On Thursday May 9th, the Blues Music Foundation held its annual awards ceremony. A Who’s who of the contemporary blues gathered in Memphis to honor the work of performers and musicians during 2023. In many ways it marked a “passing of the guard” as 25 year old Christone “Kingfish” Ingram dominated the ceremonies taking home 4 major awards. For a genre that generally honors artists who have “paid their dues” with years of recording and performing, it was refreshing to see a new generation of artists take center stage and begin to define the contemporary blues going forward.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is a blues phenomenon. A product of Clarksdale, Mississippi, he performed at the Obama White House as part of a group at the age of 11, has been mentored by both Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal, and has recently featured on a segment of the prestigious CBS program “60 Minutes,” discussing the revival of the blues. He was honored at this year’s get together with awards for Album of the Year (“Live In London”), Contemporary Blues Album of the Year (“662”), Contemporary Blues Male Artist, and as Instrumentalist (Guitar). His guitar playing and songwriting reflect a modern take on the blues. As he has stated in numerous interviews, he respects the music and lyrics of the greats of the blues genre but he focuses on music and songs that his generation can relate to.
Another multiple award winner at this year’s ceremonies was 87 year old Bobbie Rush who took home the major award for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and the trophy for the Soul Blues Album of the Year (All My Love). Bobbie’s energy and passion for the blues haven’t diminished one iota over his years as a blues singer and performer and he still maintains an active schedule as one of the great elder statesmen of the blues.
Ruthie Foster took home two awards including the prestigious award for Song of the Year for What Kind of Fool which appeared on her 2022 album Healing Time. She was also honored as female vocalist of the Year.
Mike Zito also won multiple awards in Memphis. A renaissance man of blues, Mike writes, sings, plays guitar, produces, and is co-owner of a blues record label. He shared the award for Blues Rock artist of the Year with his friend Albert Castiglia for the Blood Brothers recording. Additionally, he garnered the award for Blues Rock Artist of the Year. The year 2023 was a particularly tough one for Mike. During the summer of 2023, his wife passed away after a long battle with cancer.
A large group of artists who are the driving force of the contemporary blues in terms of “day in day out” performance and airplay took home awards including the Nick Moss Band, John Primer, Keb’ Mo’, Danielle Nicole, Annika Chambers, John Nemeth, Sue Foley and Doug MacLeod. And the Emerging Artist Album award went to D.K. Harrell for his The Right Man recording.
The Blues Music Foundation also inducted Lurrie Bell, Jimmy Rushing, O.V. Wright, Odetta, Scrapper Blackwell, Sugar Pie DeSanto, and Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials into the Blues Hall of Fame during the ceremonies.
Overall this year’s Blues Music Award nominees and recipients represent a true cross section of the contemporary Blues. Some artists who started their careers in the 1970’s continue to garner attention as well as a whole group that first emerged in the 1980’s and 1990’s. But the most notable trend was the flowering of a new generation of artists that have come to the fore in the past 10 to 15 years. The passing of the guard in the blues has begun and it is in fine hands!!
Ben Vee is a Radio Host/DJ at Blues Music Fan Radio and also writes about the contemporary blues. He has maintained a blog at www.benveeblues.com since 2014.
Great article!! A good read all the way through.