2006 - Boston’s basic music formula for pushing forward emerging artists had the blessing of a full white moon Saturday night, which hovered over the successful debut of the First New England Annual Urban Music Awards show hosted by the Berklee Performance Center on April 15th 2006, the IRS tax return deadline night.....
this video clip shows UMA 2006 nominee pictures
2006 - The host, Mr. Charles “The Conductor” Clemons, and a distinguished advisory council conceived, invested in and produced the 1st New England Urban Music Awards Show as the first ever in the city of Boston for artists. more... About the 2007 Show
Performance Highlights - watch the b-roll recorded performance of the song "Its Your Birthday" by Sonny Hazel Eyes live at the 2007 New England Urban Music Awards Show. In the video, see Mr. Maurice Starr accepting the legends award from Boston's Skippy White of Skippy White's Records. He reminded us that "...Laffy Taffy" was his top-of-the-charts cell phone ring tone hit of the decade."
2007 show b roll
w/Maurice Starr in a shout out to Orchard Park
and other performers
and host presenters..
The 2007
artist nominee photo press kit roll
let get back to the beginning...
April 15th, 2006 - Boston's 1ST Annual Urban Music Awards Show (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 votes.
here are some nominated artists
Some nominees for genres: R&B, Rap, Gospel, Jazz, Spoken Word, Dance, Blues, Reggae, and ( the 26 genre categories) were performed or brought their fans to witness their achievements. There were live performances on stage. They were great. In the lobby of Berklee's Performance Center, the vibe was buzzed! A few record label brief case carrying suits: star money managers were actively looking around the space; photags snapped photos while the UMA support staff steadfastly offered gift bags and directed guests to where they wanted to go.
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.
Right! The Urban Music Awards was an event focused on talent, sincerity and its valoir to Boston and New England. Perhaps that’s why it will be back in 2007.