Sidebeat Music: Exclusive Interview with Al Bowman Executive Producer of the Los Angeles Music Awards

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The Los Angeles Music Awards has an 18 year history, dating back to 1991. It was started in 1991 by Al Bowman, who was inspired by a conversation he had with Bill Gazzarri, only 3 days before his death. Gazzarri, often seen wearing his trademark white Fidora hat, was known for giving musicians their start. During their conversation, which took place on March 3, 1991, Gazzarri gave Bowman his hat then bequeathed onto him the title “Godson of Rock-n-roll”, giving him his blessing to go be the voice of independent music in Los Angeles.
Just 9 months later, Bowman single-handedly kicked off his first annual Los Angeles Music Awards event. as a tribute to honor local musicians and help them gain exposure for their recordings and live performances.

Some of the locations where it has been held include The Whisky-A-Go-Go, Roxy Theater, House of Blues, Hollywood Palladium, the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom and the Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre.
The Los Angeles Music Awards is the longest running red carpet event for independent musicians and filmmakers, Over the years there have been many imitators.

The rest as they say is history…