The following are the winners from the 6th annual
San Diego Music Awards, held on August 27, 1996
at 4th & B:
​
Best Contemporary – The Heroes
Best Jazz – Hollis Gentry
Best Pop Jazz – Greyboy Allstars
Best Dixieland – Preservation Revue
Best Latin Jazz – Jaime Valle & Equinox
Best Big Band – Benny Holman Band
Best Folk or Acoustic – Elizabeth Hummel
Best Funk – Goldfish
Best Americana or Country – Glenn Jeffrey Band
Best Blues – Mississippi Mudsharks
Best World Beat – Big Mountain
Best Alternative – Liquid Groove
Best Ska or Punk – Unwritten Law
Best Rock – Sprung Monkey
Best Rock Album – The Dragons: Pain Killer
Best Jazz or Blues Album – Jaime Valle: Different World
Best Local Recording – Loam: Stereoscopic
Best Compilation Album – Supermixer
Best New Artist – Almighty Ultrasound
Best Alternative Album – Rocket From The Crypt: RFTC
Best Pop Album – rust: Bar Chord Ritual
Artist of the Year – Jewel
Group of the Year – Greyboy Allstars