On May 9 The Blues Foundation held their annual Blues Music Awards ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee. Little Steven Van Zandt returned to host the gala event.
Along with the regular performances, the festivities ended with an All Star jam session.
Winners of the 2019 Blues Music Awards:
Acoustic Album of the Year: “Journeys to the Heart of the Blues” by Joe Lewis Walker, Bruce Katz, and Giles Robson
Acoustic Artist of the Year: Rory Block
Album of the Year: “America’s Child” by Shemekia Copeland
Entertainer of the Year: Michael Ledbetter
Band of the Year: Welch-Ledbetter Connection
Best Emerging Artist Album: “Free” by Amanda Fish
Best Blues Rock Album: “The Big Bad Blues” by Billy Gibbons
Best Blues Rock Artist: Eric Gales
Best Contemporary Blues Album: “America’s Child” by Shemekia Copeland
Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Danielle Nicole
Best Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Kenny Neal
Best Blues Bass Player: Cedric Burnside
Best Blues Guitar Player: Monster Mike Welch
Best Blues Harminica Player: Dennis Gruenling
Best Blues Horn Player: Vanessa Collier
Best Blues Piano Player: Marcia Ball
Best Blues Vocalist: Michael Ledbetter
Best Blues Song: “No Mercy In This Land” written by Ben Harper
Best Soul Blues Album: “I’m Still Around” by Johnny Rawls
Best Soul Blues Female Artist: Annika Chambers
Best Soul Blues Male Artist: Sugaray Rayford
Best Traditional Blues Album: “The Blues is Alive and Well by Buddy Guy
Best Traditional Blues Female Artist: Ruthie Foster
Best Traditional Blues Male Artist: Nick Moss
feature photo taken from The Blues Foundation Facebook page