B.B.King to Appear at Blues Music Awards

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B.B.King to Appear at Blues Music Awards
2009-04-20
All About Jazz

B.B. King will be on hand at the Blues Music Awards ceremony on May 7 in Memphis to present an award named in his honor, the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.

Nominees for this award are Janiva Magness, Watermelon Slim, Bobby Rush, Lil' Ed and Magic Slim. This year's awards ceremony and concert should be fantastic. Performers (info courtesy of the Blues Foundation) will include:

Bettye LaVette
Detroit-born singer has performed at the Kennedy Center and at Obama's inauguration and counts a #1 Blues Album on the Billboard chart in her storied career.

Taj Mahal
Beloved 2009 Blues Hall of Fame inductee and GRAMMY winner with a four-decade-plus career.

Irma Thomas
Newly minted Blues Hall of Famer and GRAMMY winner is “The Soul Queen of New Orleans."

Otis Taylor
The banjo-toting trance-blues man and “one of the most innovative, thought-provoking blues artists to emerge in the last 20 years." (Billboard).

Marcia Ball
Piano player/singer counts #1 Blues Albums, of whom Rolling Stone said, “Her songs ring with emotional depth."

A Chicago Blues Jam
with drummer Kenny Smith, drummer/harmonica player Willie Big Eyes Smith (Muddy Waters), bassist Bob Stroger (Otis Rush), guitarist Lurrie Bell (Carrie Bell, Buddy Guy), and others.

Gaye Adegbalola
Acclaimed singer and member of Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women, blues historian, and openly gay activist.

Rory Block
Slide guitar player/singer learned directly from Son House and has been called “an inspiration" by Bonnie Raitt.

Albert Castiglia
Miami-based and a former member of Junior Well's band.

Janiva Magness
Blues/soul songstress of whom No Depression said, “She simply sings heartbreak, hunger and humor--sings 'em with equally great chops and feeling--and lets that speak for itself."

Kenny Neal
Son of Louisiana harmonica great Raful Neal and “one of the brightest young stars on the blues horizon, and a gifted artist" (Blues Revue).

Maria Muldaur
Has scored a platinum record and has recorded with the likes of Ry Cooder and Stevie Wonder.

*Eden Brent
Mississippi piano player nicknamed “Little Boogaloo," performed at President Bush's inauguration in 2005, and won the International Blues Competition in 2006.

The Mannish Boys

Tickets are still available for the ceremony.