The Blues Foundation, based in Memphis, has announced the nominees for the organization's 30th annual Blues Music Awards, confirming the awards show for Thursday, May 7th, 2009. The annual event is a real blow-out, typically running better than seven hours and featuring performances by the various nominees.
The Diversity of the Blues
This year's list of Blues Music Award nominees is representative of the diversity and creativity of the entirety of blues music, featuring artists as young as 14 years old (Taya Perry of the Homemade Jamz Band) and as old as old as David "Honeyboy" Edwards' 93 years young. West coast-based group the Mannish Boys led the pack with a total of six nominations, including individual nominations for the band's drummer, Richard Innes; guitarist Kid Ramos; and bassist Larry Taylor.
Following hot on the heels of the Mannish Boys with four nominations each are guitarist Elvin Bishop, pianist Eden Brent, singer Janiva Magness, Curtis Salgado, and the always-brilliant singer/songwriter Watermelon Slim. Legendary blues guitarist Buddy Guy was nominated for three awards, while the equally-fabulous B.B. King netted two noms.
First Timers and Those That Passed
The Homemade Jamz Band - vocalist, guitarist Ryan Perry (16), bassist Kyle Perry (14), and drummer Taya Perry (10) - are the youngest Blues Music Award nominees, receiving the nod for their critically-acclaimed debut album, Pay Me No Mind (Northern Blues Music). Blues pianist Eden Brent is another relative newcomer, earning several nominations for her debut album Mississippi Number One (Yellow Dog Records).
Sadly, several well thought of blues artists died during 2008, most notably guitarists Sean Costello and Jeff Healey. Costello received two posthumous nominations for his 2008 album, We Can Get Together. Veteran bluesman Healey earned a single nomination for his 2008 album, Mess Of Blues, released after the guitarist's death in March. Chicago blues legend Little Arthur Duncan, who also passed this year, was nominated in the DVD category for his Delmark Records set Little Arthur Duncan Live at Rosa's Blues Lounge.
Chicago Blues Labels Lead The Way
Venerable blues music label Alligator Records led the pack with nominations for five separate album releases, including stellar efforts by singer Janiva Magness and guitarist Michael Burks. Fueled by the success of the Mannish Boys, which includes the label founder Randy Chortkoff on harp, Delta Groove Music pushed into second place with multiple nominations for four distinct albums, including sets by Elvin Bishop and the new duo of Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm. Delta Groove will celebrate its 5th anniversary as a label in 2009 with a slew of impressive new releases.
Earwig Music and Northern Blues each had a pair of award nominations for albums from Honeyboy Edwards and the duo of Chris James and Patrick Rynn (Earwig); and the Homemade Jamz Band and Watermelon Slim (Northern).The longest-running independent record label in America, Chicago's Delmark Records celebrated its 55th birthday this year, the label receiving two nominations - one for "Historical Album of the Year" for Sleepy John Estes' On Highway 80 set, and another for the aforementioned Little Arthur Duncan DVD.
Honoring Blues-Rock Artists
For the first time in its 30 years, The Blues Foundation is honoring blues-rock artists by adding a "Rock Blues" category to its extensive list of blues music honors. For this inaugural award, the nominees include Gary Moore, Jeff Healey, Michael Burks, Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Sonny Landreth, and Walter Trout.
Performers for the 2009 Blues Music Awards program have yet to be confirmed, but all nominees are invited to climb onstage and jam to their heart's content. The 2009 event will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio's B.B. King's Bluesville channel, and the show will be shot in HD video for a DVD to be released in the fall of 2009.
