Bobby Rush (left) shows off one of his new trophies with BMI's Thomas Cain (right).

Bobby Rush's wins for Acoustic Blues Artist and Album of the Year arrived on the strength of his 2007 release, Raw, while Irma Thomas earned the Soul Blues - Female Artist of the Year crown. Koko Taylor's slew of trophies underscored her continued relevance: Traditional Blues - Female Artist, Blues Song and Traditional Blues Album of the Year all went to the "Queen of the Blues."

BMI's Thomas Cain (far left) snaps a photo with winners The Holmes Brothers.

In addition to a Contemporary Blues Album of the Year win for Painkiller, acclaimed vocalist and guitarman Tommy Castro received the prestigious B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award, while the coveted Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year Award went to Honey Piazza. The Holmes Brothers' State of Grace also garnered Soul Blues Album of the Year honors for the beloved group, while musicians Robert Randolf, Bob Stroger, Kim Wilson, Bob Margolin and Deanna Bogart all took home awards touting mastery of their respective instruments.

Performer and nominee Ruthie Foster (left) pauses for a shot with BMI's Thomas Cain (right).

The night prior to the Blues Awards event, the Blues Foundation held its induction ceremony for the Blues Hall of Fame, honoring the individual achievements of guitarists Hubert Sumlin and Johnny "Guitar" Watson, pianist Jimmy McCracklin, singer Jimmy Weatherspoon, pre-WWII string band the Mississippi Sheiks, and country blues performer Peetie Wheatstraw.

BMI's Thomas Cain (left) and bassist of the year Bob Stroger (right) smile for the camera.

The Blues Foundation was formed in Memphis in 1980 as a non-profit organization to preserve the rich heritage of the blues and promote excellence in blues music. Consisting of over 160 affiliated organizations worldwide, The Blues Foundations sponsors the annual Blues Music Awards, The International Blues Challenge, and the organization's "Blues In The Schools" educational program. For more information on the foundation's programs and history, please visit www.blues.org.

Pictured are (l to r): the Kilborn Alley Blues Band's Chris Breen, Abraham Johnson, Blues Foundation's Jay Sieleman and BMI's Thomas Cain.

All BMI 2008 Blues Awards Winners

Individual Award Winners
Acoustic Blues - Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush

Contemporary Blues - Male Artist of the Year
Tab Benoit

Soul Blues - Male Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush

Soul Blues - Female Artist of the Year
Irma Thomas

Traditional Blues - Female Artist of the Year
Koko Taylor

Traditional Blues - Male Artist of the Year
Hubert Sumlin

Blues Instrumentalists
Best Instrumentalist - Bass
Bob Stroger

Best Instrumentalist - Guitar
Bob Margolin

Best Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Kim Wilson

Best Instrumentalist - Horn
Deanna Bogart

Best Instrumentalist - Pedal Steel
Robert Randolph

Award-Winning Recordings
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
Bobby Rush - Raw (Deep Rush Records)

Blues Song of the Year
Koko Taylor - "Gonna Buy Me A Mule"

Blues DVD of the Year
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads
(Reprise Records)

Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Tommy Castro - Painkiller (Blind Pig Records)

Historical Album of the Year
Muddy Waters & Johnny Winter - Breakin' It UP, Breakin' it DOWN
(Epic/Legacy Recordings)

Soul Blues Album of the Year
The Holmes Brothers - State of Grace (Alligator Records)

Traditional Blues Album of the Year
Koko Taylor - Old School (Alligator Records)

Special Awards
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year Award
Honey Piazza

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award
Tommy Castro

BMI's Thomas Cain, Handy winner David "Honeyboy" Edwards and BMI's David Sanjek

Leading the list of award-winning BMI songwriters were harmonica virtuoso Charles Musselwhite and legendary R&B singer Mavis Staples, who took home three Handys each. Musselwhite's wins included Best Contemporary Blues Artist, Best Contemporary Blues Album for his release Sanctuary, and Best Blues Harmonica, while Staples earned trophies for Soul Blues Artist, Soul Blues Album and Blues Album of the Year for Have a Little Faith. The album's title track was named Best Blues Song for BMI co-writer Jim Tullio.

BMI's Thomas Cain, Handy winner Paul Oscher and BMI's David Sanjek

In addition to receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award, 91-year-old keyboard maestro Pinetop Perkins picked up two awards: Best Traditional Blues Album for his new release Ladies Man and Traditional Blues Artist. Other winners included such legendary BMI blues artists as B.B. King (Blues Entertainer), Koko Taylor (Traditional Blues Artist), Dave "Honeyboy" Edwards (Acoustic Blues Artist) and the Holmes Brothers (Blues Band).

BMI's Thomas Cain, Handy winner Kenny Neal and BMI's David Sanjek

Among the presenters was BMI's Thomas Cain, who along with keyboard player Ann Rabson, handed out several awards and made the following comments about BMI and the blues: "You know BMI has been a friend of the blues for 65 years now, since we opened our doors in 1940. Over 90% of the Blues Hall of Fame inductees are BMI songwriters, and every year at the Handys, virtually every award is won by a BMI writer. We are so proud to have this long-term relationship with such great individuals as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and countless others. We like to think of BMI as the other home of the blues."

BMI's David Sanjek, Handy winner Gary U.S. Bonds and BMI's Thomas Cain

BMI's 2005 Handy Award winners:

Acoustic Blues Album
Kenny Neal & Billy Branch
Double Take

Acoustic Blues Artist
Dave "Honeyboy" Edwards

New Artist Debut
John Lee Hooker Jr.
Blues With A Vengeance

Handy winner Marcia Ball, presenter Ann Rabson, Handy winner Bob Margolin and BMI's Thomas Cain

Blues Album
Mavis Staples
Have A Little Faith

Blues Band
The Holmes Brothers

Blues Bass
Willie Kent

3-time Handy winner Charlie Musselwhite

Blues Drums
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

Blues Entertainer
B.B. King

Blues Guitar
Bob Margolin

Robert Lockwood Jr. performs

Blues Harmonica
Charlie Musselwhite

Blues Horns
Roomful of Blues

Blues Instrumentalist
Robert Randolph

Gary U.S. Bonds performs

Blues Keyboards
Marcia Ball

Blues Song
Jim Tullio
"Have A Little Faith"

Comeback Blues Album
Gary U.S. Bonds
Back in 20

BMI's Thomas Cain, Handy winner Bobby Rush, Gibson Guitars' Henry Juskiewicz and BMI's David Sanjek

Contemporary Blues Album
Charlie Musselwhite
Sanctuary

Contemporary Blues Artist - Male
Charlie Musselwhite

Contemporary Blues Artist - Female
Shemekia Copeland

BMI's Thomas Cain, Handy winner Little Milton and BMI's David Sanjek

Historical Blues Album
Hound Dog Taylor
Release the Hound

Soul Blues Album
Mavis Staples
Have A Little Faith

Soul Blues Artist - Female
Mavis Staples

BMI's David Sanjek and Thomas Cain, Alligator Records' Bruce Iglauer and attorney Howell Beagle

Soul Blues Artist - Male
Bobby Rush

Traditional Blues Album
Pinetop Perkins
Ladies Man

Traditional Blues Artist - Female
Koko Taylor

Traditional Blues Artist - Male
Pinetop Perkins

BMI's David Sanjek, Handy winner Charlie Musselwhite and BMI's Thomas Cain

BMI's David Sanjek, Handy winner Pinetop Perkins and BMI's Thomas Cain

Photos by Don Putnam]]> 2005-05-10T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/234354 Artists, Collective Soul, Gabriel, Peter, Holmes Brothers, The, Hooker, John Lee, King, B.B., Morrison, Van, Nelson, Willie, Williams, Hank, Musical Styles, Blues, Gospel, R&B, Musicworld, Feature There are few better testaments to the value of faith, perseverance and sticking to your musical guns than The Holmes Brothers, whose rhythm & blues music reminds contemporary listeners of the universality and musical breadth of the venerable style. The core members of the group - brothers Wendell (guitar and vocals) and Sherman Holmes (bass and vocals), and Poppy Dixon (drums and vocals) - have been a musical unit since 1968. And their experience stretches back even further to Wendell and Sherman's youth in Christchurch, Virginia in the 1940s and '50s, teething on the gospel music they sang and played in church as well as the blues of Jimmy Reed, Junior Parker and B.B. King.

Just a listen to The Holmes Brothers' latest release on Alligator Records, the aptly title Simple Truths , attests to their command of r and the vision that has made them soul music heroes on the current scene. In addition to the classic strains of their original songwriting, the Brothers bring their own spirit to material by such esteemed songwriters old and new as Townes Van Zandt, Bob Marley, Gillian Welch, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Collective Soul and Bruce Channel. With their heavenly harmonies, down in the groove rhythms and Wendell's sharp and smart guitar work, it's no wonder that The Chicago Tribune hails them as "the undisputed masters of blues-based American roots music."

It's that mastery that has led the band to record with Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Odetta, Phoebe Snow, The Jungle Brothers and Joan Osborne (who produced their previous album, Speaking In Tongues ) and even perform for President Clinton. To wit, they also garnered six W.C. Handy Award nominations this year for Simple Truths.

It's all sweet rewards for a professional journey that began in 1959 when Wendell Holmes left Virginia for New York City, where The Holmes Brothers continue to be based, to work with singer Jimmy James after studying composition and music theory at Virginia State University. Brother Sherman followed soon after, and the two backed such names as The Impressions, John Lee Hooker and Jerry Butler before joining forces with fellow Virginian Dixon, and after more work with a variety of bands and artists, finally struck out on their own as The Holmes Brothers in 1979.

The act began winning fans in small downtown Manhattan clubs (where they befriended fellow rising artist Osborne) in the 1980s before cutting their first album for Rounder in 1989. In '92, they released Jublilation on Gabriel's Real World label, and amidst their busy performing schedule throughout the decade, found time to appear in and record music for the independent film "Lotto Land" and back Osborne on a tour opening for Bob Dylan.

With a gift for turning even the most secular venues into sacred places with their soul-stirring music, The Holmes Brothers are now being blessed with success and acclaim for their music. "The Bible says the word must go even into the dens of iniquity," says Wendell. "We play blues, gospel, country - a mix of a lot of different things. We don't have a problem with that, and we don't believe Jesus does. We never forget that Jesus turned water into wine, not the other way round!"]]> 2005-03-03T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234312 Artists, Copeland, Shemekia, Holmes Brothers, The, James, Etta, King, B.B., Little Milton, Muddy Waters, Taylor, Koko, Walker, T-Bone, Musical Styles, Blues, Folk the Holmes Brothers lead the list of BMI artists and composers nominated for the 26th Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards with six, it was announced by the Memphis, Tennessee-based Blues Foundation. Co-sponsored by BMI, a long-time supporter of the non-profit organization, the Handy Awards celebrate excellence in performance and recording of the blues, and is the highest honor bestowed upon artists in the genre.

Holmes Brothers	Paul Oscher	Charlie Musselwhite

BMI writers continued their domination in the blues field, once again garnering every nomination in seven of the 25 categories, including Blues Entertainer of the Year, Blues Band of the Year and Contemporary Artist of the Year, both male and female.

The Holmes Brothers' six nods include Band of the Year, Blues Album and Contemporary Blues Album for their Simple Truths, as well as three individual nominations for members Wendall Holmes (Song of the Year for "Run Myself Out of Town"), Sherman Holmes (Best Instrumentalist-Bass) and Popsy Dixon (Best Instrumentalist-Drums).

Pinetop Perkins	Kim Wilson	Muddy Waters

Other multiple nominees include harp player Paul Oscher, who received four mentions, among them Acoustic Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Alone With the Blues." Perennial favorites W.C. Clark, James Harman, Charlie Musselwhite, Pinetop Perkins, Rod Piazza, Bobby Rush and Kim Wilson each earned three, while double nominations went to Corey Harris, Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, EG Knight and Muddy Waters, who will compete against himself in the Historical Blues Album category.

Named after the "Father of the Blues," the 2005 W.C. Handy Blues Awards will take place on Thursday, May 5 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. The awards ceremony is the traditional opener to the Handy Weekend, a series of events for blues musicians, industry members, and fans alike. Events include the Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a Blues Symposium with workshops, the Handy Awards Music Festival, a blues film fest and the Handy Awards Children's Festival.

BMI's 2005 Handy Awards nominees:

Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
Paul Oscher
Alone With The Blues
Billy Branch
Double Take
Corey Harris
Mississippi To Mali
Paul Rishell & Annie Raines
Goin' Home
Carey & Lurrie Bell
Second Nature

Acoustic Blues-Artist of the Year
Paul Oscher
Corey Harris
David "Honeyboy" Edwards
Paul Rishell & Annie Raines

Blues Album of the Year
W.C. Clark
Deep In The Heart
The Holmes Brothers
Simple Truths
Guitar Shorty
Watch Your Back
Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers
Keepin' It Real

Blues Band of the Year
Little Charlie & The Nightcats
Smokin' Joe Kubek Band
Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
Magic Slim & The Teardrops
Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets
The Holmes Brothers

Blues Entertainer of the Year
Bobby Rush
Kim Wilson
B.B. King
Pinetop Perkins
Solomon Burke

Blues Song of the Year
"Alone With The Blues"
Written and performed by Paul Oscher
"Run Myself Out Of Town"
Written by Wendell Holmes, performed by The Holmes Brothers
"Piecework Politicians"
Written and performed by James Harman
"Nothin' Ever Hurt Me"
Written and performed by EG Kight

Comeback Blues Album of the Year
Gary U.S. Bonds
Back In 20

Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Charlie Musselwhite
Sanctuary
The Holmes Brothers
Simple Truths
Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
Now My Soul
Guitar Shorty
Watch Your Back

Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year
Janiva Magness
Marcia Ball
Shemekia Copeland
EG Kight
Deborah Coleman

Contemporary Blues-Male Artist of the Year
Kim Wilson
Chris Thomas King
Charlie Musselwhite
James Harman
Robert Randolph

Historical Blues Album of the Year
Hound Dog Taylor
Release The Hound (Alligator Records)
Charles Brown
A Life In The Blues (Rounder Records)
Muddy Waters
Hard Again (Epic/Legacy)
Johnny Winter
Second Winter (Columbia/Legacy)
Muddy Waters
I'm Ready (Epic/Legacy)

Instrumentalist-Bass
Willie Kent
Bill Stuve
Sherman Holmes

Instrumentalist-Drums
Popsy Dixon
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

Instrumentalist-Guitar
Ronnie Earl
Duke Robillard
Bob Margolin
Roy Rogers

Instrumentalist-Harmonica
Kim Wilson
Charlie Musselwhite
Rod Piazza
James Harman
Paul Oscher

Instrumentalist-Horns
Calvin Owens - Trumpet
Mark Kazanoff - Saxophone
Roomful of Blues - Horns
Greg Piccolo - Saxophone
Sax Gordon - Saxophone

Instrumentalist-Keyboards
Honey Piazza
Dave Maxwell
Marcia Ball
Jon Cleary

Instrumentalist-Other
Robert Randolph - Pedal Steel Guitar
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - Fiddle
Otis Taylor - Banjo

Soul/Blues Album of the Year
Bobby Rush
Folk Funk
W.C. Clark
Deep In The Heart

Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year
Etta James
Barbara Lynn

Soul/Blues-Male Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush
Little Milton
Solomon Burke
W.C. Clark

Traditional Blues Album of the Year
Jody Williams
You Left Me In The Dark
Duke Robillard
Blue Mood: The Songs Of T-Bone Walker
Pinetop Perkins
Ladies Man
Sam Myers
Coming From The Old School

Traditional Blues-Female Artist of the Year
Ruth Brown
Koko Taylor

Traditional Blues-Male Artist of the Year
Robert Lockwood Jr.
Jody Williams
Sam Myers
Pinetop Perkins

Click here for a complete schedule of BMI events at SXSW.

The "Music For Film" panel will be moderated by BMI Vice President of Film/TV Relations, Doreen Ringer Ross. Panelists include composer Anthony Marinelli ("Mayor of The Sunset Strip," "The Man From Elysian Fields"); director George Hickenlooper ("Mayor of The Sunset Strip," "The Man From Elysian Fields"); Warner Brothers Pictures Vice President of Business Affairs, Music, Dan Butler; film producer Rana Joy Glickman; music supervisor Frankie Pine; Commotion Records/music supervisor Tracy McKnight; and Windswept Music Publishing's John Anderson.

On Tuesday, March 16, BMI will host an invitation-only industry dinner featuring live performances by Universal South recording artist Holly Williams and Austin-based trio The Greencards. Tuesday also marks the start of the BMI/KEYE stage at Highland Lakes Bar at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Singer/songwriters from The Greencards to the South Austin Jug Band to honky tonk legend Dale Watson will perform for arriving passengers on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 pm to 6pm.

The "Rojo, Caliente y Verde: Generacion Alternativa" showcase, presented by BMI, Garcia Communications, LATV and The Agency Group, will be held on Wednesday, March 17 at Exodus (302-304 E. 6th Street). The show will feature a diverse array of Latin music including alternative rock band Los Abandoned (Los Angeles, CA), alternative rock group Vaquero (Monterrey, Mexico), hip-hop artists Cartel de Santa (Monterrey, Mexico), pop/rock artist Zo� (MX), alternative rock/electronica duo Plastilina Mosh (Monterrey, Mexico) and rock/hip-hop group Ozomatli (Los Angeles, CA).

That same night, BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Paul Corbin and BMI Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Mark Mason, will once again present the Song and Songwriter of the Year awards at the Austin Music Awards at the Austin Music Hall.

Thursday, March 18 will feature the keynote address by noted BMI songwriter/artist Little Richard, as well as the BMI-sponsored songwriter's panel. The "Songwriters Way With Words" panel will be moderated by BMI's Corbin and will feature songwriters Robyn Hitchcock, Charlotte Martin and Ron Sexsmith from 2:35pm to 4pm at the Convention Center.

Thursday night's "BMI Presents..." showcase at the Austin Music Hall once again boasts a stellar lineup, with blues legends the Holmes Brothers, Austin's Jack Ingram, Cake, Little Richard and his ten-piece band, Charlie Robison, and Blues Traveler.

On Friday, March 19, BMI will host another "BMI Presents..." showcase at the Hard Rock Caf� (222 East 6th Street), kicking off with a pre-showcase party at 7pm featuring a special performance by urban/rock Capitol recording artist Van Hunt. Other performers include Luna Halo (Nashville, TN), Atlantic recording artist Kill Hannah (Chicago, IL), Jump, American Minor, V2 recording artist Charlie Mars and the UK's Razorlight.

BMI will also have a booth at the SXSW Music Festival trade show. Click here for complete coverage of BMI events at SXSW.]]> 2004-02-19T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233069 Artists, Copeland, Shemekia, Guy, Buddy, Holmes Brothers, The, James, Etta, Little Milton, Muddy Waters, Taylor, Koko, Thomas, Irma, Musical Styles, Blues, Type, International BMI's top Blues artists/composers lead the list of stars nominated for the 23rd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards, announced recently by the Blues Foundation. Singer/pianist Marcia Ball earned the most nods with five including the coveted Entertainer of the Year nomination. Singer/guitarist Ike Turner, harp player Kim Wilson, guitarist Kid Ramos and vocalist Otis Taylor each received four nominations, while harp player/singer Rod Piazza drew three. The Handy Awards, co-sponsored by BMI, will be presented on Thursday, May 23, 2002 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee.

BMI once again swept many of the top categories including all nominations in the Entertainer of the Year, Band of the Year, Contemporary Blues Album of the Year, Blues Album of the Year and both the Guitar and Horns Instrumentalist categories.

For over two decades, the Handy Awards have celebrated excellence in performance and recording of the Blues and is the highest honor bestowed upon artists in the Blues industry. A panel of international Blues industry experts votes on the initial nominees and 30,000 Blues fans then choose the winners.

Named in honor of W.C. Handy, "Father of the Blues", the awards ceremony traditionally opens the Handy Weekend. Celebrations include the Blues Symposium with workshops, a Children’s Festival, the Handy Awards Festival with Blues bands performing in the clubs along Beale Street, and a Handy Artists Relief Trust Benefit Concert.

BMI Handy Award Nominees

Blues Entertainer of the Year
B. B. King
Ike Turner
Bobby Rush
Rod Piazza
Shemekia Copeland
Marcia Ball

Blues Band of the Year
Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets w/ Sam Myers
The Holmes Brothers
Magic Slim & The Teardrops
Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials

Contemporary Blues-Male Artist of the Year
Buddy Guy
Kid Ramos
Larry Garner
Kim Wilson
Rod Piazza

Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year
Debbie Davies
Deborah Coleman
Marcia Ball
Shemekia Copeland

Soul/Blues-Male Artist of the Year
Ike Turner
Bobby Rush
Little Milton Campbell

Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year
E.C. Scott
Etta James
Irma Thomas

Traditional Blues-Male Artist of the Year
Henry Jackson
Magic Slim
R.L. Burnside
Robert Lockwood, Jr.

Traditional Blues-Female Artist of the Year
Ann Rabson
Koko Taylor

Acoustic Blues- Artist of the Year
Honeyboy Edwards
John Hammond
Keb' Mo'

Best New Artist Debut
Otis Taylor - White African
Rico McFarland - Tired of Being Alone

Blues Instrumentalist-Guitar
Buddy Guy
Duke Robillard
Kid Ramos
Ronnie Earl
Jimmy Vaughan

Blues Instrumentalist-Harmonica
Kim Wilson
Charlie Musselwhite
Rod Piazza
Snooky Pryor

Blues Instrumentalists-Keyboards
Dr. John
Honey Piazza
Marcia Ball
Pinetop Perkins
Henry Gray

Blues Instrumentalists-Bass
Bill Stuve
Willie Kent
Johnny B. Gayden
Larry Taylor

Blues Instrumentalists-Horns
Roomful of Blues Horns
Memphis Horns
Sax Gordon Beadle
Eddie Shaw
Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff

Blues Instrumentalists-Other
Boozoo Chavis - Accordion
Buckwheat Zydeco - Accordion
Claude "Fiddler" Williams - Fiddle

Comeback Blues Album of the Year
Henry Gray - Plays Chicago Blues
Ike Turner - Here and Now

Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
Honeyboy Edwards - Mississippi Delta Blues Man
John Hammond - Wicked Grin
Otis Taylor - White African

Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Buddy Guy - Sweet Tea
The Holmes Brothers - Speaking in Tongues
Jimmy Vaughan - Do You Get the Blues
Kim Wilson - Smokin' Joint
Marcia Ball - Presumed Innocent

Soul/Blues Album of the Year
Ike Turner - Here and Now
Little Milton - Feel It
Terry Evans - Mississippi Magic

Traditional Blues Album Of the Year
Billy Boy Arnold - Boogie N Shuffle
Henry Gray - Plays Chicago Blues
Kid Ramos - Greasy Kid Stuff
R.L. Burnside - Burnside on Burnside

Blues Album Of The Year
John Hammond - Wicked Grin
Kid Ramos - Greasy Kid Stuff
Kim Wilson - Smokin' Joint
Marcia Ball - Presumed Innocent
Otis Taylor - White African

Historical Blues Album Of The Year
Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin' and the Blues: The Herald Session
Magic Sam - The Essential Magic Sam: Cobra & Chief Recordings
Muddy Waters - Fathers and Sons

Blues Song of the Year
"Charlie's Old Highway 51 Blues" written by Charlie Musselwhite (from Kid Ramos/Greasy Kid Stuff)
"Gratitude Is Riches (And Complaint Is Poverty)" written by James Harman (from Kid Ramos/Greasy Kid Stuff)
"My Soul's in Louisiana" written by Otis Taylor (from Otis Taylor/White African)
"S.U.V." written by Mem Shannon (from Mem Shannon/Memphis in the Morning)