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Published on Sunday, 24 October 2010 15:54
As mentioned
here many months ago, the first ever American Smooth Jazz Awards will be taking place locally on October 29th. Rick O'Dell, the extremely popular Chicago radio veteran who is currently the Program Director and midday host of WLFM-LP, aka "87.7 Chicago's Smooth Jazz" and "Chicago's Smooth 87.7," will be the emcee for this big international event.
In addition to being the host of the awards show, O'Dell is also up for an award for "Smooth Jazz Terrestrial Radio Broadcaster of the Year." That particular catagory, one of eighteen for this awards event, has seven broadcasters all up for the same award -- the most of any of the other categories. In addition to Rick O'Dell, the other nominees are: Randy Bennet, Brian Culbertson, Art Good, Allen Kepler, Dave Koz, and Alexander Zonjic. The nationally known and syndicated broadcasters Dave Koz (who is also nominated as an artist in another category) and Allen Kepler tend to win these types of awards over the local lesser-nationally-known radio personalities, but Chicago has its fingers crossed for O'Dell. Nominating him and asking him to be the inaugural host of the American Smooth Jazz Awards shows the deep industry respect for O'Dell, whether or not he wins an award Friday night or not.
The American Smooth Jazz Awards was originally supposed to be held at the Blue Chip Casino & Hotel in Michigan City, IN. However, in early August, organizers changed the venue to a Chicago location. The event date was not changed -- only the location. It will now be held on Chicago's south side at the Performing Arts Center at the Dusable Museum of African American History (740 E 56th Pl., Chicago).
Bernie Scott, President of Scott & Company Music Group and the ASJA Awards explained the reason for the venue change this way: "We have artists coming from all over the globe, and they're really not familiar with Michigan City. With it being an awards show of this caliber, it really needs to have a big city name with it. Our artists are happier it's there. They are more familiar with Chicago, and it's easier with their flights."
One pair of award presenters will not have to worry about flights into town: Chicago's very own Jim Peterik and Lisa McClowry. In addition to being a local rock god, known for making hits with The Ides of March, Survivor and numerous other bands, Jim Peterik, along with vocal assistance from Lisa McClowry, recently collaborated on a Smooth Jazz project with the band and album of the same name, "
Jim Peterik's Lifeforce."
The American Smooth Jazz Awards hosted by Chicago's Rick O'Dell will take place this Friday at 8:00pm, as the Windy City becomes the center of the contemporary jazz universe for one night. For more information or to purchase tickets to attend, visit this link
HERE. Limited seating is still available.
