Reader’s Awards

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison

Best Live Performer:
Luther Allison

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Koko Taylor

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
B.B. King

Best Blues Song of 1996:
Big Jack Johnson, We Gotta Stop This Killin’ (MC)

Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording):
Junior Wells, Come On in this House (Telarc)

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
William Clarke

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Pinetop Perkins

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Otis Rush

Best Blues Album of 1996 (Historical Recording):
Bobby “Blue” Bland, That Did It! The Duke Recordings, Vol. 3 (MCA/Duke)

Critics’ Awards

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Lynn White

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Floyd Dixon

Comeback Artist of the Year:
Floyd Dixon

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Other Instrument):
C.J. Chenier (accordion)

Most Outstanding Blues Musician(s) (Sax, Trumpet, or Horn Section):
Eddie Shaw

Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Otis Rush

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Billy Branch

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Johnny Adams

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass): 
Willie Kent

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums):
Sam Carr

Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Larry Garner

Producer/Compiler of the Year (Historical Recordings)
and Best Liner Notes, 1996 Blues Release(s):
Lawrence Hoffman, Various Artists,
Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940-94 (Smithsonian)

Best Cover Art/Photo 1996 Blues Release:
Various Artists, Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940-94 (Smithsonian)

Best Zydeco Album of 1996:
C.J. Chenier, The Big Squeeze (Alligator)

Best Blues Album of 1996 (Historical-Prewar):
Mississippi John Hurt
Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Recordings (Columbia/Legacy)

Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording-Contemporary):
Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones, Ain’t Gonna Worry (Earwig)

Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording- All Types):
Alvin Youngblood Hart Big Mama’s Door (OKeh)

Best Debut Album of 1996:
Alvin Youngblood Hart Big Mama’s Door (OKeh)

Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording-Traditional or Acoustic):
Alvin Youngblood Hart Big Mama’s Door (OKeh)

Producer of the Year (New Recordings):
George Paulus, St. George Records

Best Blues Album of 1996 (Historical-Postwar):
Various Artists, The Mercury Blues ‘N’ Rhythm Story 1945

Best Blues Song of 1996:
Johnnie Taylor, Last Two Dollars (Malaco), written by George Jackson

Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording-Soul/Blues):
Johnnie Taylor, Good Love (Malao)