Kimmi Bitter, Daring Greatly, Neighborhood Kids score multiple honors at SD Music Awards

Country singer Kimmi Bitter, rock band Daring Greatly and hip-hop group The Neighborhood Kids all took home multiple awards during this year’s San Diego Music Awards at Humphreys by the Bay.

In addition, Blues, funk and R&B guitarist Anthony “The Fallbrook Kid” Cullins was named Artist of the Year, and South Bay-based, globally acclaimed “Souldies” band Thee Sacred Souls won Album of the Year for their sophomore LP, Got a Story to Tell.

Bitter won Best Americana or Country Album for her Old School release, as well as Song of
the Year for the single “Cowboy Kind of Girl.”

Daring Greatly, a harmony-driven rock band originally from Calgary, Alberta, but now based in San Diego, received honors for their song “Trouble.” The tune won for Best Music Video and Best Rock or Indie/Alternative Song.

The Neighborhood Kids, a socially conscious rap crew established in 2020 by musicians Verde and Amon the MC, won the Best Hip-Hop or Rap Artist and Best New Artist awards.

During Tuesday’s event, a Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon the legendary Nathan East, a Grammy-nominated bassist credited with appearing on over 2,000 recordings since launching his professional career in the early 1970s.

Just prior to his being presented the award, a series of short video clips by artists that East has worked with was shown. Among the musicians who recorded messages lauding East were Dave Koz, Kenny G, Bob James, Ray Parker Jr., Reba McEntire, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and Lionel Ritchie, as well as East’s wife and children, including his son, pianist Noah East.

“I can’t even get my head around this, how surreal it is,” Nathan East said of his honor.

He also revealed that the date of the awards show was actually moved from April 26 to April 29 to accommodate his work schedule, and that he had just returned from Japan the night before.

“I’ve traveled the world, but it’s already great to come back to America’s finest city, San Diego, California,” he said.

In all, awards were given in 27 categories during the ceremony. The sold-out event, the 34th annual music awards held, not only honored San Diego-area music and musicians, it also raised $65,000 for the San Diego Music Foundation’s Guitars for Schools program, now in its 35th year.

The program’s mission is to introduce the guitar to music curricula within San Diego County schools, both as a way to augment existing programs and to offset the loss of arts instruction due to budget cuts.

The foundation provides guitars to San Diego-area elementary, middle and high schools for use in day classes or after-school music programs. It has put guitars in 129 schools, according to the organizers.

“God bless all the musicians (and) all the people that are future musicians,” East said during his acceptance speech. “This is where it starts.”

In addition to award presentations, the acts Euphoria Brass Band, Mohavisoul, Matthew Philips, Miniaturized, Almost Monday and the Tourmaliners performed live, as well as East and his band.

“Congrats to everyone that’s here,” Jessie Lark, winner of the Best Pop Song award said during her acceptance speech. “We have an incredible music community and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Top San Diego Music Awards honors:

• Artist of the Year: Anthony Cullins
• Album of the Year: Got a Story to Tell, Thee Sacred Souls
• Song of the Year: “Cowboy Kind of Girl,” Kimmi Bitter
• Best New Artist: The Neighborhood Kids
• Best Local Recording: Live & Alive, The Tourmaliners
• Best Music Video: “Trouble,” Daring Greatly

See a rundown of all the winners on the awards’ Instagram account. A stream of the show is available on the awards website.