2012 was a stellar year for Louisiana music that saw the emergence of several new and exciting artists as well as the resurgence of some of state’s longtime favorites. For OffBeat, celebrating our 25th anniversary made it that much sweeter, and it gives us great joy to announce 2012’s Best of the Beat Award winners as voted on by you — the true keepers of the fonkiest beat around. We are also proud to honor the music businesses that made 2012 one for the record books as well as our Lifetime Achievement honorees: The Legends of New Orleans R&B. Without any further ado, here’s to you and to the best…

2012 Best of the Beat Award Winners in Music

Artist of the Year
Trombone Shorty

Album of the Year
Locked Down by Dr. John

Best Emerging Artist
Hunter Hayes

Song of the Year
“Louisiana Gold” by Anders Osborne

Best Blues Performer
Tab Benoit

Best Blues Album
Elemental Journey by Sonny Landreth

Best R&B/Funk Artist
Trombone Shorty

Best R&B/Funk Album
Carnivale Electricos by Galactic

Best Rock Artist
The Revivalists

Best Rock Album
City of Sound by the Revivalists

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Dee-1

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album/Mixtape
The Focus Tape by Dee-1

Best Bounce Artist
Big Freedia

Best Traditional Jazz Artist
Kermit Ruffins

Best Traditional Jazz Album
St. Peter & 57th St by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Best Contemporary Jazz Artist
Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Magazine St by Doug Belote

Best Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band

Best Brass Band Album
Unlock Your Mind by The Soul Rebels

Best Cajun Artist
Lost Bayou Ramblers

Best Cajun Album
Mammoth Waltz by Lost Bayou Ramblers

Best Zydeco Artist
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers

Best Zydeco Album
Been Good To You by Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers

Best Roots Rock Artist
Dr. John

Best Roots Rock Album
Locked Down by Dr. John

Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist
Hunter Hayes

Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album
Look Out Mama by Hurray for the Riff Raff

Best Cover Band
The Bucktown All-Stars

Songwriter of the Year
Anders Osborne

Best Female Vocalist
Irma Thomas

Best Male Vocalist
John Boutté

Best Bass Player
George Porter Jr.

Best Guitarist
Anders Osborne

Best Drummer
Stanton Moore

Best Saxophonist
Khris Royal

Best Clarinetist
Dr. Michael White

Best Trumpeter
Kermit Ruffins

Best Trombonist
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews

Best Tuba/Sousaphonist
Matt Perrine

Best Piano/Keyboardist
Dr. John

Best Accordionist
Steve Riley

Best Violin/Fiddle Player
Amanda Shaw

Best DJ
DJ Soul Sister

Best Other Instrumentalist
Johnny Sansone (harmonica)

Best Music Video
“Criminal” by the Revivalists, directed by Tyler Yee

Best of the Beat 2012 Music Business Honorees

Best Club
One Eyed Jacks

Best Radio Station
WWOZ

Best Large Festival
French Quarter Festival

Best Festival Outside of New Orleans
Gretna Heritage Festival

Best Neighborhood Bar Featuring Music
Buffa’s Bar & Restaurant

Best Neighborhood Festival
Louisiana Cajun & Zydeco Festival

Best Recording Studio
The Living Room

Best Record Label
Basin Street Records

Best Producer
Carlo Nuccio

Best Record Store
Louisiana Music Factory

Best Instruments Store
New Orleans Music Exchange

Best Studio Sound Engineer
Chris George

Best Booking Agency
White Oak

Best Manager
Tony Ciaccio, Hypersoul

Best Music Attorney
Ashlye M. Keaton

Best Music Photographer
Elsa Hahne

Best Club Owner/Manager
Dixie Rubin and Dale Triguero, Chickie Wah Wah

Best Concert Promoter
Scott Aiges, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

Bourbon Street Award
Earl Bernhardt & Pam Fortner (Tropical Isle)

Musicians Resource Award
Tipitina’s Music Office Co-Op

Community Music Awareness Award
People’s Health

Music Business of the Year
Basin Street Records

Community Music Award
Non-Profit Achievement / Community Music Award
The Roots of Music

Best of the Beat 2012 Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Lifetime Achievement in Music
Al “Carnival Time” Johnson

Lifetime Achievement in Music
Clarence “Frogman” Henry

Lifetime Achievement in Music
Jean Knight

Lifetime Achievement in Music
Frankie Ford

Lifetime Achievement in Music
Ernie Vincent

Lifetime Achievement in Music
Robert Parker

Lifetime Achievement in Music
The Dixie Cups: Barbara Ann Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins, Athelgra Neville Gabriel

Lifetime Achievement in Music Business
Jimmy Anselmo

Lifetime Achievement in Music Education
Jonathan Bloom

Heartbeat Award
Big Chief Howard Miller