The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee is home to the annual "Keeping the Blues Alive Awards" (KBA). The "Blues Club of the Year" award is presented to venues that have promoted Blues music come hell or high water. The award is a roundabout way of honoring some of the biggest Blues fans in the world, the Blues club owner.
Don't get me wrong, most club owners aren't saints, but a groovy few are the reason you can still hear great live Blues music.
Skipper's has been a safe harbor for touring blues acts in Florida. Along with Tobacco Road in Miami, these two clubs have hosted just about every Blues artist that bothered to come to the Sunshine State. Sunday has become their traditional night for touring Blues artists and is usually the last Florida stop for bands in the state. Skipper's hospitality and great crowds keep the great one's coming back.
Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, KoKo Taylor, Bobby "Blue" Bland, John Mayall, Sam Moore, Roy Buchanan, Jimmy Thackery, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Lucky Peterson, Gatemouth Brown, Roomful of Blues, Son Seals, Hubert Sumlin, Saffire, Tinsley Ellis, Toni Lynn Washington, Diamond Teeth Mary McClain, Nighthawks, Duke Robillard, Holmes Bros., Joanna Connor, Coco Montoya, Steady-Rollin' Bob Margolin, Mem Shannon, James Peterson, Greg Piccolo, Magic Slim, Deborah Coleman, Roy Rogers, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Charlie Musselwhite, Bill Wharton, Rock Bottom, William Clark, James Harmon, and Sam Myers. They all been there.
