Boston's 1ST Annual Urban Music Awards (UMA) event held in high honor a full roster of local and regional funky, intellectual, polished, romantic, smooth, stimulating artists and performers from all over Boston and New England; who had been nominated to win in their genre, by admirers who cast their individual vote. There were performers across these Genres: R&B, Rap, Gospel, Jazz, Spoken Word, Dance, Blues, Reggae, and more. The performers were worthy. The inexpensive ticket price was a value. These nominees can pack concert arenas anywhere. In the lobby, the place was abuzz with big label brief case carrying suits; star money managers angling for position amid a throng of autograph seekers as staff members offered gift bags to every guest.

Don’t miss out on this next year in 2007! |view 2006 list of nominees|

Think Grammy Awards TV show and you have the concept almost--there was a transparent difference! The UMA is a Boston event. The video of Boston’s 1st Annual Urban Music Awards was digitized by an amazing director, (Mr. Leroy McLaurin) who directed his digital content crew to produce a live program mix to perfection, with no interruption from ad agency corporate interests. The DVD disc was ready for distro before the audience had left the building. The presenters live and work in the area and dramatically impact its bottom line. Wow!

And the nucleus of the show, “the talent,” was all there at one time in one place. The UMA raised Boston’s music scene profile with it’s appreciation of a versatile roster who are re-establishing urban music as culturally enriching, important, fashionable, innovative stylish and talented with a positive message. And, spiritual? Of course! Not one award winner forgot to mention the creator – but not in a slurpy drooly way. They were "humbled to be part of this historical achievement in Boston," they said.

Everything was positive. There were no anti-Iraq war excursions by award presenters and no anti-Bush sloganeering. When “The Conductor” suggested “Start Peace,” everyone was in agreement. The "Start Peace RAP group performed and were well received. Excited audience members were in the flow. One winning performer who has had product distributed and sold all over the world before, said “no where else but at the Urban Music Awards tonight did anyone thank me physically.”

UMA presenters and talented performers are representative of the Boston and New England urban music scene in that they cared about the "principle" this awards ceremony was all about and said so during their acceptance speeches and presentations.