(MEMPHIS, TN) – “The Memphis Cook Convention Center was packed with blues musicians, fans, and music-world luminaries on May 9th anxious to see who would be announced as winners at the 40th Annual Blues Music Awards. For the second consecutive year, Little Steven Van Zandt emceed the festivities, with such notable musicians as Maria Muldaur, Latimore, Colin Linden, Scott Barnhart, Colin James, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Victor Wainwright serving as presenters. Besides awarding honors in 25 categories, the BMAs, as is its tradition, featured performances from many nominees, with the gala ending in a jubilant all-star jam.
The night’s joyful celebration, however, also held a note of sadness. This year’s top award winner was Michael Ledbetter, who passed away in January. Ledbetter was honored with the Instrumentalist-Vocals award and named B.B. King Entertainer of the Year while his group, The Welch-Ledbetter Connection, were victors as the Band of the Year. Additionally, his co-bandleader, Monster Mike Welch, topped the Instrumentalist-Guitar category. At the ceremony, Welch noted of his late musical partner: ‘I am the guitarist I am in 2019 because I had to keep up with Mike Ledbetter.’” … – Blues Foundation
– B.B. King Entertainer of the Year – Michael Ledbetter
– Band of the Year – Welch Ledbetter Connection
– Album of the Year – America’s Child Shemekia Copeland
– Song of the Year – “No Mercy in This Land” Ben Harper
– Koko Taylor Award Traditional Female Artist – Ruthie Foster
– Traditional Blues Male Artist – Nick Moss
– Traditional Blues Album – The Blues is Alive and Well Buddy Guy
– Contemporary Blues Female Artist – Danielle Nicole
– Contemporary Blues Male Artist – Kenny Neal
– Contemporary Blues Album – America’s Child Shemekia Copeland
– Acoustic Artist – Rory Block
– Acoustic Album – Journeys to the Heart of the Blues Joe Louis Walker, Bruce Katz, Giles Robson
– Blues Rock Album – The Big Bad Blues Billy F Gibbons
– Blues Rock Artist – Eric Gales
– Soul Blues Female Artist – Annika Chambers
– Soul Blues Male Artist – Sugaray Rayford
– Soul Blues Album – I’m Still Around Johnny Rawls
– Instrumentalist Vocals – Michael Ledbetter
– Instrumentalist Harmonica – Dennis Gruenling
– Instrumentalist Guitar – Mike Welch
– Instrumentalist Drums – Cedric Burnside
– Instrumentalist Bass – Danielle Nicole Schnebelen
– Instrumentalist Pinetop Perkins Piano Player – Marcia Ball
– Instrumentalist Horn – Vanessa Collier
– Best Emerging Artist Album – Free Amanda Fish
