Roy Clark, Mickey Gilley, Pam Tillis, Andy Williams and Yakov Smirnoff head the list of nominees in 30 categories for the first OZ Awards ceremony, honoring Branson’s entertainment community to be held at the White House Dinner Theater, hosted by the legendary Jim Owen, on Sunday, May 2, from
The five are nominated for the OZ Diamond Award designed to recognize a nationally known headlining performer performing in Branson who has made a significant impact on the Branson entertainment community during 2003, according to George Burrell, founder of the Branson Academy of Arts and Entertainment and co-sponsor along with the White House Dinner Theatre.
The awards show will feature an array of Branson celebrities and entertainment from the White House Theatre as the results of the voting by the public and members of the Academy are announced, Burrell said.
In the morning show category nominees are the Brett Family, Doug Gabriel, Jim Owen, Yakov Smirnoff and the Yearys. Afternoon show nominees are Delene, Down Home Country, Dusty Rogers/Roy Rogers Theatre, Pierce Arrow and Yakov Smirnoff. Nominees in the evening show are Broadway: A Star Spangled Celebration, Legends In Concert, Mickey Gilley, Paul Harris and Pam Tillis.
New show for 2003 nominees are Broadway, Paul Harris, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Stuck on the ’70s and Pam Tillis. In the short program category nominees are Eli Barsi’s Western Opry, Cedric Benoit and the Cajun Connection, Allen Edwards, Frederick/Waltzing Waters and the Warnok Family. Dinner show candidates are Dixie Stampede, Magnificent 7, Showboat Branson Belle, Shepherd of the Hills and Sons of the Pioneers.
In guest performance voters chose from Roy Clark, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Neal McCoy, the Oak Ridge Boys and the Rockettes. Male vocalist nominees are Clay Cooper/Paul Harris Show, Doug Gabriel, Mickey Gilley, John Tweed and Andy Williams. Female vocalist candidates are Eli Barsi, Needra Culp/Lost in the Fifties/Stuck on the ’70s, Delene, Dalena Ditto and Pam Tillis. Comedian nominees are Mike Bliss/Brett Family/Magnificent 7, Paul Harris, Jarrett Daugherty/Pierce Arrow, Jim Owen and Joey Riley/Mickey Gilley.
Candidates in the tribute artist(s) category for any performer whose act is a portrayal through specific costuming and/or makeup of a famous or recognizable entertainer or person, living or deceased, fictitious or real in 2003 are the Blues Brothers/Legends in Concert, Steve Fairchild/Garth Brooks/Legends In Concert, David Faria/Elvis Presley/Lost in the Fifties/Stuck on the ’70s, Tom Mullican/Red Skelton-A Tribute and Tony Roi/Elvis Presley/Legends in Concert.
The youth performer category specified young entertainers who were ages 1 to 18 last year. Male youth performer candidates are Garon Brett/The Brett Family Singers, Josh Gabriel/drums/Doug Gabriel Show, Aaron Haygood/The Haygoods, Dakota Pagan/Raising America and Shaffer Stafford/drums/fiddle/Jim Stafford Show while female youth performer names include Brianna Brett/Brett Family, Jenna Crispin/Country Tonite, Jessica Dutton/The Duttons, Amanda Haffecke/Magnificent 7 and Hannah Rogers/Yakov/Raising America.
In the vocal group category nominees are the Brett Family Singers, the Hughes Brothers, the Lennon Brothers and Gail Lennon, Pierce Arrow and the Platters. Bass vocalist nominees are Dan Britton/Pierce Arrow, Bob Leftridge/The Baldknobbers, Mark McCauley/The Grand Jubilee, Cecil Stringer/The Braschler Music Show and Denny Yeary/The Yearys. Dance troupe candidates are Broadway, Country Tonite, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Elena and Vadim Serykh/Showboat Branson Belle and Spirit of the Dance.
The specialty act division is for those acts within another show, including but not limited to comedians, magic acts, ventriloquists, animal acts and acrobatics and selections include Jim Barber/Jimmy Osmond’s American Jukebox, Mike Bliss/The Brett Family/Magnificent 7, Patty Davidson/Dalena Ditto, Todd Oliver and His Talking Dogs/Showboat Belle and Slim Chance/David Hirschi/Yakov. Lead guitarist nominees are Barry Bales/Country Tonite/Brett Family, Waylon Herron/Lost in the Fifties, Gary Meyers/Mickey Gilley, Mickey Springsteen/Pam Tillis and Dino Strunk/Pierce Arrow. Bass player nominees are Larry Alred/Lost in the Fifties, Kevin Brashear/Mickey Gilley Show, Jeff Donachy/Magnificent 7, JJ Jones/Moe Bandy and Marty Wilhite/Doug Gabriel /Showboat Belle.
For steel guitarist candidates are Terry Bethel/Paul Harris Show, Dean Holman/Down Home Country/Moe Bandy, Steve Matlock/Pam Tillis, Joey Riley/Mickey Gilley and Danny Yancey/The Grand Jubilee. Banjo player nominees are Jonathan Dutton/The Duttons, Scooter Hill/Country Tonite, Dean Holman/Down Home Country/Moe Bandy, Buck Trent and Danny Yancey/The Grand Jubilee. For keyboardist (any keyboard instrument including, but not limited to, acoustic or electronic piano, electronic, reed or pipe organ, synthesizer, harpsichord, calliope, digital sequencer or workstation in any show). A winner will be announced from Bobby Blackburn/Pierce Arrow/Brett Family, Darrell Croy/Magnificent 7, Mickey Gilley, Bobby Hamilton/Stuck on the 70’s and R.P. Harrell/Country Tonite.
Drummer/percussionist nominees are Rosa Avila/Andy Williams, Robby Blackwood/Lost in the Fifties/Buck Trent, Doug Huffman/Pierce Arrow, Michael Jackson/Magnificent 7 and Dino Phillips/John Tweed Show/Paul Harris Show. Fiddler/violinist (on the traditional 4-string fiddle/violin or non-traditional 5 or 6-string fiddle/violin in any show) contestants are Jennie Lynn Collier/The Baldknobbers, Amy Dutton/The Duttons, Bruce Hoffman/Buck Trent/Down Home Country, Wayne Massengale/Country Tonite and Shoji Tabuchi.
Brass player (any of the instruments of the traditional brass family including but not limited to trumpet, coronet, flugelhorn, French horn, trombone, baritone, euphonium, tuba or sousaphone in any show, but does not include woodwind instruments such as the saxophone though they may be made of brass.) nominees are Robert Fisher/trumpet/Mickey Gilley Show, Randy Fisher/trombone/The Mickey Gilley Show, Dennis Parsons/trombone/Showboat Branson Belle, Vince Selvidge/Doug Gabriel/ Shoji Tabuchi and Sunny Spencer/Sons of the Pioneers. Woodwind player (any of the traditional woodwind family including but not limited to metal or wood flute, piccolo, recorder, clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, oboe or bassoon) nominees are Jay Brandon/tenor and baritone saxophones/Mickey Gilley Show, Norman Carlson/tenor saxophone/Mickey Gilley Show, Scott Ford/tenor saxophone/Lost in the Fifties, Marvin Short/tenor sax/50’s at the Hop, Sunny Spencer/clarinet/tenor saxophone/Sons of the Pioneers.
The specialty instrumentalist category is for any instrument that does not fall into an earlier category and is an integral part of his/her performance, including such instruments as the dobro, mandolin, lute, bouzouki, harmonica, melodica, viola, cello, keyboard accordion, button (or Cajun style) accordion, concertina, washboard, washtub bass, harp, hammered dulcimer or mountain dulcimer in any show.
Nominees are Cedric Benoit/Cajun accordion/Cajun Connection, Doug Gabriel/Mufftar/Doug Gabriel Show, Michael Hermsmeyer/dobro/From Patsy to Present/Eli Barsi, Greg Presley/harmonica/The Presleys and “Washboard” Leo Thomas/Cajun Connection.
Multi-instrumentalist category candidates are Doug Gabriel/guitar, piano, mufftar/The Doug Gabriel Show, Michael T. Hermsmeyer/steel, fiddle, guitar/From Patsy to Present/Eli Barsi’s Opry, Dean Holman/steel, dobro, banjo/Down Home Country/Moe Bandy Show, Bruce Hoffman/fiddle, guitar, steel/Buck Trent Show/Down Home Country, Marvin Short/tenor sax, guitar, clarinet/50’s at the Hop. Best band nominees are Andy Williams Orchestra, Pierce Arrow Band, Paul Harris Band, Stuck on the 70’s Band and the Urban Cowboy Band/Mickey Gilley.
Selection of the five finalists in each category began last September with the formation of the Branson Academy of Arts and Entertainment. Entertainers, theater owners and managers, and local businesspersons joined the new Academy and began the arduous process of defining categories, establishing criteria and reviewing credentials of individual talent. Next a credentials committee presented a slate of nominees for each category who possessed the defined credentials. This list was presented to the general membership, and in a closed ballot the members elected those entertainers who became the five finalists in each category.
Since December voting was open to the general public by written ballot and online at the Academy website at www.bransonacademy.org. These public votes count 50% toward selecting the winners in each category. In addition, the Academy members are being provided a private ballot on which they will vote for their favorites. These votes will also count 50% toward the final winner. Voting closed April 15. Tabulations will be kept secret until the announcements on May. 2. Tickets may be purchased by calling the theater at (417) 335-2396.