The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the "W.C. Handy Awards," are voted on by The Blues Foundation's 3,000 individual members around the world and 160 affiliated member-based local blues societies in a dozen countries. Below is a complete list of the 2009 Blues Music Award nominees.
2009 Blues Music Award Nominees by Category
Acoustic Album of the Year
- Rory Block - Blues Walkin' Like A Man (Stony Plain Records)
- Eden Brent - Mississippi Number One (Yellow Dog Records)
- Paul Rishell & Annie Raines - A Night In Woodstock (Mojo Rodeo)
- Hans Theessink & Terry Evans - Visions (Blue Groove Records)
- Fiona Boyes, Mookie Brill & Rich Del Grosso - Live From Bluesville (Blue Empress/Vizztone)
Acoustic Artist of the Year
- Doug MacLeod
- Rory Block
- Otis Taylor
- Paul Rishell & Annie Raines
- Eden Brent
Album of the Year
- Buddy Guy - Skin Deep (Silvertone Records)
- Janiva Magness - What Love Will Do (Alligator Records)
- Elvin Bishop - The Blues Rolls On (Delta Groove)
- The Mannish Boys - Lowdown Feelin' (Delta Groove)
- Curtis Salgado - Clean Getaway (Shanachie Records)
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award
- Bobby Rush
- Janiva Magness
- Watermelon Slim
- Lil' Ed
- Magic Slim
Band of the Year
- Magic Slim & the Teardrops
- Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
- The Mannish Boys
- Watermelon Slim & the Workers
- Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
Best New Artist Debut
- Chris James and Patrick Rynn - Stop and Think About It (Earwig Music)
- Delta Highway - The Devil Had a Woman (Oh Lonesome Me)
- Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm - 2 Man Wrecking Crew (Delta Groove)
- The Homemade Jamz Blues Band - Pay Me No Mind (Northern Blues)
- Eden Brent - Mississippi Number One (Yellow Dog Records)
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
- Elvin Bishop - The Blues Rolls On (Delta Groove Music)
- Watermelon Slim & the Workers - No Paid Holidays (Northern Blues)
- Janiva Magness - What Love Will Do (Alligator Records)
- Sean Costello - We Can Get Together (Ruf Records)
- Buddy Guy - Skin Deep (Silvertone Records)
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year
- Gaye Adegbalola
- Marcia Ball
- Robin Rogers
- Bettye LaVette
- Janiva Magness
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year
- Sean Costello
- Buddy Guy
- Michael Burks
- Elvin Bishop
- Watermelon Slim
DVD
- Broke & Hungry Records, Cathead Blues & Mudpuppy Recordings - M For Mississippi: A Road Trip Through The Birthplace of the Blues
- Eagle Eye Media - Albert Collins Live at Montreux 1992
- Eagle Eye Media - Carlos Santana Plays Blues At Montreux 2004
- Stony Plain Records - Hope Radio Sessions (Ronnie Earl & Broadcasters)
- Delmark Records - Little Arthur Duncan Live at Rosa's Blues Lounge
Historical Album of the Year
- Eagle Records - Albert Collins Live At Montreux 1992
- Jamie Records - Barbara Lynn: The Jamie Singles 1962-1965
- Delmark Records - On Highway 80 (Sleepy John Estes)
- Ruf Records - Rich Man's War: New Blues & Roots Songs of Peace and Protest (Various Artists)
- TopCat Records - Hollywood Fats & The Paladins Live 1985
Instrumentalist - Bass
- Bob Stroger
- Mookie Brill
- Larry Taylor
- Bill Stuve
- Jeff Turmes
Instrumentalist - Drums
- Cedric Burnside
- Richard Innes
- Jimi Bott
- Tony Braunagel
- Kenny Smith
- Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith
Instrumentalist - Guitar
- Sonny Landreth
- Lurrie Bell
- Michael Burks
- Kid Ramos
- Ronnie Earl
Instrumentalist - Harmonica
- Steve Guyger
- Billy Gibson
- Mark Hummel
- Jason Ricci
- Rick Estrin
- Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith
Instrumentalist - Horn
- Deanna Bogart
- Kaz Kazanoff
- Terry Hanck
- Keith Crossan
- Doug James
Instrumentalist - Other
- Johnny Sansone, accordion
- Bob Brozman, mandolin & ukulele
- Otis Taylor, banjo
- Rich Del Grosso, mandolin
- Jerry Hundt, mandolin
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award
- Henry Butler
- David Maxwell
- Eden Brent
- Bruce Katz
- Marcia Ball
Rock Blues Album of the Year
- Jeff Healey - Mess of Blues (Ruf Records)
- Sonny Landreth - From The Reach (Landfall Records)
- Michael Burks - Iron Man (Alligator Records)
- Walter Trout - The Outsider (Provogue Records)
- Gary Moore - Bad for You Baby (Eagle Records)
- Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Blood Brothers (Alligator Records)
Song of the Year
- Dave Duncan & Curtis Salgado - "20 Years of B. B. King" (song by
- Curtis Salgado)
- Kenny Neal - "Let Life Flow" (song by Kenny Neal)
- Elvin Bishop - "The Blues Rolls On" (song by Elvin Bishop)
- Albert Castiglia - "Bad Year Blues" (song by Albert Castiglia)
- Sonny Landreth - "Blue Tarp Blues" (song by Sonny Landreth)
Soul Blues Album of the Year
- Clarence Spady - Just Between Us (Severn Records)
- Irma Thomas - Simply Grand (Rounder Records)
- Curtis Salgado - Clean Getaway (Shanachie Records)
- Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band - Overnight Sensation (Delta Groove)
- Johnny Rawls - Red Cadillac (Catfood Records)
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year
- Sharrie Williams
- Irma Thomas
- Jean Shy
- Etta James
- Denise LaSalle
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year
- Bobby Rush
- Tad Robinson
- Jackie Payne
- Johnny Rawls
- Curtis Salgado
Traditional Blues Album of the Year
- B.B. King - One Kind Favor (Geffen Records)
- Honeyboy Edwards - Roamin' and Ramblin' (Earwig Music)
- Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials - Full Tilt (Alligator Records)
- Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater - West Side Strut (Alligator Records)
- The Mannish Boys - Lowdown Feelin' (Delta Groove Music)
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year
- Koko Taylor
- Maria Muldaur
- Nora Jean Bruso
- Diunna Greenleaf
- Ruthie Foster
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
- B.B. King
- Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater
- Lurrie Bell
- Magic Slim
- Honeyboy Edwards
