27TH California Music Awards Rock Downtown Oakland

Big Sunday Crowd Fills City Hall Plaza

Green Day and AFI Big Winners at Annual Festival

Television Broadcast June 26 on KBWB WB20

Oakland-June 6,2004—On a brilliant late Spring Sunday, a diverse crowd of several thousand music fans were treated to the impressive talents of a dozen acts and cheered the winners of a passel of awards presented at this year’s California Music Awards. Celebrating its 27th year, CAMA was held as a free outdoor festival for the second year in a row. Berkeley’s own Green Day led the winners with four awards including Outstanding Bassist, Outstanding Drummer and Outstanding Male Vocalist and Most Downloaded Song.  Goth rockers AFI showed a combination of surprise and joy as they were presented with three Awards for Outstanding Debut on a Major Label, Outstanding Group and Outstanding Rock Album.

Other winners of note include Red Hot Chili Peppers for California Favorite; Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, Outstanding Female Vocalist; Outstanding Guitarist Kirk Hammett of Metallica; Black Eyed Peas for Outstanding Hip-hop Album/CD and The Offspring took Outstanding Alternative Album/CD.  The CAMA’s also awarded 80’s mega-hitmakers Night Ranger with the honorary California Gold Award, Tesla received the Spirit of Rock Award and Tower of Power accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Radio stations Live 105 (SF) and KROQ (LA) were presented Award for Media Excellence. See complete list of winners.

Performers included Night Ranger (being filmed by VH1 for a future segment) and Tesla, who led a star-studded, show-closing jam on AC-DC’s rock classic 'Highway to Hell' and Led Zeppelin's immortal ‘Rock and Roll’.  Others performers included a virtual who’s who of Bay Area hip-hoppers and rappers led by Hieroglyphics and included E-40, then joined by neo-souldiva, Goapele .  A stunning jazz jam brought the crowd to its feet and featured Dave Ellis, Jay Lane, Miles Perkins, Will Bernard and Peter Horvath.

A two-hour television special with highlights and interviews will be telecast on KBWB WB-20 in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, June 26 from 6-8 P.M.

“It was a great day”, exclaimed CO-Executive producer Ron Gibson. “The diversity and young bands sprinkled with the stars of the 80’s made it all worth while”. CO-Executive producer David Zimmerman added, “After 27 years, to see E-40, Goapole, AFI, Tesla and Night Ranger all grace the same stage reminds us of what the California Music Awards is all about. There is a revitalized energy to CAMA that translated into a glorious good-vibe filled day.”

Exterior images by Anthony Cassett
Interior images by Craig Cozzitorti

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