Juno Awards of 1979
The Juno Awards of 1979, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 21 March 1979 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by Burton Cummings at the Harbour Castle Hilton Convention Centre.
Claudja Barry and Ginette Reno were live performers on the ceremony telecast, seen on CBC Television from 9:30pm Eastern Time. Gino Vannelli and Chilliwack provided videotaped performances.
Pierre Trudeau attended the ceremonies, the first time a Canadian Prime Minister did so. He introduced Hank Snow into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Cummings and Dan Hill led nominations with four each. In an unusual move, Hill was nominated in the "Composer of the Year" category for "Sometimes When We Touch" for the second time as it had sold more than 75,000 copies after the first award at the 1978 Juno ceremony.
This was the first year when Gordon Lightfoot failed to pick up an award, and Anne Murray was not present to claim her two awards. The CBC television broadcast was seen by an estimated 1,827,000 viewers which was down from the year before.
Nominees and winners
Female Vocalist of the Year">Juno Award for Artist of the Year">Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Anne MurrayOther nominees:
- Carroll Baker
- Lisa Dal Bello
- Patsy Gallant
- Joni Mitchell
Male Vocalist of the Year">Juno Award for Artist of the Year">Male Vocalist of the Year
Other nominees:
- Burton Cummings
- Dan Hill
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Neil Young
Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year">Juno Award for New Artist of the Year">Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year
Other nominees:
- Ronney Abramson
- Carolyne Bernier
- Roxanne Goldade
- Denise McCann
Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year">Juno Award for New Artist of the Year">Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year
Other nominees:
- Rick James
- Marc Jordan
- Martin Stevens
- Pat Travers
Group of the Year">Juno Award for Group of the Year">Group of the Year
Other nominees:
- Chilliwack
- Prism
- Triumph
- Trooper
Most Promising Group of the Year">Juno Award for New Group of the Year">Most Promising Group of the Year
Other nominees:
- Max Webster
- Streetheart
- Teaze
- Zon
Composer of the Year">Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year">Composer of the Year
Other nominees:
- Burton Cummings, "Break It to Them Gently" by Burton Cummings
- Nick Gilder & James McCulloch, "Hot Child in the City" by Nick Gilder
- Frank Mills, "Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills
- Brian Smith & Ra McGuire, "Raise a Little Hell" by Trooper
Country Female Vocalist of the Year">Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year">Country Female Vocalist of the Year
Country Male Vocalist of the Year">Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year">Country Male Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Ronnie ProphetCountry Group or Duo of the Year">Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year">Country Group or Duo of the Year
Winner: The Good BrothersFolk Singer of the Year">Juno Award for Folk Artist of the Year">Folk Singer of the Year
Winner: Murray McLauchlanOther nominees:
- Bruce Cockburn
- Dan Hill
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Valdy
[Juno Award for [Instrumental Album of the Year|Instrumental Artist of the Year]]
Other nominees:
- André Gagnon
- Hagood Hardy
- Frank Mills
- Black Light Orchestra
[Jack Richardson [Producer of the Year Award|Producer of the Year]]
Other nominees:
- Matthew McCauley & Fred Mollin, Frozen in the Night by Dan Hill & McCluskey by David McCluskey
- Jack Richardson, Richard T. Bear by Richard T. Bear
- Terry Brown & Rush, Hemispheres by Rush
- Bob Segarini, Gotta Have Pop by Bob Segarini
Recording Engineer of the Year">Juno Award for Recording Engineer of the Year">Recording Engineer of the Year
Other nominees:
- Rick Capreol & Jeff Smith, Special Way by Aura
- David Greene, Unexplored Territory by Canadian Brass
- Andrew Hermant, Frozen in the Night by Dan Hill
- Mike Jones, The Cooper Brothers by The Cooper Brothers
[Canadian Music Hall of Fame]
Nominated and winning albums
Best Selling Album">Juno Award for Album of the Year">Best Selling Album
Winner: Dream of a Child, Burton CummingsOther nominees:
- Carroll Baker, 20 Country Classics
- Gordon Lightfoot, Endless Wire
- Trooper, Thick as Thieves
- Rush, Hemispheres
Best Album Graphics">Juno Award for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year">Best Album Graphics
Other nominees:
- James Hill, The Candelight & Wine Album compilation by CHFI 98.1
- James O'Mara, See Forever Eyes by Prism
- Bob Kroll, Unexplored Territory by Canadian Brass
- William Roberto Wilson, Maneige by Maneige
- Myron Zabol & Gary Muth, Meanwhile Back in Paris by Streetheart
[Juno Award for [Children's Album of the Year|Best Children's Album]]
[Juno Award for Classical [Album of the Year - Solo or Chamber Ensemble|Best Classical Album of the Year]]
Winner: Hindemith; Das Marienleben, Glenn Gould and Roxolana RoslakBest Selling International Album">Juno Award for International Album of the Year">Best Selling International Album
Winner: Saturday Night Fever, Bee GeesBest Jazz Album">Juno Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year">Best Jazz Album
Winner: Jazz Canada Montreux 1978, Tommy Banks Big Band with Guest "Big" Miller- Big Band Jazz, Vol. II — Humber College Jazz Ensemble
- Things Are Looking Up — Moe Koffman
- Bones Blues — Pete Magadini
- More Than Ever — Ted Moses
Comedy Album of the Year">Juno Award for Comedy Album of the Year">Comedy Album of the Year
Other nominees:
- Alden Diehl, Fight On
- Nestor Pistor, Best of Nestor Pistor
- Nestor Pistor, Nestor Pistor for Prime Minister
- Nancy White, Civil Service Songwriter
Nominated and winning releases
Best Selling Single">Juno Award for Best Selling Single">Best Selling Single
Winner: "Hot Child in the City", Nick Gilder- Burton Cummings, "Break It to Them Gently"
- Dan Hill, "Sometimes When We Touch"
- Anne Murray, "You Needed Me"
- Martin Stevens, "Love Is in the Air"
Best Selling International Single">Juno Award for Best Selling Single">Best Selling International Single