Memphis (CelebrityAccess) – The Blues Foundation honors The 44th Blues Hall Of Fame (BHOF) Class Of 2024 with an Induction Ceremony taking place at The Canon Center For The Performing Arts on Wednesday (May 8).
Tickets (including the Ceremony and Reception) are $75 each and available with Blues Music Awards tickets. The BHOF will showcase several special items representing the 2024 Class of inductees. These artifacts will be on display for public viewing beginning the first week of May and will remain on view for visitor enjoyment over the next twelve months.
The BHOF Class Of 2024 inductees include Chicago guitarist (and son of blues great Carey Bell) Lurrie Bell; groundbreaking blues and jazz artist James Rushing, a/k/a “Mr. Five By Five;” Odetta, hailed as “The Mother Goddess of Folk Blues” by the New York Times; early twentieth-century guitar virtuoso, Scrapper Blackwell; renowned author, folklorist, professor, lecturer, and administrator, William R. “Bill” Ferris; small-but-mighty vocalist extraordinaire, Sugar Pie Desanto; Tennessee-born vocal powerhouse, O.V. Wright; and one of Chicago’s leading blues exponents, fez-wearing Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials.
Since its inception in 1980, The Blues Foundation has inducted new members annually into the BHOF for their historical contribution, impact, and overall influence on the Blues. Members are inducted in five categories: Performers, Individuals, Classic of Blues Literature, Classic of Blues Recording (Song), and Classic of Blues Recording (Album). Over the years, The Blues Foundation has inducted over 400 industry professionals, recordings, and literature into the Blues Hall of Fame.
MEET THE CLASS OF 2024
Lurrie Bell, a renowned blues musician, is the son of harmonica player Carey Bell, inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2023. Lurrie’s exceptional guitar skills were recognized in the 1970s, and he recorded with several artists, such as Koko Taylor and Louisiana Red. Despite personal challenges, Lurrie’s passion for music never waned. Amberly Stokes, his advocate and former Rosa’s Lounge employee, helped him find stability and renewed acclaim. Lurrie’s resilience and captivating performances earned him a well-deserved place in the Blues Hall of Fame.
Odetta was a legendary folk musician and civil rights activist, born on December 31, 1930, in Birmingham, Alabama. She possessed a versatile repertoire that spanned blues, spirituals, jazz, songs from various folk and popular traditions, and original topical songs. Her career included performances across various events and collaborations with luminaries such as Harry Belafonte, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nina Simone, Pete Seeger, and numerous others. Odetta’s influence extended to artists like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Rhiannon Giddens. She passed away in New York on December 2, 2008, leaving behind a legacy that transcends music and resonates in the realms of humanitarianism and education.
James Andrew Rushing, aka “Mr. Five By Five,” was a pioneering figure in blues and jazz. Born in Oklahoma City in 1899, Rushing began his musical journey in California in 1923, playing piano with Jelly Roll Morton before returning to Oklahoma. He joined Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra. He recorded with the popular Basie band, producing hits like “Good Morning Blues,” “Going to Chicago,” and “Sent for You Yesterday and Here You Come Today.” Rushing’s influence on the blues and jazz genres was immense, bridging the gap between the two and impacting many singers. Although his recognition may have faded, his impact on blues, jazz, pop, and rhythm & blues remains undeniable.
Scrapper Blackwell was a renowned guitarist in the blues scene and a collaborator with Blues Hall of Famer Leroy Carr. The Carr-Blackwell duo recorded timeless classics between 1928 and 1935. Blackwell, of Cherokee and African-American descent, started making makeshift guitars as a child. He joined forces with Carr in 1928, and their hit songs made them a household name. After Carr’s death in 1935, Blackwell took a break from music but was rediscovered in the 1950s. His raw talent and unique guitar style were showcased in solo recordings and collaborations with emerging musicians. Despite facing periods of unemployment, Blackwell continued to play in local taverns and mentor aspiring musicians. His unexpected encounters with old admirers led to concert performances and recordings, contributing to the folk-blues revival of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Despite a life marked by personal challenges, Scrapper Blackwell’s legacy endures through his contributions to the blues genre.
William R. “Bill” Ferris is a prominent figure in the world of blues, celebrated for his contributions as an author, folklorist, professor, lecturer, and administrator. Ferris has played a pivotal role in documenting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the American South, particularly in the realms of blues, gospel, and storytelling. His comprehensive efforts received widespread acclaim, with Blues From the Delta earning recognition as a Classic of Blues Literature by the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998. One of Ferris’s remarkable achievements is the Dust-to-Digital box set Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris, which won a GRAMMY in 2019.
Sugar Pie DeSanto was a talented singer born on October 16, 1935, in Brooklyn. She was signed by bandleader and producer Johnny Otis after he saw her perform at a talent show in San Francisco. Her biggest hit was “I Want to Know,” which rose to No. 4 on Billboard’s R&B chart in 1960. She also wrote songs for other artists at Chess Records, including Billy Stewart, Fontella Bass, and Little Milton. Sugar Pie remained active in the music industry throughout her octogenarian years, and she received several awards for her contributions to music.
O.V. Wright was a musician born on October 9, 1939, in Lenow, Tennessee. He began his musical journey singing church music and later transitioned to secular music, making a significant impact with his unique blend of blues. Willie Mitchell and the Hi Rhythm Section played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Wright’s music, leading to several successful collaborations in the ’70s. O.V. Wright delivered dynamic performances often likened to that of a preacher, seamlessly blending verses from the blues and the Bible. He passed away on November 16, 1980, while performing at Joe’s Supper Club in Grand Bay, Alabama. His legacy lives on through a core global following that includes hip-hop artists who have sampled his music.
Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials are a tight-knit and cheerful blues band that has been making music for over thirty-five years. Led by Lil’ Ed Williams, the group’s energetic boogie blues style is inspired by his uncle and mentor, J.B. Hutto. They burst onto the scene in 1986 with their debut album, “Roughhousin’,” which secured their contract with Alligator Records. Despite a brief hiatus in the 1990s, the band regrouped and solidified their status as label mainstays with nine albums to their credit. They consistently deliver upbeat live shows that genuinely rock the house and perpetuate the spirit of their influences, including Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers.
The Blues Foundation’s 2024 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees
Performers:
Jimmy Rushing
Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials
Lurrie Bell
O. V. Wright
Odetta
Scrapper Blackwell
Sugar Pie DeSanto
Individuals – Business, Production, Media, Academic:
William R. “Bill” Ferris
Classic of Blues Literature:
Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday, by Angela Davis (Pantheon, 1998)
Classic of Blues Recording – Album:
Here’s the Man!!! – Bobby Bland (Duke, 1962)
Classics of Blues Recording – Single or Album Track
“Driving Wheel” – Junior Parker (Duke, 1961)
“I Ain’t Got You”- Billy Boy Arnold (Vee-Jay, 1955)
“Key to the Highway” – Jazz Gillum (Bluebird, 1940)
“Okie Dokie Stomp”- Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown (Peacock, 1954)
“Why Don’t You Do Right?” – Lil Green (Bluebird, 1941)
