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2006
Recipient for Best Blues Society
The Detroit Blues Society's
Blues Horizon Award has been awarded since 2005 and is the
highest, non-musical honor awarded by the Society. It is
traditionally awarded to individuals, both living and deceased,
that have made significant contributions to Detroit Blues during
their careers in the music business.
2011
John
Penney (Living)
This year's recipient is
John Penney.
John Penney was born and raised in Ithaca, New York, the son of
a
Cornell University Law Professor. He began hosting and
programming
weekly jazz and folk music programs on student owned commercial
radio
station WVBR-FM at the age of 15.
In 1984 John moved to Detroit as the Michigan Regional
Representative
for Action, and in 1989 was hired by Warner Elektra Atlantic as
a
sales rep. During his 15-year career with WEA John gained a
national
reputation as a creative and innovative marketer, among other
things
designing and executing the company’s first regional catalog
promotion
with Wal-Mart, which was used to leverage the first national event.
He
was twice honored as Sales Rep of the Year.
John joined the air staff of public radio WDET-FM in Detroit in
1986
as host of a music variety program. John pioneered the concept
of
presenting “all the varieties of music” in such a way as to
demonstrate the continuity between diverse musical forms by making
the
connection between current and historic recordings. His program
became
one of the most popular on the air.
John is a popular and sought after MC for live events, and for
years
was a fixture on stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival in Hart Plaza.
He
helped to create an innovative format for radio broadcasts of
the
festival, and served as national co-anchor for five years.
John began his association with the AMRF in 2004 when Ron
Harwood
asked him to MC the 6th Annual Motor City Boogie Woogie and
Blues
Festival. He became consultant/Director in September of 2005. John
is
also collaborating with Ron on a book about the life and times
of
classic blues singer Sippie Wallace and her siblings.
More recently John was contacted by WRCJ to work with the Arts
League
of Michigan as producer for two broadcast series, Jazz at the
Center,
and the monthly magazine program Artifacts. Under the auspices of
a
Kresge Foundation Grant John was rehired by WRCJ to host and
produce
Jazzfest Detroit on Saturday nights 7-9, featuring exclusive
recordings from the Detroit Jazz Festival and with a focus on
Detroit’s contributions to the music.
John did a cover story on Little Sonny for Living Blues magazine.
And,
he has volunteered his time and talents at various Detroit
Blues
Society events.
Thank you, John Penney, for supporting Detroit's Blues
community!
The
Awards Ceremony
The awards will be presented on
Saturday, January 14, 2012 (9pm) at Freddy’s, 40000 Garfield
Road,
Clinton Township
The
Detroit Blues Society
The Detroit Blues Society (DBS) is a
registered, federal, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to
the history, promotion, and preservation of the Blues music
tradition. It has as its primary goals to promote a wider
appreciation for the blues by the general public and to serve the
members of the Society.
2010
Not
Given
2009
Mike
Moss (Living)
Mike has owned Callahan’s
Music Hall for just 2 years and has turned it into THE premier
Blues club in the Midwest. It is a sought-after venue by many of
the biggest touring acts in the world because of the atmosphere and
quality of the Blues experience within the club. A native of Auburn
Hills, Mike remains committed to the Detroit Blues scene while
others only dabble in it. Since his grand opening he has been a
constant partner of the Blues Society and always willing to share
his good fortunes with us.
Mark has hosted
Detroit's ONLY
commericial Blues radio
program on WCSX-FM (94.7) for over 20 years. It airs on Sunday
nights from 9pm-Midnight. Mark is also an accomplished guitar
master and you can see him all over town performing with Pazman's
Supersessions. He continues to be a great partner with the
DBS.
