THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410130094
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
IT WAS A NIGHT to remember for Barbara Jean, her husband, her band and for The Banque.
Four years ago, the Virginia Country Music Association decided to initiate an awards ceremony to recognize the best local performers.
Barbara Jean was the first Female Vocalist winner - and the second and the third and the fourth.
Her Band of Gold copped best band honors for the second year in a row, and her husband, ``Muskrat'' Reames, the band's steel guitar player, was selected as best instrumentalist for the third time.
The Banque was chosen for the fourth time as the best nightclub at Friday's awards ceremony at the Khedive Shrine Activity Temple in Chesapeake.
``Some people might resent these winners who have been winning repeatedly,'' said VCMA president Keith Ward, ``but it's the voters who make the choice.''
The voters are the 300 or so VCMA members who work to promote country music in Hampton Roads.
``As long as you keep likin' our music,'' Jean told them, ``we're gonna keep pickin' and grinnin'.''
She paid tribute to her mentor, the late Carolina Charlie - her first major singing job in the area was with his band - and to her father ``who told me when I left the house tonight - `Go get 'em girl.' ''
She did, in spades.
In addition to her vocalist award and the honors for her husband and the Band of Gold, Jean was also presented the Humanitarian Award.
It was recognition for the benefit concerts she does for the Muscular Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis associations, for Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and for her many personal concerts for those needing help with hospital bills.
``Four awards,'' Jean said. ``It's unbelievable.''
``Four years in a row. This is too cool,'' was Annabelle Doughty's comment. She and her husband, Dennis, own The Banque. ``This happened because we're the best. We work hard at being the best.''
Joe Hoppel has worked hard to promote country music - 39 years at the 40-year-old WCMS, and for it, he was presented the Pioneer Award.
``I never lost my respect for the people who listen to country music,'' he said. ``You're nice, down-to-earth people.''
Hoppel was also nominated for the Radio Personality Award, but that honor went to Smokey Rivers, who has been with rival Eagle-97 for four years.
``We're relative newcomers to the area. Country music is doing real well here because of folks like you,'' he said.
Other winners were Tee Meroney, a 25-year veteran entertainer, chosen best male vocalist, an honor he also received last year.
The Founder's Award was given to Bill and Barbara Johnson.
She is the volunteer curator of the Virginia Country Music Museum at the Farmer's Market off Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach.
``About 1,000 people have visited the museum since May,'' Barbara Johnson said.
Following the awards presentation, entertainment was provided by country music legend Johnny PayCheck and by the Passin Tyme Band. ILLUSTRATION: Barbara Jean won four awards from the Virginia Country Music
Association.
by CNB