MEMPHIS, TN – The 36th Blues Music Awards took place before a sell-out crowd of 1500 in downtown Memphis Thursday night May 8. The evening began at a 5:30pm reception with nominees Austin Walkin’ Cane and Annika Chambers performing and it ended after midnight. During the course of the evening, 24 Blues Music Award winners were announced and the show featured 20 ten-minute sets, including one by Blues Hall of Famers John Hammond and Charlie Musselwhite, as well as Keb’ Mo’ and Elvin Bishop, among others. Bishop was the evening’s big winner as he took home three Blues Music Awards on the strength of his Can’t Even Do Wrong Right release which took top song and album honors. His band was voted best band by Blues Foundation members. Hammond and Bobby Rush each won two Blues Music Awards.
During the course of the evening, Tommy Brown, Eric Clapton and Little Richard were inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Fans didn’t get much down time as it most of those 1500 BMA attendees visited the Blues Hall of Fame as well.
Here is the complete list of winners:
1. Acoustic Album: Timeless – John Hammond
2. Acoustic Artist: John Hammond
3. Album: Can’t Even Do Wrong Right – Elvin Bishop
4. B.B. King Entertainer: Bobby Rush
5. Band: Elvin Bishop Band
6. Best New Artist Album: Don’t Call No Ambulance – Selwyn Birchwood
7. Contemporary Blues Album: BluesAmericana – Keb’ Mo’
8. Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Janiva Magness
9. Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Gary Clark Jr.
10. Historical: Soul & Swagger: The Complete “5” Royales 1951-1967 – The “5” Royales (Rock Beat)
11. Instrumentalist-Bass: Lisa Mann
12. Instrumentalist-Drums: Jimi Bott
13. Instrumentalist-Guitar: Joe Bonamassa
14. Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite
15. Instrumentalist-Horn: Deanna Bogart
16. Koko Taylor Award: Ruthie Foster
17. Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Marcia Ball
18. Rock Blues Album: Step Back – Johnny Winter
19. Song: “Can’t Even Do Wrong Right” written and performed by Elvin Bishop
20. Soul Blues Album: Memphis Grease – John Németh
21. Soul Blues Female Artist: Sista Monica
22. Soul Blues Male Artist: Bobby Rush
23. Traditional Blues Album: For Pops (A Tribute to Muddy Waters) – Mud Morganfield & Kim Wilson
24. Traditional Blues Male Artist: Lurrie Bell
Here are some photo displays.
From Joe Dempsey (whose photos we’ve featured in this article): link 1 – link 2
From Dom Forcella
From Roger Stephenson
