Music legend Lonnie Mack appeared onstage at The 6th Annual Cammy Awards show on March 10th, turning in a memorable acoustic set, later strapping on an early 50's Les Paul to play with the Warsaw Falcons. During the awards show, a constant stream of friends and fans came to Lonnie's table just in front of the stage. Fellow performers catching up on news and other award winners exchanging congratulations with Mack mixed with fans seeking his autograph.

Mack, now living in Tennessee, was plainly relaxed and pleased to be back in his Cincinnati-area backyard. Lonnie received his first Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998, in recognition of his work on Fraternity Records, which introduced his vibrato-laden guitar work and soulful vocal style with a now classic LP and numerous singles. One of those singles, an instrumental of "Memphis" reached #5 on the charts in July 1963.

Many rock and blues guitarists have credited Lonnie for his influence on their styles, notably the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, who, as a young man, nearly drove his father mad, playing Lonnie Mack records over and over at full volume. Mack created a trademark sound with his 1958 Gibson Flying V outfitted with a Bigsby vibrato bar, and played through pulsing Magnatone amplifiers with all the knobs turned up to 10, and then plugged into Fender amps with extra speaker cabinets. Vaughn and others were transfixed by the loud and clear voice of this young Indiana man, his lightning fast guitar, and his jumping band.

Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame presented Lonnie with his Lifetime Achievement Award. "Cincinnati should be very proud of this event. It's first class," said Stewart. "Lonnie Mack is the first record I bought. The record's called 'The Wham of That Memphis Man'. It was on Fraternity, which was a King Records imprint". (Available as Direct Hits and Close Calls in Lonnie's online store.)

The Cammy Awards honors the achievements of musical artists and industry professionals in the Tristate area formed by Ohio, Kentucky, and Mack's home state of Indiana. The event raised funds for music students, having done so since its foundation in 1997 to honor the memory of slain musician Michael Bany. The Cincinnati Enquirer and the Michael Bany Memorial Scholarship Committee jointly produce the annual event.

This awards show was better than most televised awards programs, set in a large hall in Jillian's, across the river from Cincinnati, in Covington, Kentucky. Lively pacing, well-crafted multimedia and often-phenomenal live performances by a rich variety of area artists made the 5-hour long show pass by quickly.

The evening's tribute to Cincinnati-based King Records was a tribute to the foundations of rock and roll, as well as to the unique mix of music in the Tristate area. Syd Nathan founded King Records in the mid-1940's, and released Wynonie Harris' hit "Good Rockin' Tonight" in 1948, and Hank Ballard's "The Twist" in 1959. Philip Paul was the session drummer on both of these landmark recordings. Mr. Paul, still regularly performing in the area received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in the legend of King Records and the Cincinnati sound. Lonnie Mack was pleased with Paul's being honored: "What a great thing; what a great honor. It's about time -- he's the Cincinnati drummer. Without him, there would be no us." Like, Philip Paul, Lonnie Mack played guitar on sessions by James Brown, Freddy King, and others. Philip Paul's drumming propelled Freddy King's classic recording of "Hideaway" an instrumental now in every bar band's repertoire.

King Records was the first racially mixed label after the end of the Second World War. The Stanley Brothers, arguably the finest bluegrass group, shared the King label with blues legends Albert King, John Lee Hooker, jazz guitarist Lonnie Johnson, Bill Doggett of "Honky Tonk" fame, and a young artist that Nathan signed to his label in 1956: James Brown.

In addition to James Brown, Lonnie Mack and Philip Paul, other recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's ceremony were the late Syd Nathan, doo-wop artist Otis Williams ("Hearts of Stone") and three artists who worked with James Brown: Charles Spurling, Catfish Collins, and his brother Bootsy Collins. Bootsy was a gold, orange, and diamond-encrusted vision of extra-dimensional proportions, living up to his stellar image.

I now live near Chicago, that melting pot which has birthed a legendary blues scene, and given the world many fine rock bands including the brassy Chicago Transit Authority, later shortened to Chicago. The city that spawned the heavy industrial music of Ministry is also the center of the growing alt-country scene. Like New York City, Chicago is well known for great music. Having grown up in Kentucky, not far from the influence of Cincinnati, it was an eye-opening experience for me to attend this first-class awards show in a city rightly proud of its artists. The Tristate area's unique blend of country, blues, gospel, R&B, and bluegrass has helped to shape the American music scene. Perhaps the organizers of the Cammy's, like the musicians, think it is a secret that has been kept for much too long.

Footnotes:

• A partial discography of blues recordings sessions in Cincinnati, Ohio, at King Records, including Lonnie Mack's sessions with Freddy King.

Links to Articles on the Cammys:

• 2002 Cammys show pays tribute to a city and its musical heritage
• Lonnie Mack's 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award

Links to Articles on King Records and the impact of Cincinnati on music:

• Syd Nathan and King Records
• Cincinnati Music "In the Middle"
• King Records Made Cincinnati the Heart of the Recording Industry
• Cincinnati Rockabilly Music

Thanks to:

• Lonnie Mack
• Larry Nager of the Cincinnati Enquirer for his insightful articles on area music and musicians