Sweet Crystal Honored at Detroit Music Awards

Fresh off the national release of its album Three, local Christian Rock band was honored Friday at the Detroit Music Awards at The Fillmore in Detroit. The Plymouth-based band received the 2011 Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Act.

"It feels a little surreal, to be blunt," said Marq Speck of Plymouth, the band's keyboardist. "Here you have a trio of 'classic' rockers that have been playing together for a lot of decades, not just years, and we win an award in a category that has usually gone to such Detroit gospel heavyweights as BeBe and CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin and even the venerable Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

"To be in that category — let alone, take home the award — is still making us smile and shake our heads in wonder," Speck said.

The band, which has been together for 39 years, also includes Steve Wieser of Dexter (drums) and Bill Blatter of White Lake (guitar, vocals).

Speck said receiving the award was an unexpected honor.

"We were seated three stories away from the stage, so we kind of figured we had not won ahead of time. When Sweet Crystal was announced, the three of us looked at each other and realized we had to get down to the stage as fast as possible," Speck recalled.

"What came next was almost a Three Stooges frantic race down three flights of stairs, convincing the bouncer to let us pass to the stage and arriving just as a presenter started accepting our award."

Within minutes of posting the news on the band's Facebook page, congratulations came pouring in from fans across the state.

"Still standing and rockin' better than ever! Congratulations! The three of you deserve it," Lisa Vasquez wrote.

Tammy Karkeet wrote: "I am so proud of the guys in Sweet ... they are still playing the passion and the soul is their writer."

The award adds to the band's growing list of accolades, including songwriting awards from Billboard Magazine and the 2009 Momentum Award for Perseverance — a lifetime achievement award — by the Christian Independent Alliance in Nashville, TN.

"That circle is definitely complete. Now it's time to start a new one," Speck said.

On tap for the band are plans for another album and a special performance May 28 at the Rack N Roll Nightclub, 13634 Sibley Rd. in Trenton, to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project. For more information on the May 28 show, visit www.warriors211.com.

"We take the musicality of '80s arena rock and add the message of hope and salvation that has changed our lives and share it with our listeners," Speck said.

"What we hope is that you will come away from a Sweet Crystal show feeling better about yourself and the direction your life can take," he said. "It's all about raising you up, as we've been lifted up. We always try to play for the benefit of others, and that can be a little unique within the rock music industry."