The ballroom of the Cook Convention Center in Memphis Tennessee provided the setting for the 32nd Blues Music Awards on 5th May 2011. Bringing together blues musicians, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in blues recordings and performances from the previous year, The Blues Foundation presents the annual Blues Music Awards to artists specially selected by its members. This year’s winners include Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Irma Thomas, Dr John and the late great Solomon Burke and Pinetop Perkins. Click through for footage and audio samples of some of the multi-award winners and read the full list of who won what.
2011 BLUES MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS
Acoustic Album of the Year: Last Train To Bluesville (The Nighthawks)
Acoustic Artist of the Year: John Hammond
Album of the Year: Living Proof (Buddy Guy)
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year: Buddy Guy
Band of the Year: The Derek Trucks Band
Best New Artist Debut: On The Floor (Matt Hill)
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year: Living Proof (Buddy Guy)
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year: Robin Rogers
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year: Buddy Guy
01 Ramblers Blues Snip by charliemusselwhite
DVD: Ruf Records Songs From The Road (Luther Allison)
Historical Album of the Year: Delta Groove Harmonica Blues (Bob Corritore & Friends)
Instrumentalist-Bass: Bob Stroger
Instrumentalist-Drums: Cedric Burnside
Instrumentalist-Guitar: Derek Trucks
Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite
Instrumentalist-Horn: Eddie Shaw
Instrumentalist-Other: Sonny Rhodes (Lap Steel Guitar)
Koko Taylor Award: Ruthie Foster
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Dr. John
Rock Blues Album of the Year: Live! In Chicago (Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band featuring Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Bryan Lee and Buddy Flett)
Song of the Year: Living Proof (Tom Hambridge/Buddy Guy)
Soul Blues Album of the Year: Nothing’s Impossible (Solomon Burke)
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year: Irma Thomas
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year: Solomon Burke
Traditional Blues Album of the Year: Joined At the Hip (Pinetop Perkins & Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith)
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year: Charlie Musselwhite
