An impressive assembly of blues music masters, ranging from Blues Hall of Famers to rising stars, will gather in Memphis on Thursday, May 11th, for the 44th Annual Blues Music Awards. Presented by The Blues Foundation, the BMAs honor the past year’s exceptional achievements in blues music recording, performance, and songwriting, as well as supporting the blues’ rich cultural traditions. This celebratory evening, recognized internationally as the blues world’s premier event, not only attracts nearly all the nominees but also presents them in performance.
The event takes place at Memphis’ Renasant Convention Center (255 North Main Street), where a Blue Carpet will lead to the theater. The Blue Carpet pre-show commences at 5 p.m.. Tickets range from individual seats for $150 to Premium tables (seats 10) for $1800. Ticket sales are now open and can be purchased here.
Topping the list of talented BMA contenders is John Németh, with five nominations, Song of the Year, Traditional Blues Album, Band of the Year, Instrumentalist – Harmonica, and Instrumentalist – Vocals, which he won in 2022.
Behind John Németh in the nomination count are Shemekia Copeland, Rory Block and Eric Gales, each receiving three nominations. Shemekia Copeland is up for Song of the Year, Contemporary Blues Album, and Instrumentalist – Vocals. Rory Block is up for Acoustic Blues Album, Acoustic Artist and Traditional Blues Female, and Eric Gales is up for Song of the Year, BB King Entertainer of the Year, and Blues Rock Album.
Some of last year’s winners hoping to hold onto their awards are Tommy Castro (B.B. King Entertainer of the Year), Albert Castiglia (Blues Rock Artist), Vanessa Collier (Contemporary Blues Female Artist), Annika Chambers (Soul Blues Female Artist), Curtis Salgado (Soul Blues Male Artist), Sue Foley (Traditional Blues Female Artist – Koko Taylor Award), Danielle Nicole (Instrumentalist – Bass), Jason Ricci (Instrumentalist – Harmonica), Jimmy Carpenter (Instrumentalist Horn), John Németh (Instrumentalist – Vocals.)
Past winners hoping to reclaim awards are Sugaray Rayford and Bobby Rush (B.B. King Entertainer of the Year), Buddy Guy (Song of the Year), Buddy Guy and Shemekia Copeland (Contemporary Blues Album), Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (Contemporary Blues Male Artist), Anthony Geraci (Instrumentalist – Piano / Pinetop Perkins Award), Duke Robillard and John Primer (Traditional Blues Male Artist), Chris Layton and Tony Braunagel (Instrumentalist – Drums), Michael “Mudcat” Ward (Instrumentalist – Bass), Dennis Gruenling (Instrumentalist – Harmonica), Deanna Bogart (Instrumentalist – Horn), Ruthie Foster (Contemporary Blues Female Artist), John Németh (Soul Blues Male Artist), Diunna Greenleaf and Rory Block (Traditional Blues Female Artist – Koko Taylor Award), Corey Harris and Rory Block (Acoustic Blues Album), Tinsley Ellis and Albert Castiglia (Blues Rock Album), Doug MacLoed and Rory Block (Acoustic Blues Artist), Tedeschi Trucks Band and Rick Estrin and the NIghtcats (Band of the Year.)
Willie J. Campbell, who passed away this past December, was posthumously nominated for Instrumentalist – Bass.
The night before the BMAs, The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Memphis’ Halloran Centre at the Orpheum (225 South Main Street). Following a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception, the inductions begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Halloran Theater. Tickets, which include ceremony and reception admission, are $75 each and, as with any other musical event or charitable donation, they are non-refundable. The 2023 class of inductees will be announced in the coming weeks.
The complete list of Blues Music Award nominees can be found below and on The Blues Foundation’s website. The ballot will be open for voting to current Blues Foundation members only until 11:59 P.M. CST on Friday, March 20th. To become a Blues Foundation member, head here and click on the Join button to learn about the different membership levels and how to easily and securely join online. Upon membership confirmation, new and renewing members will be sent instructions on how to access the 2023 Blues Music Awards Ballot.
Major funding for the 44th Blues Music Awards is provided by ArtsMemphis, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Memphis Tourism. Special thanks to partners Memphis Airport Authority and DittyTV.
44th Blues Music Award Nominees
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year:
Sugaray Rayford
Tommy Castro
Eric Gales
Bobby Rush
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Band of the Year
Anthony Geraci & The Boton Blues Allstars
John Németh and the Blue Dreamers
Rick Estrin and the Nightcats
Southern Avenue
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Song of the Year:
Altered Five Blues Band “Great Minds Drink Alike” (Jeff Schroedl)
Buddy Guy “The Blues Don’t Lie” (Tom Hambridge)
Eric Gales “I Want My Crown” (Eric Gales, Joe Bonamassa)
John Németh “The Last Time” (John Németh)
Shemekia Copeland “Too Far to Be Gone” (John Hahn/Will Kimbrough)
Best Emerging Artist Album:
Blue Moon Marquee / Scream, Holler & Howl
DaShawn Hickman / Drums, Roots & Steel
Dylan Triplett / Who Is He?
Jose Ramirez / Major League Blues
Yates McKendree / Buchanan Lane
Acoustic Blues Album:
Charlie Musselwhite / Mississippi Son
Corey Harris / The Insurrection Blues
Duwayne Burnside / Acoustic Burnside
Harrison Kennedy / Thanks for Tomorrow
Rory Block / Ain’t Nobody Worried
Blues Rock Album:
Albert Castiglia / I Got Love
Bernard Allison / Highs & Lows
Colin James / Open Road
Eric Gales / Crown
Tinsley Ellis / Devil May Care
Contemporary Blues Album:
Buddy Guy / The Blues Don’t Lie
Diunna Greenleaf / I Ain’t Playin’
Janiva Magness / Hard to Kill
Larry McCray / Blues Without You
Shemekia Copeland / Done Come too Far
Soul Blues Album:
Kat Riggins / Progeny
Kirk Fletcher / Heartache by the Pound
Sugaray Rayford / In Too Deep
The Love Light Orchestra / Leave the Light On
Trudy Lynn / Golden Girl
Traditional Blues Album
Kenny Neal / Straight From the Heart
Bob Corritore / Bob Borritore & Friends: You Shocked Me
Duke Robillard / They Called it Rhythm & Blues
John Németh / May Be the Last Time
John Primer / Hard Times
Acoustic Blues Artist:
Doug MacLeod
Guy Davis
Harrison Kennedy
Rhiannon Giddens
Rory Block
Blues Rock Artist:
Walter Trout
Albert Castiglia
Tommy Castro
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Tinsley Ellis
Contemporary Blues Female Artist:
Ruthie Foster
Beth Hart
Janiva Magness
Teresa James
Vanessa Collier
Contemporary Blues Male Artist:
Selwyn Birchwood
Chris Cain
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Soul Blues Female Artist:
Annika Chambers
Trudy Lynn
Thornetta Davis
Kat Riggins
Vaneese Thomas
Soul Blues Male Artist:
John Németh
Johnny Rawls
Curtis Salgado
Don Bryant
Billy Price
Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award):
Dietra Farr
Diunna Greenleaf
Rhiannon Giddens
Rory Block
Sue Foley
Traditional Blues Male Artist:
Billy Branch
Duke Robillard
John Primer
Johnny Burgin
Sugar Ray Norcia
Instrumentalist – Bass:
Bob Stronger
Danielle Nicole
Larry Fulcher
Michael “Mudcat” Ward
Willie J. Campbell
Instrumentalist – Drums:
Chris Layton
Cody Dickinson
Derric D’Mar Martin
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
Tony Braunagel
Instrumentalist – Guitar:
Chris Cain
Christoffer “Kid” Andersen
Joanna Connor
Kirk Fletcher
Laura Chavez
Instrumentalist – Harmonica:
Billy Branch
Bob Corritore
Jason Ricci
John Németh
Dennis Gruenling
Instrumentalist – Horn:
Deanna Bogart
Gregg Piccolo
Jimmy Carpenter
Mark Kaz Kazanoff
Sax Gordon Beadle
Instrumentalist – Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award):
Anthony Geraci
Ben Levin
Dave Keyes
Jim Pugh
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Instrumentalist – Vocals:
Curtis Salgado
Danielle Nicole
Diunna Greenleaf
John Németh
Shemekia Copeland
44th Blues Music Awards
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Renasant Convention Center – 255 N. Main St. Memphis, TN 38103
Walk the Blue Carpet: 5:00 pm
Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Halloran Centre – 225 S. Main St. Memphis, TN 38103
Reception 5:30 pm
Ceremony 7:30 pm
VOTE HERE FOR THE 44TH BLUES MUSIC AWARDS
One must be a member of The Blues Foundation to Vote. Join here or Login to your membership account.
