The San Diego Music Awards is an awards show held annually in San Diego, California, United States, to recognize the best artists and bands in local music. The awards show benefits the San Diego Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting San Diego music education programs.
The show has featured awards in a variety of categories covering nearly every genre of music, and featured live performances by such major-label recording artists as Blink-182, Switchfoot, Jason Mraz, P.O.D., Pierce the Veil, as well as lesser known up-and-coming artists, such as Schizophonics, The Beat Farmers, Gilbert Castellanos, Whitney Shay and others.
Through 2025, the annual awards have raised over $915,000 for its Guitars for Schools program, which has provided free instruments and lessons for more than 75,000 students across San Diego County over the past three decades.
Country Dick Montana Lifetime Achievement Award Each year the San Diego Music Awards honors an outstanding musician with the Country Dick Montana Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is named for the late drummer Dan McLain's alias in the band, The Beat Farmers. Two awards were given in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. Since 2014 a special Lifetime Industry Achievement Award has also been issued on occasion.
2026 - Steve Poltz 2025 - Nathan East 2024 - Stevie Salas (Inducted by Matt Sorum) 2023 - Mike Keneally 2022 - Jesse Davis 2021 - Jerry Raney (of The Beat Farmers) 2020 - Richard Livoni 2019 - Joe Flammini (inducted by Jason Mraz) 2018 - The Paladins 2017 - Wayne Riker 2015 - Peter Sprague 2014 - Tomcat Courtney 2013 - Daniel Jackson 2012 - Mike Wofford 2011 - The Penetrators 2010 - Iron Butterfly (Inducted by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders (politician)) 2009 - The Zeros (American band) (Inducted by Wayne Kramer) 2008 - Mundell Lowe 2007 - Nick Reynolds (of The Kingston Trio) 2006 - Jimmie & Jeannie Cheatham 2005 - The Farmers 2004 - Charles McPherson & The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers 2003 - Joe Marillo 2002 - Jack Tempchin & Al Guerra 2001 - Jack Costanzo 2000 - Lou Curtiss & Barney Kessel 1999 - Frankie Laine 1998 - Joey Harris & Mike Halloran 1997 - Tim Mays & Harlan Schiffman 1996 - Jim McInnes 1995 - Dave Hodges 1994 - Malcolm Falk
Industry Achievement Award 2023 - Bart Mendoza 2021 - Elizabeth Abbott & Kent Johnson / The San Diego Troubadour 2015 - Louie Procaccino 2014 - Candye Kane
References
External links
Official website NBC San Diego Profile