The music of Cincinnati (past, present and future) was on glorious display at Covington's Madison Theater Nov. 22 at the annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for Music. The "bar" ambiance (and lack of a smoking ban in Kentucky) kept everyone off the sidewalks and in the venue, though we're certain many woke up Monday morning with the old "my clothes and hair smell like smoke" complaints. Fear not: Official CEA 2010 gasmasks and Hazmat suits are being produced as you read this.

"Lovesick Blues" became the most important song in Hank Williams' career and one of the most influential singles in Country and Pop music history. And it was recorded in downtown Cincinnati on Dec. 22, 1948, at E.T. Herzog Recording Company, on the second floor of 811 Race St. In all, the "father of contemporary Country music" would record eight songs at two sessions at the Herzog studio, including "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Yes, before Nashville had Music Row (and even before King Records made its mark) Cincinnati had Herzog on Race.

Get all the details about Sunday night's CEA show, performers, tickets and special surprises as well as the scoop on the wonderful people who helped to make the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards possible.

Hard to believe it's time to announce the nominees for the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for Music. As with previous years, you determine the winners of 16 public categories by voting online at citybeat.com. Voting continues through early November. Winners of the "big three" categories (Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year) are chosen by our panel of local music experts. Awards will be handed out Nov. 22 at the Madison Theater.