Nominees have been announced for the 23rd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards, to be presented May 23, 2002 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tenn. The star-studded ceremony will be followed by two days of Blues music on Beale Street.
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.
The W.C. Handy Blues Awards are presented by Gibson Guitars.
23RD ANNUAL W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARDS NOMINEES:
Blues Entertainer of the Year:
B. B. King
Bobby Rush
Ike Turner
Marcia Ball
Rod Piazza
Shemekia Copeland
Blues Band of the Year:
Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets featuring Sam Myers
The Holmes Brothers
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
Magic Slim and The Teardrops
Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers
Contemporary Blues-Male Artist of the Year:
Buddy Guy
Chris Thomas King
Kid Ramos
Kim Wilson
Larry Garner
Rod Piazza
Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year:
Debbie Davies
Deborah Coleman
Marcia Ball
Maria Muldaur
Shemekia Copeland
Soul/Blues-Male Artist of the Year:
Bobby Rush
Ike Turner
Little Milton Campbell
Mighty Sam McClain
Otis Clay
Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year:
E. C. Scott
Etta James
Francine Reed
Irma Thomas
Toni Lynn Washington
Traditional Blues-Male Artist of the Year:
Henry Gray
James Cotton
Magic Slim
R. L. Burnside
Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Traditional Blues-Female Artist of the Year:
Alberta Adams
Ann Rabson
Big Time Sarah
Koko Taylor
Odetta
Acoustic Blues-Artist of the Year:
Corey Harris
Eric Bibb
Honeyboy Edwards
John Hammond
Keb' Mo'
Louisiana Red
Best New Artist Debut:
The Crudup Brothers – Franktown Blues
Harry "Big Daddy" Hypolite – Louisiana Country Boy
Otis Taylor – White African
Paul Reddick & The Sidemen – Rattlebag
Rico McFarland – Tired of Being Alone
Blues Instrumentalist-Guitar:
Buddy Guy
Duke Robillard
Jimmie Vaughan
Kid Ramos
Ronnie Earl
Blues Instrumentalist-Harmonica:
Charlie Musselwhite
James Cotton
Kim Wilson
Rod Piazza
Snooky Pryor
Blues Instrumentalist-Keyboards:
Dr. John
Henry Butler
Henry Gray
Honey Piazza
Marcia Ball
Pinetop Perkins
Blues Instrumentalist-Bass:
Bill Stuve
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones
Johnny B. Gayden
Larry Taylor
Willie Kent
Blues Instrumentalist-Drums:
George Rains
Jimi Bott
Sam Carr
Sam Lay
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
Blues Instrumentalist-Horns:
Eddie Shaw
Kaz Kazanoff
The Memphis Horns
Roomful of Blues Horn Section
Sax Gordon Beadle
Blues Instrumentalist-Other:
Boozoo Chavis – accordion
Buckwheat Zydeco – accordion
C.J. Chenier – accordion
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown – fiddle
Sonny Rhodes – lap steel
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year:
Chris Thomas King – The Legend of Tommy Johnson
David "Honeyboy" Edwards – Mississippi Delta Blues Man
John Hammond – Wicked Grin
Maria Muldaur – Richland Woman Blues
Otis Taylor – White African
Comeback Blues Album of the Year:
Dick Heckstall Smith – Blues and Beyond
Henry Gray – Plays Chicago Blues
Ike Turner – Here and Now
James Montgomery Blues Band – Bring It On Home
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year:
Buddy Guy – Sweet Tea
The Holmes Brothers – Speaking in Tongues
Jimmie Vaughan – Do You Get the Blues
Kim Wilson – Smokin' Joint
Marcia Ball – Presumed Innocent
Soul/Blues Album of the Year:
Curtis Salgado – Soul Activated
Ike Turner – Here & Now
Little Milton – Feel It
Mighty Sam McClain – Sweet Dreams
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
Odetta – Looking for a Home
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 Album of the Year:
Charley Patton – Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins – Lightnin' and the Blues: The Herald Session
Magic Sam – The Essential Magic Sam: The Cobra and Chief Recordings
Mississippi Fred McDowell – I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' Roll
Muddy Waters – Fathers And Sons
Blues Song of the Year:
"Charlie's Old Highway 51 Blues" – Charlie Musselwhite (Kid Ramos – Greasy
Kid Stuff)
"Gratitude Is Riches (And Complaint Is Poverty)" – James Harman (Kid Ramos –
Greasy Kid Stuff)
"Kokomo" – Eric Bibb (Eric Bibb – Painting Signs)
"My Soul's in Louisiana" – Otis Taylor (Otis Taylor – White African)
"S. U. V." – Mem Shannon (Mem Shannon – Memphis in the Morning)
