The CMA of RI's 2007 Living Legend Award

He is the son of the late John and Jessie DiBonaventure, the father of Peter and Karen and the grandfather to Michael, Kolton, Megan and Laura and the brother to Rocco and North Providence Chief of Police Joe.

Our 2007 CMA of Rhode Island Living Legend Award recipient is the one and the only Pete Bonnie.

2007 Massachusetts Country Music Awards Association

At the 2007 MCMAA Award Show held on September 24^th, The following CMA of RI members were given Awards:

Lead Guitar                               Michael J. Frog

Keyboard                                  Linda Leslie

Steel Guitar                               Manny Escobar

5pc Band of the Year              The Goat Ropers

Male Vocalist                             Manny Massa

Single Artist                               Suzanne Adams

Hall of Fame Inductees           Manny Escobar

                                                      Michael J. Frog

                                                      Bob Almeida

2008 Country Music Association of RI Awards

Nightclub of the Year - American Legion Post 15, East Greenwich
Radio Station of the Year - WBLQ, Westerly
Songwriter of the Year - Cindy Lane
Album of the Year - The Best of Westwind, So Far
Song of the Year - Faded Love, by Cindy Lane
Vocal Duet of the Year - Babs and Maril
Keyboard Player of the Year - Cindy Lane
Bass Guitar Player of the Year - Dave Brown
Steel Guitar Player of the Year - Tony Poccia
Lead Guitar Player of the Year - Dave Brown
Drummer of the Year - Bob Considine
Rhythm Guitar Player of the Year - Ollie Stedman
Band of the Year - Babs and Maril & The Hayloft Jamboree
Female Vocalist of the Year - Cindy Lane
Female Entertainer of the Year - Cindy Lane
Male Vocalist of the Year - Dave Brown and Matt Connelly (Tie)
Male Entertainer of the Year - Matt Connelly

2008 Living Legend Award  By Walter Hall
This Years Living Legend Award was presented to Joe Ferri The Citation is:
Joe Ferri born October 27, 1932, Bristol, RI, Married Ann Marie Parrent---Divorced. 2 sons: David, Joe Jr.
Worked at Raytheon for many years. 35 years in the National Guard
Started playing Steel at 7 years of age became noticed and played with many local and National stars
Local 
Hank Walters-Nashville Sound   Rick Rayle Country Travelers     Jack Thompson Rockabilly' s                                  Joe La Flipp                                  Lee Collins Country Limited    Rayle Brothers Rick & Ken 
Charley Carson                             Eddy Fenner Snakebite           Charrell Sisters                                                 Rene & Jeanie                              Al Roberts
National
Hank Williams Jr.                         Johnny Paycheck                        Hank Thompson                                            Elton Britt                                     Kenny Rogers                             Lefty Frizzell
Johnny Cash                                 Tommy Cash                               Faron Young                                                   Bill Phillips                                    Cal Smith                                     Kitty Wells
Toured RI, CT. Mass as warn-up band
TV
Channel 6 Country Wide Showcase Rayle Bros 
Channel 12 Just Country Rayle Bros
Arenas etc
Otis AFB Rick Rayle Travelers                             Hillbilly Ranch Jack Thompson, Rick Rayle 
Boston Gardens Rayle Bros                                  Quonset point Military Base Rayle Bros*
RI Veterans Auditorium Rick Rayle Travelers      Indian Head Ranch, Webster Ma. Rayle Bros 
Crescent Park and Rocky Point

 2007 Massachusetts Country Music Awards Association

 The Massachusetts Country Music Award Association (MCMAA) held their Annual Awards Show on September 29th. The following winners are members of the CMA of RI:
Peoples Choice Award, Entertainer, and Male Vocalist: - Manny Massa
Female Vocalist - Cindy Lane
3 or 4 Piece Band - Cindy Lane & True Country
5 or more Piece Band - The Goat Ropers
Bass Guitarist- Elaine Ellis
Horizon Band - Dogie and Cowpie Poachers

2009 Country Music Association of RI Awards

Nightclub of the Year - American Legion Post 15, East Greenwich
Radio Station of the Year - WBLQ, Westerly
Songwriter of the Year - Matt Connelly
Album of the Year - The Best of Hayloft
Song of the Year - One More Broken Heart by Matt Connelly
Vocal Duet of the Year - Linda and Gary Leslie
Keyboard Player of the Year - Linda Leslie
Bass Guitar Player of the Year - Elaine Ellis
Steel Guitar Player of the Year - Roger Trahan
Lead Guitar Player of the Year - Michael J. Frogg
Drummer of the Year - Harry Card
Rhythm Guitar Player of the Year - Bill Friday
Band of the Year - Cindy Lane & True Country
Female Vocalist of the Year - Linda Leslie
Female Entertainer of the Year - Linda Leslie
Male Vocalist of the Year - Bill Friday
Male Entertainer of the Year - Matt Connelly

2009 Living Legend Award by Bill Friday

The Living Legend Award is the highest award the COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF RHODE ISLAND can give a performer. The award is not just based on previous awards or a long list of personal achievements. The award is also based on the person's contributions to the Country Music Family and the respect that person has earned over the lifetime of effort. Other than Eddy and Richie Zack you'd be hard-pressed to find a local entertainer who is more loved or respected than this years Living Legend recipient.
If personal awards were the only measure for this award, then this year's Living Legend would qualify hands down over any performer we know over the last two decades. While we could list all his awards here, let's just say he has received over 60 awards since 1984 for everything from Male Vocalist, Entertainer of the year, Rhythm and Lead guitarist, Song of the year, Album of the Year, Songwriter of the year, and his band has been the Band of the year 8 times. If there was an award for the nicest person in the business he would certainly be a multiple winner in that category as well.
We'll ask our honoree to join us up here in a little while but, first, let's take some time to talk about the CMA of Rhode Island's 2009 Living Legend ... Matt Connelly. First, I think Matt would want you to know he is married to the love of his life, Kathryn... They have two children, Elissa and Amber. His parents, the late Michael and Doris Connelly gave him 7 brothers and sisters: Mark, Jill, Mick, Pat, Marilyn, David, and Maureen. He is called Uncle Matt by Diane, Tim, Gretchen, David, Andrew, Joey, Michael, Sherry, Patricia, Clay, Terri, Harry, Mark, Chelsea, Patrick, Alex, and Sarah.
Matt was born in Maine in 1957 and at the ripe old age of 7 he performed on a local TV show hosted by Salty Brine called Spotlight on Talent. Matt is an extremely private person so not much is known about what happened after that. In fact his drummer in Westwind, Dave Plante says it would have been easier getting
information about Osama Bin Laden but... According to Dave-- Matt used to entertain his classmates in the school yard at elementary school and his performance on Spotlight on Talent brought rave reviews from both Salty and his dog Jeff.
As a very young performer, he became an Arctic mainstay at Ronnie's Last Chance Saloon. Also, when you get a chance ask Matt what happened when he was performing at an awards show at Mishnock and he and his brother Mark decided to eat a sandwich and have a beer during a break. Let's just say the police were involved. Dave also wanted you to know Matt is a life long Red Sox fan... and looks really buff in a Speedo.
Matt met Dr. Bob Brassard in the late 70's. Dr. Bob says he first heard Matt sing at a talent contest at the Covered Wagon. Joe Hayes was the first to sing, followed by Dr. Bob, then Matt, "When Matt opened his mouth," says Dr. Bob" It was like angels singing. There was no doubt Matt was the best." Matt actually came in third. Dr. Bob was so upset with the outcome he tried to give Matt the belt buckle he had won. Matt declined and Dr. Bob says "From that day on I wanted to be in a band with Matt" And of course that happened in 1977 when they formed Westwind. Did you know the band members have nicknames...? Dr. Bob is "Spike", Dave Plante is "Cartman", Bob Santos is "Pablo" and Matt is Meat-n-Taters because he hates seafood.
Bill Friday, who really wanted to be here to make this presentation but has a band commitment in Massachusetts, says...in his words..."We singers wouldn't be up in front of people unless we thought we had really good voices. But, the first time I heard Matt sing he stopped me in my tracks and to this day when Matt Connelly sings I stop what I'm doing and listen. In my opinion, he's a singer's singer...... music just flows from his body and you have to listen."

 Matt and his band have opened shows at the Warwick Musical Theater for Reba McIntyre, Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker and played shows with Jim Ed Brown, Sheb Wooley and Jeannie C. Riley among others. His songwriting has produced a wealth of awards including an official proclamation from Governor Lincoln Almond recognizing Matt's writing achievements. He was put into the Rhode Island Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996... The youngest person to ever receive that honor.
When the number of local clubs offering Country Music closed down, Matt did a couple of things: He formed the Kleptones which today is recognized as one of the best 50's and 60's oldies bands in the area and he started recording both his music and other local artists. As his wife, Kathryn says: "Matt loves recording music. It gives him more time to concentrate on his creativity in writing and learning more about the music. He researches and experiments and tries to learn everything he can from every angle. He listens so intently to the music sometimes and hears every sound so differently that he sometimes has trouble just enjoying a song."

This has been a rather lengthy summation of Matt's musical career yet a lot was left out and there is still a lot to be added because his career is far from over. Let's end this by listening to a message from Dr. Bob to this Clark Kent of Country Music in Rhode Island. "To my friend Matt, I want to congratulate you for this award. With your singing, writing, recording and performing abilities, I can't think of anyone else who deserves it more than you. It's been an honor and a privilege working with you all these years..."
Ladies and gentlemen. May I present our Living Legend for 2009? Matt Connelly.
 

Comments? Questions? E-mail me at:  cmaofri@worldnet.att.net

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