In 1993 the Houston Press Music Readers Poll included for the first time categories for individual instrumentalists as well as types of bands. The first winner in the new Best Piano/Keyboards category was Ezra Charles, referred to as "Master Pianist" in the Houston Press award ceremony write-up.

When Ezra won his second Best Piano/Keyboardist Readers Poll Award in 1994, the Houston Press called him "the Paul Schafer of Houston," in reference to the band's Rockets gig and stated,"Ezra Charles has made his mark on Houston many times, and in many ways, over the course of a long career."

In 1998 The Houston Blues Society invited the band to participate in a city-wide Blues Talent Search. Preliminary rounds were conducted at four different clubs to narrow the entries from about eighty bands to twelve finalists. After winning a first round at The Big Easy, at the final contest at Dan Electro's, Ezra Charles and His Band were voted the Third Place Award by the judges. In view of the fact that practically every blues talent in the Houston area was represented in this contest, the band was delighted to be named to the top three. In addition to the etched glass plaque, the award also carried with it a Star-Wars style neck ribbon and medallion awarded on the spot, which Ezra insisted on wearing out to the victory dinner that night.

1999 brought yet another nomination and win for Ezra in the Houston Press Readers Poll. This is one heavy piece of sculpture weighing in at about ten pounds!

Here's the most bizarre trophy in our collection. Way back in 1983, the first year of the band's existence, before the band even had a horn section, we were invited to participate in a band contest sponsored by Gulf Freeway Toyota.	It was kind of a pushover, since we were essentially the only professional act that showed up. Still, we got a trophy that stands about 3 feet high, and $1000 for our efforts on a very hot afternoon.