Robinson, Ndegeocello Top Glama Awards Winners

Veteran troubadour Tom Robinson and Maverick/Reprise artist Me'Shell Ndegeocello were the big winners at the second Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA), presented March 9 at the Manhattan Center here.
Robinson, who first gained notoriety in 1978 with the hit 'Glad To Be Gay,' took home three awards for his Castway Northwest Records release 'Blood Brother': best male artist, best original out song, and best out recording. Ndegeocello won best female artist honors, as well as best music video for 'Leviticus: Faggot,' a cut from her 1997 album 'Peace Beyond Passion.'
'I'm thrilled and maybe a little shocked to have been so richly honored,' Robinson said.
Drag superstar and Rhino recording artist RuPaul was the recipient of the Outmusic Award, which honors artists who embody 'courage and truthful self-expression' in their music. Visibly moved by the audience's standing ovation, RuPaul said, 'It hasn't been an easy road, but it's the only one I could've traveled. I can only live my life with honesty and a pure heart.'
Warner Bros. chanteuse k.d. lang received the Mi-chael Callen Medal of Achievement; the award is given to artists committed to nurturing and furthering gay and lesbian music. Musician/songwriter Michael Callen, who died in 1993 of AIDS-related illness, was a founding member of the People With AIDS coalition. He was also a member of a cappella act the Flirtations and pursued an acclaimed solo career.
In accepting the medal, lang declared her pride in being a part of a 'movement that must be documented during a transitional time in both pop culture and the music industry.'
Other key winners included folk artist Catie Curtis, who took album of the year honors for her eponymous Guardian-EMI collection, and Indigo Girls, who were named best pop duo for the cut 'It's Alright' from their Epic album 'Shaming The Sun.' The ceremony was hosted by comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer.
Although the long-term mainstream impact of the GLAMAs remains to be seen, indie retailers see the awards as an opportunity to draw business to smaller outlets and much-needed attention to lesser-known acts.
'A lot of the acts we're dealing with cannot even get stocked in large chains, so winning a GLAMA can only help in generating a little attention on the street,' says Margo Hirschfeld, manager of Magna-Beat, a shop in Chicago. 'There has been enough buzz about the GLAMAs in the gay community to raise interest in an artist like Tom Robinson, who has been struggling to find an audience in recent years.'
The GLAMAs were conceived and founded by musicians Tom McCormack and Michael Mitchell in 1995 as the only national music awards program to honor the work of self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender artists. Nominees and winners were chosen by judging panels composed of industry executives, music and gay media personnel, and recording artists.
All nominated recordings were commercially released in the U.S. between June 1, 1996, and Dec. 31, 1997. The Outmusic Award and the Michael Callen Medal of Achievement are chosen by special committee.

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