BY LARRY NAGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bootsy Collins, left, and Mark Bany, brother of slain musician Michael Bany, share a light moment at the Cammy Awards Sunday night. Collins received the Michael W. Bany Lifetime Achievement Award. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

"I want to thank my mom, for having to listen to all that loud music," said Bootsy Collins, bringing Nettie Collins onstage to share the spotlight as he accepted his Michael W. Bany Lifetime Achievement Award at Sunday's Enquirer Cincinnati Area Pop Music Awards.

The Cincinnati-born funk singer-bassist was a fitting honoree for the first lifetime achievement award, named after the local singer-bassist killed in a 1995 robbery.

Bootsy, 45, got his start in local clubs in the '60s, playing bass for $5 a night. He achieved national fame after one of his groups was hired by James Brown. From there, Bootsy went on to become the signature bassist with Parliament-Funkadelic before launching his own successful solo career in the mid-'70s.

He was inducted May 6 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with P-Funk, but Bootsy, who still makes his home in Cincinnati, said the local honor meant just as much.

In his acceptance speech, he paid tribute to Michael Bany and the talent performing in the city.

Mary Ellen Tanner wins jazz vocalist honors. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

A lot of that talent was on display during the awards program, which was a benefit for the Micahel W. Bany Memorial Scholarship Fund. Performers included SHAG, the Greenhornes, the Graveblankets, the Katie Laur Band, Sweet Alice Hoskins & Unfinished Business, Cal Collins, LaKiesha Berri and a combined jam by two of Mr. Bany's groups, Wheels and the Goshorn Brothers.

The Wheels-Goshorn performance came late in the program, but it brought it all back to why the event was taking place. Guest vocalist Danny Frazier sang Mr. Bany's trademark song, "Amoretta" and many in the crowd of more than 700 wiped away tears.

That was a somber note to the proceedsings, but mostly it was a celebration of the many different sounds being created by Cincinnati musicians.

Cammy Award nominees were chosen by Enquirer readers. Winners were decided by a panel of more than 30 members of the local music industry, ranging from radio station music directors to journalists from the daily and alternative weekly newspapers. Lifetime achievement was decided by the Cammy Awards executive panel.

Previous stories

BASS HIT: Bootsy Collins exudes funk and flash May 16, 1997
LIFETIME CAMMY GOES TO BOOTSY May 4, 1997

1997 Enquirer Pop Music Award winners:

Michael W. Bany Lifetime Achievement Award:
William "Bootsy" Collins.

FAVORITE BAND
the psychodots.

FOLK
Band
Graveblankets
Instrumentalist
Jason Dennie
Vocalist
Noah Hunt

BLUEGRASS
Katie Laur band

COUNTRY
Band
Stagger Lee
Instrumentalist
Betsy Lippitt
Vocalist
Danny Frazier

CLUB DJ:
Mark McFadden.

FUNK & R&B
Band
SHAG
Instrumentalist
C.C. Thomas
Vocalist
Clyde Brown.

RAP and HIP-HOP
OTR Clique.

ROCK
Alternative
Roundhead
Cover - Party band
Modulators
Hard rock
Chastain
Roots rock
Goshorn Brothers
Instrumentalist
Rob Fetters
Vocalist
Karin Bergquist
(Over The Rhine).

JAZZ
Large group
Blue Wisp Big Band
Small group
Standard Time
Piano trio
Phil DeGreg Trio
Instrumentalist
Cal Collins
Vocalist
Mary Ellen Tanner.

BLUES
Band
Blue Lou & the Accusations
Instrumentalist
Chris Carero
(Blue Lou & the Accusations)
Vocalist
Sweet Alice Hoskins.

BEST NEW ARTIST
the Greenhornes.

SONGWRITER
Rob Fetters.