SHORT CUTS: The 2009 CJAM Jammy Awards are nigh - VOTE NOW!

Now that everyone can breathe a little easier knowing that CJAM has avoided the chopping block and will be saved via a re-location to 99.1 FM from its current location (still at 91.5 FM), it's on to the next order of business.

The 2009 CJAM Jammy Awards. What is the Jammy Awards you ask? Well, lucky for you, I have the answers!

Every year, CJAM has an awards show, sort of like The Grammy Awards or the Oscars, but instead of celebrating ridiculous things like who was a better actor in a crappy movie, who had the best rental jewelry or who's album sold the most copies to pre-pubescent children, the Jammy Awards celebrates excellence in broadcasting at CJAM 91.5 FM.

Now here's where you come in. As the listeners, CJAM wants to hear from YOU as to who has been setting those gold standards at CJAM.

You can vote now at their website on various categories, including Best New Show, Best Special Interest Show, Best Urban Show, etc. and every CJAM program is up for awards, so make your voice heard. There's also a few non-CJAM awards, such as Best Live Venue and Best Local Band.

Voting closes on April 15, so get your vote in today!

The 2009 edition of The CJAM Jammy Awards takes place on Friday April 24th this year, at The FM Lounge (formerly The Old Fish Market, 156 Chatham St. West, beside Pogo's). The awards ceremony (closed to the public) begins at 8pm. The doors open to the public at 10pm, with live music from 2008's Jammy Award winner for Best Local Band, The Locusts Have No King.

As a four-time Jammy Award winner (1999 Best Special Interest Show "Ear Gravy", 2004 Best New Show "The Windsor Scene", 2006 Best Special Interest Show "The Windsor Scene", 2007 Best Club DJ), I can say the Jammies are a great annual event for all those involved with CJAM. It really brings out the comraderie of the staff and volunteers and really exposes one another to what a diverse array of voices and ideas CJAM houses. If you're a member of CJAM now (or alumni) check out the awards show, it's a great event. If you're a fan and supporter of CJAM, swing by after and join in the celebration of a great Windsor music and community institution that has been supporting Windsor's grass roots since day one, twenty five years ago.

Oh, and I hear Miley Cyrus is coming to the Jammys this year. Apparently she wants to ruin Yellow Wood, because Adam Rideout snubbed her in ustream...

EVENT PREVIEW: Windsor-Essex County Music Recognition Awards

In case you missed the article in today's Windsor Star, on April 26th, the Crime Stopper's Musical Reunion is making a comeback with it's fifth reunion show and first since 2006.

It's an all-day musical showcase of many of Windsor's bands from Windsor's long musical past, including the legendary Joe Konas, Derek Boyle, Brand "X" Live and others, held this year at Moose Lodge (777 Tecumseh Rd. West).

But the interesting thing is that this year will mark the inaugural Windsor-Essex County Music Recognition Awards, where 12 people will be voted into a "hall of fame" so to speak, with plaques being awarded and raised at Devonshire Mall (similar to the Sports Wall of Fame there). Each fall, another 12 people will have their names raised to the walls with a new class each year.

Now these twelve recipients don't have to be musicians or artists, they can be anyone who has helped Windsor's music scene over the years, be it a local DJ or bar owner. Maybe even CJAM!

The nominations are determined by YOU the voter so I suggest you take the time and let the independent music scene's voice be heard as well. However, this should not become a popularity contest. That would only cheapen the achievement. This should be an honest testament to musicians and people who have made an honest difference in our local music scene or even on the national or international stage. I could be way off here, but I'll bet bands like Luxury Christ or Jimmy Bronco aren't even on the radar for the committee (I hope I'm wrong!) and I would hope early innovators like Jack Scott, Dorothy Collins or Alexander "Skip" Spence are on the short list. Do a little thinking, do a little research, but nominate! Let's make this a community-inspired musical hall of fame, from all scenes and genres.

Either way, you can send in your nomination to Ron Funkenhauser at ronf@catchcrooks.com or call 519-255-6700, ext. 4497 and leave your nomination.

Tickets for the event are $20 and it's limited to 600 people, with the proceeds going towards Crimestoppers, and can be located at Long & McQuade (1801 Walker Rd.), Canadian Conservatory of Music (755 Tecumseh Rd. E.), Windsor Moose Lodge (777 Tecumseh Rd. W.), and Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers (150 Goyeau St.).