Toronto Blues Society's 2010 Maple Blues Awards

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Toronto Blues Society's 2010 Maple Blues Awards
by Rev. Keith A. Gordon
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The Toronto Blues Society will hold its 13th annual Maple Blues Awards ceremony on Monday night, January 18th, 2010 at the brand new Koerner Hall at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Ontario. The Canadian blues scene is often overshadowed by that of its neighbors to the south, but in truth the country hosts a thriving, vital blues community and this annual event honors excellence among Canadian blues artists.

Maple Blues Awards nominees are chosen by a panel of over 40 blues experts. Co-chaired by the Toronto Blues Society's John Valenteyn and Brent Staeben of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton, the panel includes radio hosts, journalists, and festival organizers regionally distributed across Canada.

Winners will chosen by votes placed on the Toronto Blues Society website, and voting is open to all Canadian citizens with a valid email address. Voting opened on Friday, October 30, 2009 and will run through noon EST on Sunday, December 13, 2009. Here are the nominees for the 2010 Maple Blues Awards:

Entertainer of the Year

* Downchild
* Jack de Keyzer
* Little Miss Higgins
* Monkey Junk
* Shakura S’Aida

Electric Act of the Year

* David Gogo
* Garrett Mason
* Jack de Keyzer
* Monkey Junk
* The Twisters

Acoustic Act of the Year

* Big Dave McLean
* Braithwaite & Whiteley
* Harrison Kennedy
* Harry Manx
* Julian Fauth

Male Vocalist of the Year

* Harrison Kennedy
* Jim Byrnes
* John Mays (Fathead, Maple Blues Revue)
* Paul Reddick
* Steve Marriner (Monkey Junk)

Female Vocalist of the Year

* Jolene "Little Miss" Higgins
* Roxanne Potvin
* Shakura S'Aida
* Suzie Vinnick
* Treasa Levasseur

New Artist/Group of the Year

* Blackburn
* Blues Delight
* Clio & The Blues Highway
* Ross Neilsen
* Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth

B.B. King International Artist of the Year

* John Mayall
* Maria Muldaur
* Taj Mahal
* Tommy Castro
* Watermelon Slim

Recording of the Year

* The Twisters - Come Out Swingin' (NorthernBlues)
* Harrison Kennedy - One Dog Barkin' (Electro-Fi)
* Jeff Healey - Songs From The Road (Stony Plain)
* Paul Reddick - SugarBird (NorthernBlues)
* Monkey Junk - Tiger In Your Tank (Beefy)

Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)

* Alec Fraser
* Chris Whitley
* Danny Brooks
* Ellen McIlwaine
* Joe Murphy
* Ken Whiteley
* Michael Fonfara
* Paul James
* Terry Wilkins
* Tom Lavin

Guitarist of the Year

* Garrett Mason
* Jack de Keyzer
* Steve Dawson (Jim Byrnes)
* Steve Strongman
* Tony D (Monkey Junk)

Harmonica Player of the Year

* Carlos Del Junco
* David Hoerl (The Twisters)
* David Rotundo
* Jerome Godboo
* Steve Marriner (Monkey Junk)

Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year

* Bill Stevenson (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)
* Julian Fauth
* Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
* Lance Anderson
* Michael Fonfara (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue)

Horn Player of the Year

* Al Lerman (Fathead, Maple Blues Revue)
* Chris Murphy (Maple Blues Revue)
* Chris Whiteley (Maple Blues Revue)
* Johnny Ferreira
* Pat Carey (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue)

Drummer of the Year

* Al Cross
* Bucky Berger (Fathead)
* Chris Nordquist
* Geoff Arsenault (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)
* Tom Bona (Raoul & The Big Time, Maple Blues Revue)

Bassist of the Year

* Alan Duffy (Jack de Keyzer)
* Alec Fraser (Broken Joe, Jeff Healey)
* Gary Kendall (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue, Gary Kendall Band)
* Keith Picot (The Twisters)
* Tom Easley (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)

Songwriter of the Year

* Brandon Isaak (The Twisters)
* Chris Whiteley & Diana Braithwaite
* Harrison Kennedy
* Paul Reddick
* Treasa Levasseur

Maple Blues Awards website
Blues Awards

* Living Blues Awards 2009
* 2009 Blues Blast Music Awards Nominees & Winners
* Blues Music Award 2009 Winners & Nominees
* 2008 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees
* Blues Blast 2008 Music Award Winners