band
The Kevin Fox Band
Best World Beat Band
Tropicoso
Best Hard-Rock Band
Prizoner
Best Punk Band
Deceiving Ralph
Best Rock Instrumentalist
Paul DeNu (Crosley, Clabbergirl)
Best Rock Vocalist
Grant Arnow (Spindle)
Best Country Band
Dallas Moore Band
Best Country Instrumentalist
Chuck Morpurgo (Dallas Moore Band)
Best Country Vocalist
Thomas Michael (Longhorn)
Best Folk/Bluegrass Band
Jake Speed & the Freddies
Best Folk/Bluegrass Instrumentalist
Steve Sigsbee (Chris Collier, others)
Best Folk/Bluegrass Vocalist
Jake Speed
Best Urban/Hip-hop Band
IsWhat?!
Best Urban/Hip-hop Instrumentalist
Freekbass
Best Urban/Hip-hop Vocalist
Carole Walker
Best Songwriter
Kevin Fox
Producer of the Year
Brian Lovely
Favorite Band
Blue Stone Ivory
Live Musical Event
MidPoint Music Festival
Lifetime Achievement Awards
H-Bomb Ferguson
The Lemon Pipers
Rusty York