Born Otha Ellas Bates on December 30, 1928, in McComb, Mississippi, to a 15 or 16 year-old mother, Mr. Diddley was raised by a cousin, Gussie McDaniel. While still a young child, he and his family moved to Chicago, and he officially adopted the surname McDaniel.

In Chicago, Mr. Diddley discovered other delta transplants including Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, whom he grew to idolize. His stepsister Lucille gave him a guitar for Christmas in 1940, when he was almost 12 years-old.

As a young man in the early 1950s, he assumed the stage name Bo Diddley, and he proceeded to record more than two dozen albums for the legendary Chess label family. His signature rhythm - often described as "shave and a haircut, two bits" - innovatively bridged deep blues and rhythm and blues, laying the quintessential groundwork for bourgeoning rock 'n' roll. The new sound's eventual icons including the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Elvis Presley emulated, borrowed from and openly worshipped Diddley's music.

When the Beatles first fielded questions from the media on American soil in 1964, John Lennon proclaimed he was most excited about seeing Bo Diddley in the flesh.

His masterful songs including "Hey, Bo Diddley," "I'm a Man," "Love is Strange," "Bo Diddley (My Story)" and "Before You Accuse Me" traversed raw love, pain and life with singular wit and candor.

In addition to his trendsetting as a songwriter and percussional guitar stylist, Mr. Diddley's incomparable contributions include innovative, homemade amplifiers, experimentation with guitar tone and influential staccato vocal delivery. His enthralling live performances are also legendary.

On June 6, Congress passed a resolution honoring the legendary rock 'n' roll star, "Saluting the life and music of the late Otha Ellas 'Bo Diddley' Bates, guitar virtuoso and rock and roll pioneer, whose music continues to influence generations of musicians."

A longtime BMI songwriter, Bo Diddley has been the recipient of two BMI R&B Awards, a Pop Award and two Million-Air citations. He was named a BMI Icon in May 2002.

Shown are (l to r): BMI's Malik Levy and Charlie Feldman, son Cheaa Mayfield, Altheida Mayfield, BMI's Phil Graham and son Kirk Mayfield, with BMI's Catherine Brewton, David Claassen and Nicole Plantin.

Founded in 1985, Hollywood's RockWalk at the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard is the only sidewalk gallery dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of rock and roll, blues and r&b. The handprints and signatures of inductees will reside in bronze alongside other equally accomplished musicians and innovators including Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Brian Wilson, Aerosmith, Herbie Hancock, Elvis Presley, Queen, the Black Crowes, Dick Clark, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, KISS, Les Paul, John Lee Hooker and Smokey Robinson.

Altheida Mayfield, flanked by sons Cheaa (left) and Kirk (right), praises her late husband's achievements.

Photos by Marlene Meraz

Founded in 1985, Hollywood's RockWalk on Sunset Boulevard is the only sidewalk gallery dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of rock and roll, blues and r&b. Their handprints and signatures will reside alongside other equally accomplished musicians and innovators including Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Brian Wilson, Aerosmith, Herbie Hancock, Elvis Presley, Queen, the Black Crowes, Dick Clark, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, KISS, Les Paul, John Lee Hooker, Smokey Robinson and others.

“The music I was raised on had heat. Energy. That feeling of aggression,” he declares. “The music of today seems so washed out and generic. To get ’em back, we needed to stick the real soul, that punk element back into it.”

Whether on the soul-baring “Speak to Me,” the richly textural “Bus Ride” or the plainspoken drug tale “Dope,” DeLuca, his Dobro steel guitar and his band The Burden deliver a searingly mesmerizing sound that’s hard to shake.

No surprise, then, to find that the cliché about music “being in his blood” is more truthful than usual: His father was a touring guitarist for such notable blues acts as Bo Diddley. “I remember he and my uncles would have these late-night jam sessions and I would hang out with them and then end up crawling into Uncle Joe’s bass drum and falling asleep to the drone,” he grins.

DeLuca himself eventually became a local opener throughout his native southern California for Taj Mahal and John Lee Hooker before graduating to a two-year residency at L.A.’s Gypsy Lounge..

A demo caught the ears of Jude Cole and 24 star Kiefer Sutherland, who signed DeLuca to their Ironworks label in 2005; Cole produced the album, while Sutherland shepherded DeLuca and his band on their first international press tour — a sometimes chaotic affair — as recorded in a 2006 documentary also titled I Trust You to Kill Me.

Slowly, steadily, DeLuca is making a name for himself. “You’ve gotta die a few times and be fierce enough to fall,” he asserts. “I’ve fallen on my face many times. But it’s those times and battle scars that make my music what it is today.”

The event was held on May 10th at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee before an enthusiastic crowd. In addition to the awards ceremony, more than25 performances by leading blues musicians took place over nearly 8 hours of dynamic entertainment.

The evening’s top winner of the night was Memphis native son and harmonica wizard Charlie Musselwhite. His current release, Delta Hardware, won Album of the Year and Traditional Blues Album of the Year, while the track “Church Is Out” was named Song of the Year; Musselwhite won Best Instrumentalist –Harmonica as well.

Other multiple winners included two Louisiana leading lights: Big Easy vocalist Irma Thomas won Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year and Soul Blues Album of the Year for her current release, After the Rain. Guitarist Tab Benoit took home Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year and B.B. King was named Entertainer of the Year. Both Thomas and Benoit spoke of the on-going need for support of those in their home state, still devastated by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The complete list of winners follows. For further information on the Blues Music Awards and the Blues Foundation consult http://www.blues.org

2007 Blues Music Awards Recipients

Charlie Musselwhite
Album of the Year: Delta Hardware
Traditional Blues Album of the Year: Delta Hardware
Song of the Year: “Church Is Out”
Instrumentalist: Harmonica

Irma Thomas
Soul Blues Album of the Year: After the Rain
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year

Tab Benoit
B. B. King Entertainer of the Year
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year

Jerry Lee Lewis
Comeback Album of the Year: Last Man Standing

Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year

Etta James
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year

David “Honeyboy” Edwards
Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year

Rory Block
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year: The Lady and Mr. Johnson

Marcia Ball
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year

Bobby Rush
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year

John Lee Hooker
Historical Album of the Year: Hooker

Guitar Shorty
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year: We The People

Janiva Magness
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year

Hubert Sumlin
Instrumentalist: Guitar

Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
Instrumentalist: Drums

Eddie Shaw
Instrumentalist – Horn

Robert Randolph
Instrumentalist – Other

Slick Ballinger
Best New Artist Debut Album

Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
Band of the Year

Charlie Musselwhite	Nick Moss	Guy Davis

Leading the list of BMI blues giants was harp player Charlie Musselwhite, who took home an impressive five nominations that included Album of the Year and Traditional Blues Album of the Year for his acclaimed Delta Hardware, as well as Song of the Year for "Church Is Out."

Irma Thomas	Big George Brock	Bobby Rush

Guitarist Nick Moss and his band the Flip Flops earned four nods, including Band of the Year and an individual mention for Moss in the instrumentalist catagory. Coming in with three nominations apiece were Guy Davis, Lil' Ed, Janiva Magness, Irma Thomas and Big George Brock, who is up for Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year.

James Hunter	Marcia Ball	Kim Wilson

Double nominees included acoustic blues artist Rory Block, veteran harpist Bobby Rush, British newcomer James Hunter (PRS), singer/pianist Marcia Ball and harmonica master Kim Wilson.

R&B pioneer Ruth Brown, who died Nov. 17, 2006, was posthumously nominated for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year, along with singing legend Etta James and Chicago blues vocalist Zora Young.

BMI's 2007 Blues Music Award Nominees

Acoustic Album of the Year
Bob Brozman - Blues Reflex
Guy Davis - Skunkmello
Rory Block - The Lady and Mr. Johnson

Acoustic Artist of the Year
David "Honeyboy" Edwards
Paul Oscher
Rory Block
Guy Davis

Album of the Year
Charlie - Delta Hardware
Irma Thomas - After the Rain
Janiva Magness - Do I Move You?
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops - Live at Chan's

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Bobby Rush
Tab Benoit
Lil' Ed

Band of the Year
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
Magic Slim & the Teardrops

Best New Artist Debut
James Hunter (PRS) - People Gonna Talk
Slick Ballinger - Mississippi Soul

Comeback Album of the Year
Chicago Bob Nelson - Flyin' Too High
Jeremy Spencer - Precious Little
Jerry Lee Lewis - Last Man Standing

Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year
Marcia Ball
EG Kight
Barbara Blue
Janiva Magness
Shemekia Copeland

Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Janiva Magness - Do I Move You?
Guitar Shorty - We the People
John Mooney - Big Ol' Fiya

Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year
Kim Wilson
Tab Benoit
Guitar Shorty
Ronnie Baker Brooks

Historical Album of the Year
Junior Wells - Live at Theresa's 1975
Hollywood Fats Band - Larger Than Life
Otis Rush - All Your Love I Miss Loving (Live at the Wise Fools Pub
Chicago)
Freddie King - Live at the Electric Ballroom 1974
John Lee Hooker - Hooker

Instrumentalist-Bass
Bob Stroger
Bill Stuve

Instrumentalist-Drums
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
Richard Innes

Instrumentalist-Guitar
Duke Robillard
Kid Ramos
Lurrie Bell
Nick Moss
Guitar Shorty
Hubert Sumlin

Instrumentalist-Harmonica
Charlie Musselwhite
Kim Wilson
Mark Hummel
Billy Branch
Big George Brock
James Harman
Mitch Kashmar

Instrumentalist-Horn
Deanna Bogart
Kaz Kazanoff
Calvin Owens
Eddie Shaw
Doug James
Greg Piccolo

Instrumentalist-Other
Robert Randolph - Steel Guitar
Otis Taylor - Banjo
Guy Davis - Banjo

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year
Mitch Woods
Marcia Ball
Floyd Dixon
Henry Butler
Dr. John
Honey Piazza

Song of the Year
"Icicles in My Meat Loaf" - Ed Williams, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
"Church is Out" - Charlie Musselwhite, Charlie Musselwhite
"Baptized in Dirty Water" - Chris Thomas King, Chris Thomas King

Soul Blues Album of the Year
Frankie Lee - Standing at the Crossroads
Irma Thomas - After the Rain
Jackie Payne & Steve Edmonson Band - Master of the Game
Johnny Rawls - Heart & Soul
Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra - I Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog No More
James Hunter (PRS) - People Gonna Talk
Trudy Lynn - I'm Still Here

Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year
Irma Thomas
Trudy Lynn
Sugar Pie DeSanto

Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush
Frankie Lee
Mighty Sam McClain
Solomon Burke
Jackie Payne

Traditional Blues Album of the Year
Charlie Musselwhite - Delta Hardware
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops - Live at Chan's
Big George Brock - Round Two

Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year
Zora Young
Etta James
Ruth Brown

Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
Charlie Musselwhite
Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Big George Brock

Her mentor was James Baldwin; he learned the fine points of guitar playing looking over Muddy Waters's shoulder. As a teen in the '80s, she gave up guitar playing soon after she started because it was such a white-guy thing; he encouraged her to go back to playing. She encouraged him to write about his years playing harmonica in Waters band.

She is playwright fellow Suzan-Lori Parks; he is bluesman Paul Oscher, who joined Waters in 1967 and also spent a fair amount the next five years looking over piano player Otis Spann's shoulder. Their mantle boasts her two Obies, a Pulitzer and a MacArthur "Genius" grant alongside his two 2006 Blues Music Awards (previously the W.C. Handy Awards) for Down in the Delta. He was also featured on Hubert Sumlin's 2006 Blues Music Awards' winning album About Them Shoes along with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Levon Helm.

"When I was a young man, I played other peoples blues. Now that I'm older, I write and play my own and when I play a blues classic, I put my own stamp on it," Oscher explains about his journey through the deep blues.

His recollections of four decades spent playing with such artists as John Lee Hooker, Earl Hooker, Son House, Fred McDowell, Lightning Hopkins, T-Bone Walker, Albert King, Magic Sam, Johnny Copeland, Victoria Spivey, Big Mama Thornton, Keb Mo' and Mos Def were published in the book that accompanied Martin Scorcese's PBS series, The Blues.

Parks worked with Oprah on Their Eye's Were Watching God, with Spike on Girl 6, with Disney for a project on the Harlem Globe Trotters, and with the producers of Ray for a Broadway version. Her book tour for Getting Mother's Body has been equal parts writing seminar, career counseling and blues performance — she jokes about adding snake-handling.

"I had the brains to marry a guitar player, so he's a big inspiration," Parks explains. "When I wrote the songs to Getting Mother's Body, and I was going on a book tour, he was like, 'Take your guitar, bring the music to the people!' So I started doing it in public."

The perfect couple.]]> 2006-10-17T19:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334975 Cachao, Douglas, Jerry, Hooker, John Lee, King, B.B., Lawson, Doyle, Monroe, Bill, Roots, The, Scruggs, Earl, Stanley, Ralph, Staples, Mavis, Stuart, Marty, Taylor, Koko, Walker, Albertina, Bluegrass, Blues, Country, Folk, Gospel, Pop, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Urban National Endowment for the Arts has awarded the National Heritage Fellowships to noted individuals in the folk and traditional arts for "their artistic excellence, cultural authenticity and contributions to their field." Virtually every one of the award winners who writes songs is a member of BMI.

Past musical recipients of the National Heritage Fellowships include B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Doc Watson and Bill Monroe. This noteworthy list of more than 60 individuals and groups includes representatives of the blues, gospel, bluegrass, Tejano and Cajun fields. Its diversity illustrates BMI's dedication to the roots of American music and the nation's cultural heritage.

BMI's 2006 NEA National Heritage Fellowship recipients:

Henry Gray is a widely respected blues pianist from Baton Rouge, La. He played keyboards in the legendary Howlin' Wolf band for 12 years (1956-68) before retuning to his native Louisiana and becoming one of the best known players in the Gulf region. His numerous albums illustrate his notable "swamp-blues" style. photo: Brian Smith

Doyle Lawson of Bristol, Tenn., is one of the most respected bluegrass and gospel performers in the field. He began playing professionally at the age of 11, and joined ensembles led by Jimmy Martin and J.D. Crowe, as well as the Country Gentlemen. In 1979, he founded the band Quicksilver, which has won the coveted Vocal Group of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association for the last five years.

Mavis Staples has been a powerhouse vocalist in the gospel and r&b fields for nearly 50 years. She formed the Staples Singers along with her siblings and late father Roebuck "Pop" Staples (a 1998 Fellowship recipient). Chart-topping songs such as "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" on Memphis's Stax Records possess countless fans. In recent years as a solo artist, she has collaborated with Prince, Bob Dylan and Marty Stuart.

Complete list of BMI National Heritage Fellowship recipients:

Francisco Aguabella [1992]
Afro-Cuban drummer
Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Alfonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin [1986]
African-American Creole Accordionist
Eunice, La.

Pedro Ayala [1988]
Mexican-American accordionist
Donna, Texas

Kenny Baker [1993]
Bluegrass fiddler
Cottonwood, Tenn.

Dewey Balfa [1982]
Cajun fiddler
Basile, La.

Eddie Blazonczyk [1998]
Polish-American Musician/Bandleader
Bridgeview, Ill.

Charles Brown [1997]
Blues pianist & composer
Berkeley, Ca.

Chuck Brown [2005]
African-American musical innovator
Brandywine, Md.

Michael Burke [2001]
Irish Fiddler
Portland, Ore.

Liz Carroll [1994]
Irish-American fiddler
Chicago, Ill.

Rapael Cepeda [1983]
Bomba musician/dancer
Santurce, Puerto Rico

Wilson "Boozoo" Chavis [2001]
Credo Zydeco accordionist
Lake Charles, La.

Clifton Chenier [1984]
Creole accordionist
Lafayette, La.

Joseph Cormier [1984]
Cape Bretton accordionist
Waltham, Mass.

Elizabeth Cotton [1984]
African-American songster/songwriter
Syracuse, N.Y.

Luderin Darbon/Edwin Duhon [2002]
Cajun fiddler and accordionist
Sulphur, La./Westlake, La.

Dixie Hummingbirds [2000]
African-American gospel quartet
Philadelphia, Pa.

Michael Doucet [2005]
Cajun fiddler, composer and band leader
Lafayette, La.

Jerry Douglas [2004]
Dobro player
Nashville, Tenn.

David "Honeyboy" Edwards [2002]
Blues guitarist/singer
Chicago, Ill.

Fairfield Four [1989]
African-American acapella gospel singers
Nashville, Tenn.

Canray Fontenot [1986]
African-American creole fiddler
Welsh, La.

Clarence Fountain & the Blind Boys [1994]
African-American gospel singers
Atlanta, Ga.

Johnny Gimble [1994]
Angle western swing fiddler
Dripping Springs, Texas

Henry Gray [2006]
Blues piano player, singer
Baton Rouge, La.

Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero [1991]
Mexican-American singer/guitarist/composer
Cathedral City, Calif.

Juan Gutierrez [1996]
Puerto Rican drummer
New York, N.Y.

John Lee Hooker [1983]
Blues guitarist/singer
San Carlos, Calif.

John Jackson [1986]
African-American songster/guitarist
Fairfax, Va.

Wanda Jackson [2005]
Early country, rockabilly and gospel singer
Oklahoma City, Okla.

Santiago Jimenez, Jr. [2000]
Tejano accordionist/singer
San Antonio, Texas

Bessie Jones [1982]
Georgia Sea Island singer
Brunswick, Ga.

Raymond Kane [1987]
Hawaiian slack key guitarist/singer
Wai'anae, Hawaii

Ali Akbar Khan [1997]
North Indian sarod player & raga composer
San Anselmo, Calif.

Riley "B.B." King [1991]
African-American bluesman
Itta Bena, Miss./Las Vegas, Nev.

Doyle Lawson [2006]
Gospel and bluegrass singer, arranger, bandleader
Bristol, Tenn.

Robert Jr. Lockwood [1995]
African-American delta blues guitarist
Cleveland, Ohio

Valerio Longoria [1986]
Mexican-American accordionist
San Antonio, Texas

Israel "Cachao" Lopez [1995]
Afro-Cuban bassist/composer/band leader
Miami, Fla.

Albert "Sunnyland Slim" Luandrew [1988]
African-American blues pianist/singer
Chicago, Ill.

Wade Mainer [1987]
Appalachian banjo picker/singer
Flint, Mich.

Brownie McGhee [1982]
Blues guitarist
Oakland, Calif.

Jim & Jesse McReynolds [1997]
Bluegrass musicians
Gallatin, Tenn.

D.L. Menard [1994]
Cajun musician/songwriter
Erath, La.

Lydia Mendoza [1983]
Mexican-American singer
Houston, Texas

Bill Monroe [1983]
Nashville, Tenn.

Jack Owens [1993]
Blues singer/guitarist
Betonia, Miss.

Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins [2000]
Blues piano player
La Porte, Ind.

Ola Belle Reed [1986]
Appalachian banjo picker/singer
Rising Sun, Md.

Domingo "Mingo" Saldivar [2002]
Conjunto accordionist
San Antonio, Texas

Earl Scruggs [1989]
Bluegrass banjo player
Madison, Tenn.

Simon Sheheen [1994]
Arab-American oud player
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Ralph Stanley [1983]
Appalachian banjo player/singer
Coeburn, Va.

Mavis Staples [2006]
Gospel, rhythm & blues singer
Chicago, Ill.

Roebuck "Pops" Staples [1998]
African-American gospel/blues musician
Dolton, Ill.

Koko Taylor [2004]
Blues musician
Chicago, Ill.

Sanders "Sonny" Terry [1983]
Blues musician
Holliswood, N.Y.

Henry Townsend [1985]
Blues musician/singer
St. Louis, Mo.

Othar Turner [1992]
African-American fife player
Senatobia, Miss.

Albertina Walker [2005]
Gospel singer
Chicago, Ill.

Don Walser [2000]
Western singer/guitarist
Austin, Texas

Arthel "Doc" Watson [1988]
Appalachian guitar player/singer
Deep Gap, N.C.

Claude "The Fiddler" Williams [1998]
African-American jazz/swing fiddler
Kansas City, Mo.

Dewey Williams [1983]
Shape note singer
Ozark, Ala.

Nimrod Workman [1986]
Appalachian ballad singer
Mascot, Tenn./Chattaroy, W.V.]]> 2006-09-11T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334889 Artists, Black Crowes, The, Burnett, T-Bone, Guy, Buddy, Hancock, Herbie, Hayes, Isaac, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Hooker, John Lee, Jennings, Waylon, Kristofferson, Kris, Musical Styles, Country Kris Kristofferson and the late Waylon Jennings into the Hollywood RockWalk in Los Angeles. BMI country singer/songwriter Jessi Colter, Jennings' wife, accepted the posthumous induction in his honor.

Shown at the induction ceremony are Waylon Jennings' wife Jessi Colter, BMI's Barbara Cane, RockWalk inductee Kris Kristofferson, BMI's Tracie Verlinde, BMI songwriter/producer T-Bone Burnett and BMI's Joe Maggini.

The ceremony included an endearing speech by celebrated BMI singer/songwriter T-Bone Burnett about his long-time friends and colleagues, Kristofferson and Jennings. Kristofferson, one of country music's most influential songwriters, is best known for hits like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down." Jennings' musical legacy is a staple in American country music, with credits that include the hit "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys." Jennings died in 2002 in his home in Chandler, Ariz.

Founded in 1985, Hollywood's RockWalk is a sidewalk gallery on Sunset Boulevard that pays homage to those musicians and innovators who have made a significant and lasting impact on rock 'n roll, including such creatively diverse individuals and groups as Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Aerosmith, Herbie Hancock, Queen, The Black Crowes, Dick Clark, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, KISS, Les Paul, John Lee Hooker and Smokey Robinson.]]> 2006-07-09T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334816 Ball, Marcia, Benoit, Tab, Brown, Clarence "Gatemouth", Cropper, Steve, Doggett, Bill, Guy, Buddy, Hooker, John Lee, James, Etta, King, B.B., Little Milton, Magness, Janiva, Milton, Roy, Muddy Waters, Musselwhite, Charlie, Oscher, Paul, Robinson, Bobby, Rush, Bobby, Sanjek, David, Shaw, Eddie, Thornton, Big Mama, Wexler, Jerry, Wilson, Kim, Blues, Blues Music Awards Blues Music Awards, held May 11 in Memphis. Presented by the Blues Foundation and co-sponsored by BMI, the Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards, celebrate excellence in the performance and recording of the blues, and is the highest honor bestowed upon artists in the genre.

Blues Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Robinson is congratulated by BMI's David Sanjek

This year's ceremony featured a tribute to the late and beloved Little Milton Campbell, who received four posthumous awards: Album of the Year, Soul Blues Album of the Year, Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for the title track of his last recording, Think of Me. His widow, Pat Campbell, truly touched the audience as she accepted her husband's awards.

BMI's David Sanjek joins BMI songwriter Steve Cropper at the awards ceremony

Time-tested musician Paul Oscher, who played harmonica alongside Muddy Waters in the 1960s, picked up two awards and was named Acoustic Artist of the Year, while his Down in the Delta earned the Acoustic Album of the Year nod.

Blues Hall of Fame inductee Joe Bihari and BMI's David Sanjek

First-time honors went to saxophonist Eddie Shaw and legendary songwriter and sideman Al Kooper. The B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award was awarded to Buddy Guy.

The 2006 inductions into the Blues Hall of Fame were also presented on May 11, with a full slate of individuals, albums, books and songs chosen for the prestigious honor. This year's inductees included many BMI songwriters in the blues community: performers Bobby Rush and Roy Milton; producers Bobby Robinson, the Bihari Brothers and Jerry Wexler; vocalists Etta James and Big Mama Thornton; and instrumentalist Bill Doggett.

A highlight of the ceremony was the appearance of legendary music business entrepreneurs Bobby Robinson and Joe Bihari. Robinson, now in his 80s, still runs a record store on Harlem's 125th Street and manages a number of labels, including the Fire and Fury imprints. He was instrumental in such releases as Elmore James's "The Sky is Crying" and Wilber Harrison's "Kansas City." The Bihari Brothers - Joe, Jules, Lester and Saul - ran the California-based Modern label, whose illustrious roster included B.B. King, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Ike Turner and many others.

BMI's 2006 Blues Music Award winners:

Acoustic Album of the Year
Paul Oscher
Down in the Delta

Acoustic Artist of the Year
Paul Oscher

Album of the Year
Little Milton
Think of Me

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Buddy Guy

Band of the Year
Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers

Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Tab Benoit
Fever for the Bayou

Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year
Janiva Magness

Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year
Kim Wilson

Historical Album of the Year
Muddy Waters
Hoochie Coochie Man: Complete Chess Recordings, Volume 2,
1952-1958

Instrumentalist - Drums
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Charlie Musselwhite

Instrumentalist - Horn
Eddie Shaw

Instrumentalist - Other
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year
Marcia Ball

Song of the Year
"Think of Me"
Jon Tiven, Milton Campbell, Pete Shoulder

Soul Blues Album of the Year
Little Milton
Think of Me

Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year
Little Milton

Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year
Etta James

Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
B.B. King

BMI's 2006 Hall of Fame inductees:

Performer
Bobby Rush
Roy Milton

Non-Performer
Bobby Robinson
Jerry Wexler
Joe, Jules, Lester and Saul Bihari

Classics of Blues Recordings - Albums
Etta James
Tell Mama (Cadet)

Classics of Blues Recordings - Singles
Big Mama Thornton
"Hound Dog" (Peacock)
Bill Doggett
"Honky Tonk, Parts 1 & 2" (King)