2026 Living Blues Award Winners Including Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne

In early July, Living Blues Magazine announced the winners for their 2026 awards. The only Canadian winner was former Burlingtonian Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, who earned the Critics Poll Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) award.

Click here for the full story.

CONGRATS

Below is a complete list of winners. 

* Signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records

Critics' Poll

• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (formerly from Burlington)*
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories, Video above courtesy of Roberto Scorta
  
  
• Comeback Artist of the Year: Maria Muldaur*
• Artist Deserving More Attention: Sean McDonald
• Blues Artist of the Year (Male): John Primer
• Blues Band of the Year: Southern Avenue
• Best Blues Book of 2025: Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King By Preston Lauterbach
• Best Historical Release / Pre-war: Bukka White – Aberdeen Mississippi Blues: Complete Recordings, 1930-1940
• Best Historical Reissue / Postwar: Clifton Chenier – King of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco
• Best Live Performer: Bobby Rush
• Best New Recording / Best Debut Release: Sean McDonald – Have Mercy!
• Best New Recording / Contemporary Blues: Sean McDonald – Have Mercy! 
• Best New Recording / Soul Blues: Johnny Rawls – Make Them Dance
• Best New Recording / Traditional or Acoustic Blues: John Primer – Grown in Mississippi
• Blues Artist of the Year (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Best Blues Album of 2025 (New Recordings): D. K. Harrell: Talkin' Heavy
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Mavis Staples
• Most Outstanding Musician (Bass): Bob Stroger
• Most Outstanding Musician (Drums): Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite
• Most Outstanding Musician (Horns): Vanessa Collier
• Most Outstanding Musician (Other): Sharde Thomas-Mallory (Fife)Most Outstanding Musician (Other): Sharde Thomas-Mallory (Fife)
• Producer of the Year – Historical / Reissue: Adam Machado – King of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco
• Producer of the Year / New Recording: Tom Hambridge – Ain’t Done with the Blues

Readers' Poll

• Best Blues Album of 2025 (New Recordings): Bob Stroger & the Headcutters: Bob is Back!
• Best Blues Album of 2025 (Reissue Recordings): Buddy Guy: This is Buddy Guy
• Best Blues Book of 2025: Inside the Moment: Iconic Blues, Soul, Jazz, Rock, and R&B Images and History By Joseph A. Rosen
• Best Live Performer: Bobby Rush
• Blues Artist of the Year (Male): Bob Stroger
• Blues Band of the Year: Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues
• Blues Artist of the Year (Female): Shemekia Copeland
• Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar): Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite
• Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Marcia Ball
• Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Taj Mahal

Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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Vote for the Living Blues Awards! Deadline is June 15!

Living Blues Magazine has announced the nomineees for their 2026 awards. You can vote for your favourites (even write-ins). Deadline to vote is June 15, 2026.

Below is a complete list of nominees. Canadian acts are bolded.

* Signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard)

• Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (formerly from Burlington) *
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories, Video above courtesy of Roberto Scorta
  
  
• Booker T. Jones
• Jim Pugh
• Roosevelt Purifoy
• Anthony Geraci
• Mitch Woods
• Victor Wainwright
• Marcia Ball
• Ben Levin
• Dave Keyes

Best Blues Album of 2025 (New Recordings)

• Maria Muldaur: One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey *
• Tommy Castro & the Painkillers: Closer to the Bone
• Charlie Musselwhite: Lookout Highway
• D. K. Harrell: Talkin' Heavy
• Buddy Guy: Ain't Done with the Blues
• Bobby Rush and Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Young Fashioned Ways
• John Primer: Grown in Mississippi
• Christone "Kingfish" Ingram: Hard Road
• Candice Ivory: New Southern Vintage
• Larry McCray: Heartbreak City
• Southern Avenue: Family
• Little Freddie King: I Use to Be Down
• Bob Stroger & the Headcutters: Bob is Back!
• Leonard "Lowdown" Brown: Lowdown Street Party
• Jimi "Primetime" Smith: It's My Time
• Kirk Fletcher: Keep on Pushing
• Sean McDonald: Have Mercy!
• Mavis Staples: Sad and Beautiful World
• Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band: Full Circle
• Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo': Room on the Porch

Blues Artist of the Year (Female)

• Dawn Tyler Watson
  
  
  
  Links:  Dawn Tyler Watson, More Dawn Tyler Watson Stories, Video above courtesy of laura carbone
  
  
• Maria Muldaur*
• Rory Block*
• Shemekia Copeland
• Kat Riggins
• Thornetta Davis
• Candice Ivory
• Anne Harris
• Ruthie Foster
• Sierra Green

Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)

• Duke Robillard*
• Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Larry McCray
• John Primer
• Kid Andersen
• Jimmy "Duck" Holmes
• Tommy Castro
• Anthony Paule
• Kirk Fletcher
• Eric Gales

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)

• Kim Wilson*
• Charlie Musselwhite
• Billy Branch
• Bob Corritore
• Wallace Coleman
• Big Harp George
• Brandon Santini
• Rick Estrin
• Jason Ricci
• Omar Coleman

Best Blues Album of 2025 (Reissue Recordings)

• Mississippi John Hurt: Today!
• John Lee Hooker: It Serve You Right to Suffer
• Otis Spann: Walking the Blues
• Lightnin' Hopkins: Lightnin' Strikes
• Buddy Guy: This is Buddy Guy
• Various Artists: High Water Everywhere
• Scrapper Blackwell: Mr. Scrapper's Blues
• Muddy Waters: The Best of Muddy Waters
• Clifton Chenier: King of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco
• Howlin' Wolf: Moanin' in the Moonlight

Best Blues Book of 2025

• Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King By Preston Lauterbach
• Mr. R&B and the Rhythm & Blues Revival: The Story of Jonas Bernholm Part 2 By Jonas Bernholm
• The Life and Music of Booker "Bukka" White: Recalling the Blues By David W. Johnson
• Go Back and Fetch It: Recovering Early Black Music in the Americas for Fiddle and Banjo By Kristina R. Gaddy and Rhiannon Giddens
• Two Headed Doctor: Listening for Ghosts in Dr. John's Gris-gris By David Toop
• Inside the Moment: Iconic Blues, Soul, Jazz, Rock, and R&B Images and History By Joseph A. Rosen
• Fiddling is My Joy: The Fiddle in African American Culture By Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje

Best Live Performer

• John Primer
• Bobby Rush
• Shemekia Copeland
• Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Anne Harris
• Mr. Sipp
• Eric Gales
• Southern Avenue
• Ronnie Baker Brooks
• Sean McDonald

Blues Artist of the Year (Male)

• Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• John Primer
• Bobby Rush
• Mr. Sipp
• Larry McCray
• Taj Mahal
• Bob Corritore
• Ronnie Baker Brooks
• Tommy Castro
• Bob Stroger

Blues Band of the Year

• Southern Avenue
• The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
• Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band
• The Phantom Blues Band
• Memphissippi Sounds
• Mississippi Heat
• Kid Andersen's Greaseland All Stars
• The Nighthawks
• Altered Five Blues Band
• Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues

Most Outstanding Blues Singer

• Taj Mahal
• Shemekia Copeland
• Valerie June
• Sugaray Rayford
• Mud Morganfield
• Mavis Staples
• Oscar Wilson
• Candice Ivory
• Thornetta Davis
• Erica Falls

Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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Previous (Victoria Day Videos)

GOOD LUCK! Artists from Waterdown's Stony Plain Records Nominated for 2022 Living Blues Awards! VOTE NOW! Deadline June 15.

Voting is now open for the 2022 Living Blues Awards. Many talented artists signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records (including Ottawa's Sue Foley) are in the running. The voting survey allows for write ins, so feel free to add your favourites as well.

Click here to vote - deadline is June 15, 2022.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! 

Album (New Recordings)

• Pinky's Blues by Sue Foley (released by Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Sue Foley, More Sue Foley Stories, Video above courtesy of Sue Foley
  
  
• 662 by Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Spider in My Stew by Bob Corritore & Friends
• You Gotta Have It by Tia Carroll
• Living in a Burning House by Selwyn Birchwood
• Now Dig This! by Crystal Thomas
• Be Ready When I Call You by Guy Davis
• Not in My Lifetime by Wee Willie Walker
• Sippnotized by Mr. Sipp
• Dear America by Eric Bibb
• Long as I Got My Guitar by Zac Harmon
• I Be Trying by Cedric Burnside
• Raisin' Cain by Chris Cain
• Surrender by Clarence Spady
• 75 and Alive by Johnny Tucker featuring Kid Ramos and the Allstars

Artist of the Year (Female)

• Sue Foley (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• Maria Muldaur (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Maria Muldaur, More Maria Muldaur Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Roots
  
  
• Mavis Staples
• Rhiannon Giddens
• Tia Carroll
• Shemekia Copeland
• Irma Thomas
• Lindsey Beaver
• Crystal Thomas
• Ana Popovic

Guitar

• Sue Foley (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• Duke Robillard (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Duke Robillard, More Duke Robillard Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Roots
  
  
• Lurrie Bell
• Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Buddy Guy
• Tinsley Ellis
• Mr. Sipp
• Kirk Fletcher
• Jimmy Johnson
• Eric Gales

Keyboard

• Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories,  Video above courtesy of Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne - Topic
  
  
• Roosevelt Purifoy
• Victor Wainwright
• Eden Brent
• Marcia Ball
• Anthony Geraci
• Mitch Woods
• Leon Blue
• Johnny Iguana
• Erwin Helfer

Album (Reissue Recordings)

• The Henry Glover Story (Various Artists)
• Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 1 (Various Artists)
• Down Home Blues: Miami, Atlanta & the South Eastern States – Blues in the Alley (Various Artists)
• Original West Side Chicago Blues Guitar: The Hip Linkchan Story, 1959-1988
• I Love to Jump the Boogie by Eddie "Guitar" Burns
• Chicago / The Blues / Today! (Various Artists)
• R&B in DC 1940-1960: Rhythm & Blues, Doo Wop, Rockin' Rhythm and More (Various Artists) 
• True Genius by Ray Charles
• The Jimmie Vaughan Story
• Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans: Selected Singles As and Bs 1949-1962 by Tommy Ridgley

Artist (Male)

• Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Tommy Castro
• Bobby Rush
• Mr. Sipp
• Taj Mahal
• Sugaray Rayford
• Jimmy Johnson
• Bob Corritore
• Cedric Burnside
• Chris Cain

Book 

• The Last Soul Company: The Malaco Records Story by Rob Bowman
• The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Music and Culture by Chris Thomas King
• The Texas Blues of Smokey Hogg by Guido van Rijn
• Timekeeper: My Life in Rhythm by Howard Grimes with Preston Lauterbach
• I Don't Like the Blues: Race, Place & the Backbeat of Black Life by B. Brian Foster
• I Ain't Studdin' Ya: My American Blues Story by Bobby Rush with Herb Powell
• New York City Blues: Postwar Portraits from Harlem to the Village and Beyond by Larry Simon
• King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King by Daniel de Vise

Harmonica

• Billy Branch
• Bob Corritore
• Phil Wiggins
• Kim Wilson
• Mark Hummel
• Andrew Alli
• Charlie Musselwhite
• Rick Estrin
• Sugar Blue
• Jason Ricci

Live Performer

• Taj Mahal
• Bobby Rush
• Shemekia Copeland
• Buddy Guy
• Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
• Victor Wainwright
• Cedric Burnside
• Crystal Thomas
• Jimmy Johnson
• Mr. Sipp

Singer

• Shemekia Copeland
• Don Bryant
• Trudy Lynn
• Sugaray Rayford
• Mavis Staples
• Diunna Greenleaf
• Crystal Thomas
• John Németh
• Johnny Tucker
• Robert Finley

Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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GOOD LUCK! Artists from Waterdown's Stony Plain Records Up for 2022 Blues Music Awards

Waterdown music label Stony Plain Records is a major player in the global Blues scene. As a result, three of their artists are up for 2022 Blues Music Awards. On May 5, 2022 in Memphis, the winners will be announced.

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!

Below is a complete list of nominees.

Album

• Pinky’s Blues, Sue Foley (released by Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Sue Foley, More Sue Foley Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Blues
  
  
• Holler If You Hear Me, Altered Five Blues Band 
• Not In My Lifetime, Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra 
• Raisin’ Cain, Chris Cain 
• Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town, Tommy Castro

Traditional Blues Album

• Pinky’s Blues, Sue Foley (released by Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• Be Ready When I Call You, Guy Davis 
• Bob Corritore & Friends: Spider In My Stew, Bob Corritore 
• Boogie w/ R.L. Boyce (Live), R.L. Boyce 
• Little Black Flies, Eddie 9V 

Acoustic Blues Album

• Let’s Get Happy Together, Maria Muldaur with Tuba Skinny (released by Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Maria Muldaur, More Maria Muldaur Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Blues

• Dear America, Eric Bibb 
• Land of the Sky, Catfish Keith 
• Let Loose Those Chains, Hector Anchondo 
• The Trio Sessions, EG Kight

Traditional Blues Female Artist

• Sue Foley (currently signed with Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• Rory Block (currently signed with Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Rory Block, More Rory Block Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Blues
  
  
• Rhiannon Giddens 
• Diunna Greenleaf 
• EG Kight

Entertainer

• Tommy Castro 
• Eric Gales 
• Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman) 
• J.P. Soars 
• Sugaray Rayford

Band

• Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra 
• J.P. Soars and the Red Hots 
• Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials 
• Sugaray Rayford Band 
• Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

Song

• “Fragile Peace and Certain War”, written and performed by Carolyn Wonderland
• “Holler If You Hear Me”, written by Jeff Schroedl & Mark Solveson (performed by Altered Five Blues Band)
• “I’d Climb Mountains”, written and performed by Selwyn Birchwood
• “Real Good Lie”, written by Christine Vitale, Larry Batiste, & Anthony Paule (performed by Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra)
• “Somewhere”, written by Tommy Castro & Tom Hambridge (performed by Tommy Castro) 

Emerging Artist Album

• GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It… You Might Like It!, GA-20 
• Just Say The Word, Gabe Stillman 
• Live On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby “Blue” Bland, Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band 
• Welcome To The Land, Memphissippi Sounds 
• You Ain’t Unlucky, Veronica Lewis

Blues Rock Album

• Alafia Moon, Damon Fowler 
• Dance Songs For Hard Times, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band 
• Resurrection, Mike Zito 
• Tinfoil Hat, Popa Chubby 
• Unemployed Highly Annoyed, Jeremiah Johnson

Contemporary Blues Album

• 662, Kingfish 
• Damage Control, Curtis Salgado 
• Holler If You Hear Me, Altered Five Blues Band 
• Raisin’ Cain, Chris Cain 
• Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town, Tommy Castro

Soul Blues Album

• Let’s Have A Party, Gerald McClendon 
• Long As I Got My Guitar, Zac Harmon 
• Not In My Lifetime, Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra 
• You Get What You Give: Duets, Dave Keller 
• You Gotta Have It, Tia Carroll 

Acoustic Blues Artist

• Eric Bibb 
• Kevin Burt 
• Guy Davis 
• Doug MacLeod 
• Keb’ Mo’

Blues Rock Artist

• Albert Castiglia 
• Tommy Castro 
• Tinsley Ellis 
• Ana Popovic 
• Joanne Shaw Taylor

Contemporary Blues Female Artist

• Vanessa Collier 
• Thornetta Davis 
• Ruthie Foster 
• Danielle Nicole 
• Carolyn Wonderland

Contemporary Blues Male Artist

• Selwyn Birchwood 
• Chris Cain 
• Christone “Kingfish” Ingram 
• Kenny Neal 
• Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Soul Blues Female Artist

• Annika Chambers 
• Trudy Lynn 
• Terrie Odabi
• Kat Riggins 
• Vaneese Thomas 

Soul Blues Male Artist

• William Bell 
• Don Bryant 
• John Nemeth 
• Johnny Rawls 
• Curtis Salgado

Traditional Blues Male Artist

• Cedric Burnside 
• Super Chikan 
• Taj Mahal 
• Sugar Ray Norcia 
• Jontavious Willis

Bass

• Willie J. Campbell
• Larry Fulcher
• Jerry Jemmott
• Danielle Nicole
• Scot Sutherland

Drums

• Danny Banks 
• June Core 
• Tom Hambridge 
• Derrick D’Mar Martin 
• Chris Peet

Guitar

• N/A

Harmonica

• Billy Branch 
• Bob Corritore 
• Jason Ricci 
• Brandon Santini 
• Kim Wilson

Horn

• Mindi Abair 
• Jimmy Carpenter 
• Marc Franklin 
• Regi Oliver 
• Nancy Wright

Piano

• Eden Brent 
• Mike Finnigan 
• Dave Keyes 
• Veronica Lewis 
• Jim Pugh

Vocals

• Thornetta Davis 
• Ruthie Foster 
• John Nemeth 
• Sugaray Rayford 
• Curtis Salgado

Links: Blues Music Awards, More Blues Music Awards Stories

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Incredible New Releases from Waterdown's Stony Plain Records! Sue Foley, Steve Marriner, Maria Muldaur

Stony Plain Records (part of Linus Entertainment), is a world-class Roots/Blues/Country music label from Waterdown. 

We'll be occasionally showcasing the fabulous recordings they recently released.

Sue Foley: Pinky's Blues

Released October 22, 2021

Links: Sue Foley, More Sue Foley Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Roots

Steve Marriner: Hope Dies Last

Release July 2, 2021

Links: Steve Marriner, More Steve Marriner Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Roots

Maria Muldaur - Vaccinated and I'm Ready for Love (Single)

Links: Maria Muldaur, More Maria Muldaur Stories, Video above courtesy of Folk Roots and Roots

Links: Stony Plain Records, More Stony Plain Records Stories, More Linus Entertainment Stories, More Releases

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Harrison Kennedy Nominated for Blues Music Award

This year, veteran Hamilton bluesman, Harrison Kennedy,  has received nominations locally (Hamilton Music Awards) and nationally (Maple Blues Awards & the Junos).  Now, the international blues community has bestowed a nomination for the talented singer/songwriter.  He's in the running for Best Acoustic Artist at the Blues Music Awards (put on by the Blues Foundation).  Harrison will have some stuff competition against the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Doug MacLeod, Eric Bibb, and Paul Rishell in this category. The awards will be handed out on May 8th in Memphis, TN.  We wish him lots of luck!  Hamilton already knows that he's a world-class artist.

Below is a video of Harrison Kennedy, courtesy of Electro-Fi Records




Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories

Complete list of nominations.
Acoustic Album

• Billy Boy Arnold Sings Big Bill Broonzy - Billy Boy Arnold
• Blues on Solid Ground - John Primer
• Deeper In The Well - Eric Bibb
• Not Alone - Ann Rabson w/ Bob Margolin
• Talking Guitar - Paul Rishell

Acoustic Artist

• Carolina Chocolate Drops
• Doug MacLeod
• Eric Bibb
• Harrison Kennedy
• Paul Rishell

Album

• And Still I Rise - Heritage Blues Orchestra
• Double Dynamite - The Mannish Boys
• Show of Strength - Michael Burks
• Son of the Seventh Son - Mud Morganfield
• Stronger For It - Janiva Magness

Entertainer

• Curtis Salgado
• Janiva Magness
• Joe Louis Walker
• John Nemeth
• Rick Estrin

Band

• Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials
• Phantom Blues Band
• Rick Estrin & the Nightcats
• Tedeschi Trucks Band
• The Mannish Boys

Best New Artist Debut

• 24 Hour Blues - Charles "CD" Davis
• They Call Me Big Llou - Big LLou Johnson
• Turning On the Naughty - Paula Harris
• Uphill From Anywhere - Brad Hatfield
• Wanna Feel Somethin' - Mary Bridget Davies

Contemporary Blues Album

• Blak & Blu - Gary Clark, Jr.
• Blues Live - John Nemeth
• Candy Store Kid - Ian Siegal & The Mississippi Mudbloods
• Hellfire - Joe Louis Walker
• Show of Strength - Michael Burks
• Stronger For It - Janiva Magness

Contemporary Blues Female Artist

• Bettye LaVette
• Janiva Magness
• Shakura S'Aida
• Shemekia Copeland
• Susan Tedeschi

Contemporary Blues Male Artist

• Gary Clark, Jr.
• Joe Louis Walker
• Michael Burks
• Robert Cray
• Tab Benoit

DVD

• Blackbird Music/55 Arts Club - The Lucky Peterson Band feat.Tamara Peterson Live at the 55 Arts Club Berlin
• Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art/Broke & Hungrey Records - We Juke Up in Here: Mississippi's Juke Joint Culture at the Crossroads
• Delta Groove Records - That's My Thing: Elvin Bishop Live In Concert
• Eagle Rock Entertainment - Muddy Waters & Rolling Stones, Live at Checkerboard Lounge
• J & R Adventures - Beacon Theatre - Joe Bonamassa Live From New York

Guitar

• Derek Trucks
• Joe Bonamassa
• Joe Louis Walker
• Kid Andersen
• Michael Burks

Bass

• Bill Stuve
• Bob Stroger
• Patrick Rynn
• Richard Cousins
• Scot Sutherland
• Willie J. Campbell

Drums

• Cedric Burnside
• Cody Dickinson
• Jimi Bott
• Kenny Smith
• Tony Braunagel

Harmonica

• Billy Boy Arnold
• Bob Corritore
• John Nemeth
• Kim Wilson
• Mark Hummel
• Rick Estrin

Horn

• Al Basile
• Big James Montgomery
• Eddie Shaw
• Sax Gordon
• Terry Hanck

Traditional Blues Female

• Diunna Greenleaf
• Jewel Brown
• Maria Muldaur
• Ruthie Foster
• Tracy Nelson

Piano Player

• Barrelhouse Chuck
• Chuck Leavell
• David Maxwell
• Deanna Bogart
• Mike Finnigan
• Victor Wainwright

Rock Blues Album

• Blues For The Modern Daze - Walter Trout
• Driving Towards The Daylight - Joe Bonamassa
• Everybody's Talkin' - Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Here I Am - Nick Moss
• Royal Southern Brotherhood - Royal Southern Brotherhood

Song

• "I Wont Cry" written by Janiva Magness & Dave Darling - Stronger For It (Janiva Magness)
• "Lemon Pie" written by John Hahn & Oliver Wood - 33 1/3 (Shemekia Copeland)
• "She Didn't Cut Me Loose" written by Curtis Salgado, Marlon McClain & Dave Duncan - Soul Shot (Curtis Salgado)
• "The Devil Ain't Got No Music" written by Matthew Skoller - The Devil Ain't Got No Music (Lurrie Bell)
• "Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey" written by Sam McClain & Pat Herlehy - Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey) (Mighty Sam McClain)

Soul Blues Album

• Blues Heart - Dorothy Moore
• Soul Live - John Nemeth
• Soul Shot - Curtis Salgado
• Soul Survivor - Johnny Rawls
• Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey) - Mighty Sam McClain

Soul Blues Female Artist

• Barbara Carr
• Denise LaSalle
• Dorothy Moore
• Irma Thomas
• Sista' Monica

Soul Blues Male Artist

• Bobby Rush
• Curtis Salgado
• John Nemeth
• Johnny Rawls
• Mighty Sam McClain

Traditional Blues Album

• And Still I Rise - Heritage Blues Orchestra
• Double Dynamite - The Mannish Boys
• Milton Hopkins with Jewel Brown - Milton Hopkins with Jewel Brown
• Son of the Seventh Son - Mud Morganfield
• Spider Eating Preacher - Eddie C. Campbell

Traditional Blues Male Artist

• Bob Margolin
• John Primer
• Lil' Ed
• Magic Slim
• Mud Morganfield

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Blues News Bites (Ginger St. James, Lee Harvey Osmond, Grammys)

Local

• Ginger St. James Blog post
• View Magazine Interview: Jacob Moon
• Lee Harvey Osmond on NPR

World

• Ticketmaster/Live Nation Merger Approved
• Podcasts: Nothing But the Blues #72, Roadhouse #257,  Roadhouse #258, SA Blues #111
• 30th Blues Music Award DVD available (Taj Mahal, BB King, Maria Muldaur, more)
• Stars Celebrate Neil Young
• Blues Grammy Award Winners

Featured Videos

New Lee Harvey Osmond Video Starring Tim Gibbons


Blind Mule in Thunder Bay




Links: Ginger St. James, More Ginger St. James Stories

Local Musicians Up for Maple Blues Awards

Local performers Jack DeKeyzer, Harrison Kennedy, and Steve Strongman have been nominated for the 13th Annual Maple Blues Awards. The event will take place January 18, 2010 at Koerner Hall, Toronto.

Voting opens Friday, October 30th at noon (DST) and is open to Sunday, December 13th at noon (EDT). Blues fans cast their votes online, at www.mapleblues.ca.

Congratulations and good luck!

Here are the nominees:

Entertainer Of The Year
Downchild
Jack DeKeyzer
Little Miss Higgins
Monkey Junk
Shakura S’Aida

Electric Act Of The Year
David Gogo
Garrett Mason
Jack DeKeyzer
Monkey Junk
The Twisters

Acoustic Act Of The Year
Big Dave McLean
Braithwaite & Whiteley
Harrison Kennedy
Harry Manx
Julian Fauth

Male Vocalist Of The Year
Harrison Kennedy
Jim Byrnes
John Mays (Fathead, Maple Blues Revue)
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner (Monkey Junk)

Female Vocalist Of The Year
Jolene “Little Miss” Higgins
Roxanne Potvin
Shakura S'Aida
Suzie Vinnick
Treasa Levasseur

New Artist/Group Of The Year
Blackburn
Blues Delight
Clio & The Blues Highway
Ross Neilsen
Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth

BB King International Artist Of The Year
John Mayall
Maria Muldaur
Taj Mahal
Tommy Castro
Watermelon Slim

Recording Of The Year
Twisters: Come Out Swingin' (NorthernBlues)
Harrison Kennedy: One Dog Barkin' (Electro-Fi)
Jeff Healey: Songs From The Road (Stony Plain)
Paul Reddick: SugarBird (NorthernBlues)
Monkey Junk: Tiger In Your Tank (Beefy)

Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
Alec Fraser
Chris Whiteley
Danny Brooks
Ellen McIlwaine
Joe Murphy
Ken Whiteley
Michael Fonfara
Paul James
Terry Wilkins
Tom Lavin

Guitarist Of The Year
Garrett Mason
Jack DeKeyzer
Steve Dawson (Jim Byrnes)
Steve Strongman
Tony D (Monkey Junk)

Harmonica Player Of The Year
Carlos Del Junco
David Hoerl (The Twisters)
David Rotundo
Jerome Godboo
Steve Marriner (Monkey Junk)

Piano/Keyboard Player Of The Year
Bill Stevenson (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)
Julian Fauth
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
Lance Anderson
Michael Fonfara (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue)

Horn Player Of The Year
Al Lerman (Fathead, Maple Blues Revue)
Chris Murphy (Maple Blues Revue)
Chris Whiteley (Maple Blues Revue)
Johnny Ferreira
Pat Carey (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue)

Drummer Of The Year
Al Cross
Bucky Berger (Fathead)
Chris Nordquist
Geoff Arsenault (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)
Tom Bona (Raoul & The Big Time, Maple Blues Revue)

Bassist Of The Year
Alan Duffy (Jack DeKeyzer)
Alec Fraser (Broken Joe, Jeff Healey)
Gary Kendall (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue, Gary Kendall Band)
Keith Picot (The Twisters)
Tom Easley (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)

Songwriter Of The Year
Brandon Isaak (The Twisters)
Chris Whiteley & Diana Braithwaite
Harrison Kennedy
Paul Reddick
Treasa Levasse