Readers’ Awards

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison

Blues Artist of the Year (Female): 
Ruth Brown

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Bobby Rush

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar): 
Luther Allison

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Junior Wells

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Pinetop Perkins

Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush

Best Blues Album of 1997 (New Recording):
Luther Allison, Reckless, Alligator

Best Blues Album of 1997 (Historical Recording):
Jimmy Rogers, Complete Chess Recordings, MCA/Chess

Best Blues Song of 1997:
Robert Cray, The One In The Middle

Critics’ Awards

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Bobby Rush

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Denise LaSalle

Most Outstanding Blues singer:
Bobby Rush

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Johnny B. Moore

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Junior Wells

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Pinetop Perkins

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums):
Sam Carr

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass):
Nick Holt

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Other Instrument-lap steel):
Freddie Roulette

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Sax, Trumpet, or Horn Section):
A.C. Reed

Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush

Comeback Artist of the Year (tie):
Freddie Roulette & Mighty Joe Young

Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Mary Lane

Best Blues Album of 1997 (New Recording-Contemporary):
Super Chikan, Blues Come Home to Roost, Rooster Blues

Best Blues Album of 1997 (New Recording –Soul/Blues:
Denise LaSalle, Smokin’ in Bed, Malaco

Best Blues Album of 1997  (New-Recording-Traditional or Acoustic):
Corey Harris, FoB

Best Debut Album of 1997:
Super Chikan, Blues Come Home to Roost, Rooster Blues

Best Blues Song of 1997:
Super Chickan, Down In The Delta

Best Blues Albums of 1997 (Historical-Prewar) :
Big Maceo, The Bluebird recordings , 1941-1942;
The Victor/ bluebird Recordings, 1945-1947, RCA

Best Blues Album of 1997 (Historical-Postwar): 
Various artists, Aristocrat of the Blues, Chess

Producer of the Year (New Recordings:
Lawrence Hoffman

Producer/Compiler of the Year (Historical Recordings):
Andy McKaie, MCA/  Chess 50^th Anniversary Series.

Best Liner Noters, 1997 Blues Releases:
Jim O’Neal

Best Cover Art/Photo, 1997 Blues Release:
Robert Lee McCoy

Best Zydeco Album of 1997:
Boozoo Chavis, Hey do Right!, Rounder