2008 Blues Music Awards in Tunica,
Ms.llery
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STLBlues
has been on the road recently, down in Clarksdale
for the Juke Joint Festival, as far south as New
Orleans for the 2008 Jazzfest, and onto Tunica, Ms., for the
Blues Music Awards. Clarksdale,
Ms. was once again an in-between stopover point for a
few days at the one-of-a-kind establishment known as The Shack Up
Inn, which sits on the grounds of the Hopson
Plantation. Watermelon Slim had arrived in town, and was staying
with Carol and Art, co-owners along with Super
Chikan of the Blues
Berry Cafe, Super Chikan's place on Yazoo Ave. in downtown Clarksdale.
Try both the muffuletta and the eggplant parmigan, both come Watermelon
Slim and STLBlues recommended! If you're in need of a coffee
house, try Miss Del's general store, where there's a lot more than
just coffee.
Then it was north to Tunica, the music awards, and the official
unveiling of another Blues Trail marker, an ongoing project of the
Mississippi
Blues Commission. Governor
Haley Barbour, and numerous state & local officials were
on hand as Highway 61 was officially named the 'Blues Highway',
as it runs south through Mississippi. Webster Franklin of the Tunica
Convention Visitors and Bureau announced plans for a Blues Museum
right along Highway 61 in Tunica, welcoming those traveling the
Blues Highway throughout the Delta. Blue Cross Blue Shield presented
Blues Commission member D. Craig Ray and the Mississippi
Blues Commission with a check for $10,000, helping to fund this
exciting historical project. D. Craig Ray is also the Vice Chairman
of the Mississippi Delta
Tourism Association.
STLBlues was on hand at the Blues Music awards pre-show cocktail
party, as Watermelon
Slim was given a custom Super Chikan guitar in a great gesture
of friendship.
Just another indicator of how strong the Blues community is. The
hardworking crew of the Blues
Foundation worked hard to pull off an event of this scale.The
Blues Music Awards were held this year at Harrah's Grand Casino
event center, and showcased some great live music among all the
awards. The event ran almost 7 hours, with so many perfomers scheduled
to play. It was great to honor the hard working bluesmen and blueswomen
who carry on this great art form. Support live music every chance
you get, some may be just down the street from you!
-- Here's a complete list of the 2008 Blues Music Award winners
--
1. DVD - Kenny Wayne Shepherd "10 Days Out:
- Blues from the Backroads "
2. Traditional Blues Male Artist - Hubert Sumlin
3. Traditional Blues Female Artist - Koko Taylor
4. Acoustic Artist - Bobby Rush
5. Acoustic Album Bobby Rush - Raw
6. Pinetop Perkins Piano Player - Honey Piazza
7. Instrumentalist-Guitar - Bob Margolin
8. Soul Blues Male Artist - Bobby Rush
9. Soul Blues Female Artist - Irma Thomas
10. Soul Blues Album - The Holmes Brothers –
State of Grace
11. Historical Album - Epic/Legacy – Breakin’
It UP, Breakin’ it DOWN
12. Contemporary Blues Album - Tommy Castro - Painkiller
13. Contemporary Blues Female Artist - Bettye LaVette
14. Contemporary Blues Male Artist - Tab Benoit
15. Instrumentalist-Harmonica - Kim Wilson
16. Instrumentalist-Bass - Bob Stroger
17. Instrumentalist-Drums - Sam Lay
18. Instrumentalist-Horn - Deanna Bogart
19. Instrumentalist-Pedal Steel - Robert Randolph
20. Best New Artist Debut - Diunna Greenleaf &
Blue Mercy – Cotton Field to Coffee House
21. Song - “Gonna Buy Me a Mule” –
Koko Taylor
22. Traditional Blues Album - Koko Taylor –
Old School
23. Album - Watermelon Slim & the Workers –
The Wheel Man
24. Band - Watermelon Slim & the Workers
25. B.B. King Entertainer - Tommy Castro
On
the road to the Blues Music Awards in Tunica, Ms.
Click
on the buttons below, drag
the thumbnail panel anywhere you want, and enjoy the show! |
Move
Inside the Juke Joint
Chapel, on the grounds of the Shack up Inn
- Clarksdale, Ms. Tell em' STLBlues sent you!
Big Mommas Soul Food kitchen,
just south of Memphis on Hwy. 61
On the road to Tunica
Mississippi Blues Commission
unveils Blues Trail Marker, and gets a $10,000
donation from Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Mississippi Governor unveils
Blues Trail Marker
Mississippi Governor and
Senator unveil Blues Trail Marker
Tunica CVB presents a
Blues Trail Marker event
Jay Sielman of the Blues
Foundation recieves Blues Trail proclamation
Super Chikan surprises
his friend Watermelon Slim with a custom handmade
cigar box guitar.
One of Chikan's gifts
besides making music is making musical intruments,
and sharing that gift with his friends.
Great musicians, and even
better friends
Slim, Chikan, and Charlie
Burch - Super Chikan's manager
2nd row - Hubert Sumlin,
Koko Taylor & Pinetop Perkins 1st row - Watermelon
Slim and Super Chikan
Blues Music Awards
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