Music Professor Rick Davies Selected as Independent Music Award Vox Pop Winner

August 09, 2013

The Independent Music Awards and its parent Music Resource Group this week announced the results of The IMAs Vox Pop poll, the fan-determined portion of the prestigious international program for independent bands and releases.

Music fans from around the world voted online for their favorite self-released and independent label artists culled from the 400 IMA Nominees announced in April. SUNY Plattsburgh Music Professor Rick Davies is among the diverse group of artists named as this year’s fan favorites.

Composer and trombonist Davies has performed with some of the greatest names in Latin, jazz, Pop and Caribbean music. One of his most noted associations was his long tenure as music director for the legendary salsa band Wayne Gorbea and Salsa Picante.

Davies’ IMA winning CD — “Salsa Norteña” — demonstrates his deep grasp of the salsa and Latin jazz music genres.

Chip Boaz in The Latin Jazz Corner Magazine states that “trombonist Rick Davies shows a deep understanding of salsa and an innate ability to apply those aesthetics to Latin Jazz on the energetic and highly danceable release Salsa Norteña.”

In describing his unique trombone style, Raul da Gama of the Latin Jazz Network says, “His beautiful burnished tone and bronzed colors are accompanied by some of the finest smears and growls that so uplift his instrument that he is elevated to the top echelons of it.”

More than 40 percent of the "people's voice" winners named today differed from those named in June by The IMA artist and industry judging panel that included Tom Waits, Meshell Ndegeocello, Pete Wentz, Suzanne Vega, Ziggy Marley, G. Love, Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone), Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour) and Colleen Fischer (Austin City Limits Live) among many other artists and talent buyers, music journalists, film and TV music supervisors and industry decision makers.

The diverse mix of established artists and rising stars named as 12th IMA Vox pop winners hail from 14 countries on four continents.

"The IMAs roster of winners and nominees are a microcosm of the global independent music scene,” said Martin Folkman, Executive Director of The Independent Music Awards.

"The program's international diversity highlights the fact that exceptional music doesn’t need a passport or major label publicity machine to win fans: just access and a level playing field. Artists earning top honors in this year’s program include self-released and fan-funded projects, as well as indie label and former major label acts. No matter what their country of origin or style of music, IMA artists are united in their pursuit of artistic excellence and originality,” Folkman said.