Deanna Bogart was award the Blues Music Award for Horn Instrumentalist of the Year. The Maryland-based blues and boogie pianist / saxophonist combines the energy of 1930′s style boogie piano blues with contemporary blues sounds emanating from places like New Orleans, Chicago and Memphis. “The goal when we play live,” says Bogart, “is to create [...]
Archive for Category: "Blues Music Awards 2011 Features"
Jason Ricci 2010 Harmonica Player of the Year
Jason Ricci received “Best Harmonica Player” at the May 6, 2010 Blues Music Awards. His road has been paved by success. For instance, by the age of 21, Ricci had won the Sonny Boy Blues Society contest and performed at The King Biscuit Blues Festival. This came after being a student of the traditional [...]
The Mannish Boys: An Interview with Randy Chortkoff
BMA nominees The Mannish Boys are up for 3 awards this year: Blues Album of the Year, Traditional Blues Album of the Year and Band of the Year. Randy Chortkoff, the driving force behind the band, talks about his deep connection to the blues, what young musicians need to learn and how important it is [...]
Eden Brent nominated for a BMA for Koko Taylor Award
Eden Brent, Nominated for a Blues Music Award Eden Brent is another fabulous Blues artist nominated for a Blues Music Award for the Koko Taylor Award. Last year, Eden took the 2010 Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year award. Eden first developed her gutsy vocal-and piano chops via family sing-a-longs and a 16-year apprenticeship with the [...]
Buddy Guy, Nominated in Four Blues Music Awards Categories
Buddy Guy @ Horseshoe Casino Southern IN, 2010 George”Buddy” Guy , the seventy four year old pioneer of the Chicago Blues sound, has been nominated in four categories for the 32nd annual Blues Music Awards to be held May 5th, 2011 at the Cook County Convention Center in Memphis, TN. Guy is a nominee [...]
John Hammond is an American Treasure
(Memphis, Tennessee) A couple of years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting John Hammond when he was booked on the same bill as the Reba Russell Band in Denver during the Mile High Blues Festival. John was scheduled to perform before we went on stage so I had an opportunity to watch his [...]
BMA Nominee Paul Oscher
Nominated for 3 BMA’s (Acoustic Artist of the Year, Best Instrumentalist-Harmonica, Acoustic Album of the Year) firmly planted in traditional blues, and preferring the rough, rawness of the old school recordings, Paul Oscher has extended his reach from the early days with Muddy Waters to a loop recording with Mos Def. American Blues News spoke [...]
Doug Macleod Blues Music Award Nominee for Acoustic Artist by Monica Yasher
Doug Macleod is nominated for a Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist. Doug is a known storyteller. And, the stories he told me! What a great person to speak with on Blues history, playing music, and songwriting. Doug writes from a place in his heart, and still follows the advice of his mentor: Write [...]
Blues Music Award Nominee Guy Davis by Monica Yasher
Guy Davis has been nominated for a Blues Music Award for Acoustic Guitarist. Guy can be caught on stage as an actor, as a teacher, or appearing on stage and sharing his storytelling with thousands. Though guy came from a family of actors, he attributes his guitar playing to a nine finger guitar picker [...]
DUKE ROBILLARD: Loving the Journey
BMA Nominee Duke Robillard began expressing his passion for music at the age of 6. His first musical instrument of note was a plastic ukulele. American Blues News spoke with him about his passion, his producing and his playing. And the fact that the journey is worth it- because now, more than ever, he loves his [...]
Bob Corritore and the road continues on
From his youth sneaking onto the streets of Chicago, Bob had a goal and his will, his talent, his drive has brought him to this tie in his life where he feels like he has lived 5 lifetimes already.
Blues Music Award Nominee Harmonica Instrumentalist James Cotton
Fact: The year 2011 is Cotton’s 67th year in the entertainment business. And, in 2011, James Cotton is nominated for a Blues Music Award for Instrumentalist Harmonica. What an amazing adventure this man is experiencing with his little harmonica! James Cotton was born on July 1, 1925, and is called Cotton by his friends. He’s [...]
Blues Music Award Guitarist Instrumentalist Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks Derek Trucks Derek Trucks Derek Trucks Before he was a teenager, Derek Trucks was playing guitar and touring. With legendary roots, Derek has established himself as a slide guitar virtuoso, setting the stage for his BMA nomination as Best Instrumentalist. We caught up with Derek at the Johnstown Flood festival last summer and [...]
An Interview with Blues Music Award Nominee Blues Band Nominee Nick Moss by Monica Yasher
Nick Moss Lives near Lake Michigan, when he isn’t on the road. And, Nick attributes a good deal of his success to his wife, Kate, whom he mentions often. In our conversation, Nick shared a story of Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, when he was playing for the Living Legends Band where Willie gives his thoughts on the [...]
Blues Music Award Nominee Best Band Rick Estrin and the Nightcats
Today’s feature is Rick Estrin and the Nightcats who have been nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Best Band Category. This was my second time seeing Rick and the boys and they are one highly entertaining band. Great songs, great stage presence and great playing. Another one of those bands that is built for [...]
