The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 116

Juno Awards K6 THE OTTAWA CITIZEN SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2003 A history of Best New Artist Juno judges have made some pretty odd choices over the years. Doug Fischer looks at 28 years of winners and losers. PAST WINNERS Here's a look back at Best New Artist categories at the Junos beginning in 1975, the year nomination lists were first made public. How well did the judges pick? We've graded their choices, based mainly on the strength of the winners' careers compared to the other nominees in the same year. Of course, with the aid of hindsight, it's a lot easier to be correct, and critical.

As a result, we've tried to consider what was known about the artists at the time of their selection. Mainly, though, the grades are meant to get you talking and debating. 1 4 bin 'JJUUJ 'ft I fH a Aw 7 I ft SL' if it 1 I T'. Past winners include clockwise from above left, France Joli (1980), Tim Feehan (1987), k.d. lang (1985) and Carole Pope (1981).

1978 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Lisa Del Bello (winner), Claudja Barry, Alma Faye Brooks, Glory-Anne Carriere, Roxanne Goldade. Career: Lengthy and respectable. Still recording and composing. Grade: Most Promising Male Vocalist: David Bradstreet (winner), Peter Pringle, Walter Rossi, Malcolm Tomlinson, PatTravers. Career: Not much as a singer, but modestly successful as songwriter.

Grade: (see guitarist Travers) Most Promising Group: Hometown Band (winner), Blacklight Orchestra, Jackson Hawke, Max Webster, Prism. Career: Made two good albums. Best known as Valdy's backup band. Grade: (see Prism) 1979 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Claudja Barry (winner), Ronney Abramson, Carolyne Bernier, Roxanne Goldade, Denise McCann. Career: Disco singer made eight albums between 76 and '87.

Grade: Most Promising Male Vocalist: Nick Gilder (winner), Rick James, Marc Jordan, Martin Stevens, PatTravers. Career: After two smash singles (Roxy Roller with Sweeney Todd, Hot Child in the City as solo artist), achieved only modest success. Grade: A- Most Promising Group: Doucette (winner), Streetheart, Teaze, Max Webster, Zon. Career: Five albums, one hit single (Nobody, from 1979) Grade: 1980 Most Promising Female Vocalist: France Joli (winner), Alma Faye Brooks, Nana McLean, Karen Silver, Laura Vinson Career: Quebec disco teen's one big hit was 1979's Come to Me. Grade: Most Promising Male Vocalist: Walter Rossi (winner), Bryan Adams, Gary Fjellgaard, Freddie James, Richard Stepp.

Career: Modest and shortlived. Grade: C- (see Adams) Most Promising Group: Streetheart (winner), FM, Minglewood Blues Band, The Raes, Teaze. Career: Six gold albums, handful of hit singles before mid-'80s. Grade: 1981 Most Promising Female Vocalist: PAST LOSERS Carole Pope (winner), Dianne Heatherington, Michaele Jordana, Shari Ulrich, Laura Vinson. Career: Legendary Grade: A Most Promising Male Vocalist: Graham Shaw (winner), Bryan Adams, B.B.

Gabor, Long John Baldry, Wayne Rostad. Career: One hit single (Can I Come Near? from 1980). (see Adams) Most Promising Group: Powder Blues Band (winner), Martha the Muffins, Red Rider, Toronto, Lover-boy. Career: Long and strong, with numerous hits, notably Doin' It Right (on the Wrong Side of Town). Grade: (see competition) 1982 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Shari Ulrich (winner), Salome Bey, Terry Crawford, Rita Johns, Karen Silver.

Career: Long and respectable. Grade: (see Bey) Most Promising Male Vocalist: Eddie Schwartz (winner), Jim Byrnes, B.B. Gabor, Gary 0, Peter Pringle. Careen Best known as songwriter, especially Hit Me With Your Best Shot for Pat Benatar. Grade: Most Promising Group: Saga (winner), Goddo, Martha the Muffins, Red Rider, The Kings.

Career: Long and distinguished progressive rockers. Grade: 1975 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Suzanne Stevens (winner), Alexis, Charity Brown, Debbie Fleming. Career: Handful of modest hit singles. Career over by 1980. Grade: Most Promising Male Vocalist: Gi- no Vannelli (winner), Keath Bar-rie, Paul Hann, Bill King, Justin Career: Several international hits In 70s (People Gotta Move, I Just Wanna Stop).

Still recording and touring. Grade: A Most Promising Group: Rush (winner), Beau Dommage, Greaseball Boogie Band, Mahogany Rush, Ville Emard Blues Band. Career: 24 straight gold and platinum records, third-longest streak in rock history. Grade: A 1976 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Patricia Dahlquist (winner), Lisa Hartt, Shawne Jackson, Robin Moir, Sylvia Tyson. Career: Keep Our Love Alive was 75 hit.

Career fizzled soon after. Now an actress. Grade: Most Promising Male Vocalist: Dan Hill (winner), Bim (a.k.a. Roy Forbes), Raoul Duguay, Lewis Furey, Bruce Miller. Career: Several 70s hits, notably Sometimes When We Touch.

Still writing for others, including Celine Dion. Grade: A Most Promising Group: Myles Lenny (winner), Aut'Chose, Bond, Heart, Maneige. Career: Over by 78. Given the success of Heart, a poor choice. Grade: C- 1977 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Colleen Peterson (winner), Gail Dahms, Denise McCann, Patricia Anne McKinnon, Chris Nielsen.

Career: Left a rich musical legacy when she died in 1996. Grade: A Most Promising Male Vocalist: Burton Cummings (winner), Roger Doucet, Danny Hooper, Ne-ston Pistor, Wayne St. John. Career: The absurdity of his nomination as a newcomer aside, a Canadian music icon. Grade: Most Promising Group: T.H.P.

Orchestra (winner), Garfield, Moxy, Sweeney Todd, Trooper. Career: Virtually non-existent. Grade: (check the competition) Losers include Celine Dion, above IS 1983 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Lydia Taylor (winner) Lee Aaron, Terry Crawford, Luba, Mary-Lu Za-halan. Career: Hard rockin' and short. Grade: (see Aaron) Most Promising Male Vocalist: Kim Mitchell (winner), Lawrence Gowan, David Roberts, Leroy Sib-bles, David Wilcox.

Career: Canadian rock legend. Grade: (see Gowan and Wilcox) Most Promising Group: (winner), Doug the Slugs, Head-pins, Spoons, Strange Advance. Career: Respectable. Best known for '82 single Eyes of a Grade: 1984 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Sherry Kean (winner), Veronique Beliveau, Ann Mortifee, Jane Siberry, Diane Tell. Career: Short, unspectacular.

Grade: (see Siberry, Mortifee, Tell) Most Promising Male Vocalist: Al- fie Zappacosta (winner), La Barge, Johnny Lovesin, Nash the Slash, Tim Ryan. Career: Lengthy but modest. Grade: (someone had to win) Most Promising Group: Parachute Club (winner), Honeymoon Suite, Men Without Hats, The Nylons, Platinum Blonde. Career: Five albums. Best known for 1983 hit single, Rise Up.

Grade: (ah, the '80s) 1985 Most Promising Female Vocalist: k.d. lang (winner), Connie Kaldor, Belinda Metz, Liberty Silver, Vanity. Career: Doing cowpunk or easy listening, she's an international star. Grade: A Most Promising Male Vocalist: Paul Janz (winner), Claude Dubois, Daniel Lavoie, Johnny Lovesin, Johnny MacLeod. Career: Half dozen albums, dozen singles, most notably 1985's Go to Pieces.

Grade: B- (best of weak lineup) Most Promising Group: Idle Eyes' (winner), The Arrows, The Box, Images in Vogue, Rational Youth. Career: Four albums, one hit single, 1985's Tokyo Rose. Grade: (as the bookies say, pick 'em) 1986 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Kim Richardson (winner), Chantal Condor, Siobhan Crawley, Francesca, Sheree Jeacocke. Career: Known best for two hit, He's My Lover ('85) and Peek-a-boo C86). Grade: B- Most Promising Male Vocalist: Billy Newton-Davis (winner), Doug Rufus Wainwright.

Career: Mega-producer turns performer and doesn't disappoint. Grade: A (a bit soon Rufus) Most Promising Group: Tragically Hip (winner), Indio, Paradox, Sons of Freedom, Brighton Rock. Career: Probably Canada's best-ever rock band. Grade: A 1991 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Sue Medley (winner), Mae Moore, Holly Cole, Lorraine Segato, Jane Child, Patricia Conroy. Career: Three albums, half dozen singles, notably 1992's When The Stars Fall.

Grade: Most Promising Male Vocalist: AndyCurran (winner), Danny Brookes, John James, Kenny MacLean, Francis Martin, Bob Wiseman. Career: Hard rocking, unspectacular. Grade: (whatever) Most Promising Group: Leslie Spit Treeo (winner), Bootsauce, Crash Vegas, National Velvet, Spirit of the West. Career: Inspired folk-rock, but Spit split by '98. Grade: (see Spirit of the West) 1992 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Alanis (winner), Kerri Anderson, Chrissy Steele, Darby Mills, Meryn Cadell.

Career: Who knew Ottawa's teen disco princess would become rock monster Alanis Morissette? Grade: A (for Awfully Lucky) Most Promising Male Vocalist: Keven Jordan (winner), Stephen Fearing, Lennie Gallant, Glen Stace.WildT. Career: Over by 1994. Now a photographer and composer of jingles for the likes of Wrigley's gum and Home Hardware. Grade: (see Gallant and Fearing) Most Promising Group: Infidels (winner), Rankin Family, West End Girls, World on Edge, Young Saints. Career: Great while they lasted (until '95).

Grade: B- (see Ran kins) 1993 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Julie Masse (winner), Lisa Brokop, Sue Foley, Sofia Shinas, Priscilla Wright. Career: Dropped music in mid-'90s to raise family with husband Corey Hart. Grade: (see Foley and Brokop) Most Promising Male Vocalist: John Bottomley (winner), Devon, Steve Fox, John McDermott, Don Neilson. Career: Half dozen albums of quiet, inspirational roots-rock. Grade: B- See HISTORY on page K7 Career: Limited as solo artist.

Better known as member of Nylons (after '92). -Grade: C-(yikes) Most Promising Group: Glass Tiger (winner), Cats Can't Fly, Chalk Cir cle, Eye Eye, One to One. Career: Among most successful Canadian bands of the '80s. Big hit was Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone). Grade: (who else to choose?) 1987 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Rita MacNeil (winner), Heather Bishop, Celine Dion, Debbie Johnson, Nancy Martinez.

Career: She's no Celine-like superstar, but a solid stay-at-home presence all the same. Grade: B- Most Promising Male Vocalist: Tim Feehan (winner), David Gibson, Daniel Lavoie, Mark Korven, Christopher Ward. Career: Singer-songwriter known mostly for his work with David Foster and teen popster Tiffany. Grade: Most Promising Group: Frozen Ghost (winner), Eight Seconds, Haywire, Nuance, Partland Brothers. Career: Short and sweet, with a few memorable singles, notably Should I See C87) and Pauper In Paradise Grade: 1989 (no awards in '88) Most Promising Female Vocalist: Sass Jordan (winner), Candi Pen-nella, Jannetta, Lisa Lougheed, Michelle Wright.

Career: Two fine hard rock albums, Racine ('92) and Rats ('94) in an otherwise so-so career. Grade: (Wright deserved a look, too) Most Promising Male Vocalist: Colin James (winner), Art Bergman, Michael Breen, Andrew Cash, Jeff Healey. Career: His 1988 self-titled debut was fastest-selling album in Canadian history, and he hasn't looked back since. Grade: A (even with Healey and Cash there, too) Most Promising Group: 54-40 (winner), Barney Bentall Legendary Hearts, Jitters, Northern Pikes, Pursuit of Happiness. Career: Impressive and durable alt-rockers.

Grade: (see also Pikes and Pursuit) 1990 Most Promising Female Vocalist: Alannah Myles (winner), Annette Ducharme, Mitsou, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Anita Perras. Career: Black Velvet, her '89 ode to Elvis, sold six million worldwide. Grade: B- (see O'Hara) Most Promising Male Vocalist: Daniel Lanois (winner), Neil James Harnett, Ray Lyell, Roch Voisine, (1987), Amanda Marshall, top (1996), and Matthew Good (1998). Cameron, Michel Lemieux, Stan Meissner, Scott Merritt. I.