Buddy Guy, Bettye LaVette, Otis Clay Among Winners At Blues Foundation Blues Music Awards

Blues Foundation's Blues Music Awards

BUDDY GUY, WALTER TROUT, CEDRIC BURNSIDE, RUTHIE FOSTER, VICTOR WAINWRIGHT, BETTYE LAVETTE and the late OTIS CLAY were among the multiple winners at the 37th annual BLUES FOUNDATION BLUES MUSIC AWARDS, held in MEMPHIS last night.

BUDDY GUY, 79 years young, won both Album Of The Year and Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year for "Born To Play Guitar," while 30-something bluesmen CEDRIC BURNSIDE and VICTOR WAINWRIGHT were also double winners. The CEDRIC BURNSIDE PROJECT’s "Descendants Of Hill County" was chosen Traditional Blues Album Of The Year and, for the fifth time,BURNSIDE was named top drummer. VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE WILD ROOTS were selected the Band Of The Year, with WAINWRIGHT receiving  B.B. KING ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR honors.

Veteran bluesman WALTER TROUT, after defeating Hepatitis C and liver failure, saw his CD "Battle Scars," nab the Rock Blues Album prize, while his tune “Gonna Live Again” was named the Song Of The Year. The late OTIS CLAY posthumously received his first two BLUES MUSIC AWARDS, for best Soul Blues Male Artist and Soul Blues Album for "This Time For Real," his collaboration with BILLY PRICE. The late ALLEN TOUSSAINT also was honored with his first BLUES MUSIC AWARD, the PINETOP PERKINS Piano Player of the Year.

Other notable winners included DUKE ROBILLARD for Acoustic Album Of The Year ("The Acoustic Blues & Roots Of DUKE ROBILLARD) and MR. SIPP for Best New Artist Album ("The MISSISSIPPI Blues Child"). RUTHIE FOSTER collected her fourth KOKO TAYLOR AWARD for Best Traditional Blues Female Artist, while the BEAR FAMILY RECORDS’ five-CD SLIM HARPO box set, "Buzzin’ The Blues," picked up the Historical Album Of The Year.

The night before the BLUES MUSIC AWARDS, the BLUES HALL OF FAME inducted musicians ELVIN BISHOP, EDDY CLEARWATER, JIMMY JOHNSON, JOHN MAYALL and the MEMPHIS JUG BAND along with MALACO RECORDS partners TOMMY COUCH SR. and WOLF STEPHENSON.

For a complete list of winners, go to www.blues.org.

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