Piet Levy

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee artists took home some of the big prizes at the 39th Annual Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards Sunday — which happened to fall on Milwaukee Day.

Local soulful pop artist Lex Allen won artist of the year at the award ceremony at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee Sunday. Song of the year — a category made up entirely of songs from Milwaukee artists — went to Amanda Huff and Peter Thomas' engrossing "Only in Dreams."

RELATED:Lex Allen among Journal Sentinel's five Wisconsin bands to watch in 2018

RELATED:Lex Allen's 'Table 7' among Journal Sentinel's 10 favorite Milwaukee albums of 2018

RELATED:"Only In Dreams" on Journal Sentinel's 10 best Milwaukee songs of 2018 list

Album of the year went to "Women at War: Warrior Songs Vol. 2," a compilation album featuring Wisconsin artists inspired by the stories of 18 different women veterans and two Gold Star family members, overseen by Madison-based nonprofit Warrior Songs Inc.

Milwaukee music scene veteran Paul Cebar was inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame Sunday, as well as local '80s metal group Realm. Both acts performed at the ceremony Sunday.

The Chordettes, the vocal pop group from Sheboygan behind '50s standards like "Mr. Sandman" and "Lollipop," was also inducted in the WAMI Hall of Fame. Milwaukee country trio the Whiskeybelles performed Chordettes tunes in their honor Sunday. And members of the Seven Sounds, the backing band for Milwaukee's Godfather of Soul Harvey Scales, who died in February, performed a tribute set Sunday.

RELATED:Harvey Scales, 'Milwaukee's Godfather of Soul,' writer of hit 'Disco Lady,' has died at 77

2019 WAMI Award winners

Artist of the Year: Lex Allen

Album of the Year: "Women at War: Warrior Songs Vol. 2," Warrior Songs

Song of the Year: "Only in Dreams," Amanda Huff and Peter Thomas

New Artist of the Year: The Docksiders

Male Vocalist of the Year: Andre Beaudot

Female Vocalist of the Year: Erin Krebs

Singer-Songwriter of the Year: Keith Pulvermacher

Rising Star of the Year: Parker Collar

Alternative Rock/Rock Artist: Amberstein

Bluegrass/Americana Artist: Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

Christian/Gospel Artist: Spirited Strings

Blues Artist: Jay Edward

Country Artist: Buffalo Gospel

Cover Artist: Star Six Nine

Folk/Celtic Artist: Reilly

Hard Rock Artist: Lords of the Trident

Metal Artist: Revolution-X

Punk Artist: The Cherrypops

Jazz Artist: Jerry Grillo

Polka Artist: The November Criminals

Pop Rock Artist: Well-Known Strangers

Hip-Hop/Rap Artist: Zed Kenzo

R&B/Soul Artist: The People Brothers Band

World/Reggae/Ska/Latin: Luma Knotty

Club/DJ/Dance/Electronic Artist: Luxi

Horn/Big Band Artist: Extra Crispy Brass Band

Tribute Artist: Project Pink

Bass: Chris Hanaway

Drummer: Jim Winter

Guitarist: Angie Swan

Keyboard: Noah Harmon

Reeds/Brass: Michael Clobes

Strings: Joe Ketchum

Best Studio Engineer/Producer: Steve Hamilton

Best Recording Studio: Tanner-Monagle Inc.

Best Live Club/Venue: Shank Hall

Best Live Engineer Sound/Lights: Jason Lueck

President's Award: Beth Kille

People's Choice, Southwest: Cherry Pie (best band); Jan Baker (best teacher); WGLX-FM 103.3 (best radio station); Hollyrocks (best venue); Jaeden Piller (fan)

People's Choice, Northwest: The Dweebs (band); Brian McLaughlin (teacher); WIFC-FM 95.5 (radio station); Schuggy's (venue); Leanne Booher (fan)

People's Choice, Northeast: RPM (band); Mark Budwit (teacher); WAPL-FM 105.7 (radio station); Stone Toad Bar & Grill (venue); Doris Budwit (fan)

People's Choice, Southeast: Almighty Vinyl (band); Jim Walski (teacher); WHQG-FM 102.9 (radio station); The Saloon on Calhoun (venue); Bradley John (fan)

Hall of Fame: Paul Cebar, the Chordettes, Realm

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

Piet also talks concerts, local music and more on "TAP'd In" with Jordan Lee. Hear it at 8 a.m. Thursdays on WYMS-FM (88.9), or wherever you get your podcasts.