BMI Writers Dominate 35th Annual Blues Music Awards

The Blues Foundation presented the 35th Annual Blues Music Awards Thursday night, May 8, in Memphis. The event brought together Blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. Three awards went to BMI songwriters Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks and their band, while a Little Walter tribute featuring five top harmonica players (all of which are BMI affiliates) received two awards, including album of the year.  First time winners included BMI affiliates Gary Clark Jr., Doug MacLeod, and John Németh.

Here is the complete list of BMI winners:

Acoustic Album: There’s a Time – Doug MacLeod

Acoustic Artist: Doug MacLeod

Album: Remembering Little Walter – Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia, James Harman

B.B. King Entertainer: Buddy Guy

Band: Tedeschi Trucks Band

Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Susan Tedeschi

Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Gary Clark Jr.

DVD: Ruf Records – Songs from the Road (Royal Southern Brotherhood)

Instrumentalist-Bass: Danielle Schnebelen

Instrumentalist-Guitar: Ronnie Earl

Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite

Instrumentalist-Horn: Eddie Shaw

Koko Taylor Award: Diunna Greenleaf

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Victor Wainwright

Rock Blues Album: Made Up Mind – Tedeschi Trucks Band

Song: “Blues in My Soul” – Lurrie Bell

Soul Blues Album: Down in Louisiana – Bobby Rush

Soul Blues Female Artist: Irma Thomas

Soul Blues Male Artist: John Nemeth

Traditional Blues Album: Remembering Little Walter – Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia, James Harman

Traditional Blues Male Artist: James Cotton