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1994 Reader's Awards:

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Buddy Guy

Most Outstanding Blues Musician:
Buddy Guy

Best Live Performer:
Buddy Guy

Best Blues Album of 1993 (New Recording):
Buddy Guy, Feels Like Rain (Silvertone)

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Koko Taylor

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
B.B. King

All-Time Favorite Blues Artist:
Muddy Waters

Best Blues Song of 1993:
Robert Cray, 1040 Blues

Best Blues Festival of 1993:
The Chicago Blues Festival

Best Blues Radio Show:
“Blues Stage,” with Ruth Brown

Best Blues Club:
Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago

Best Blues Album of 1993 (Historical recording):
Muddy Waters, Complete Plantation Recordings (MCA)

Critics’ Awards:

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Koko Taylor

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
B.B. King

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Billy Boy Arnold

Comeback Artist of the Year:
Billy Boy Arnold

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Bobby Bland

Best Blues Song of 1993: 
Bobby Bland, There’s A Stranger In My House

Best Blues Album of 1993 (New Recordings/ Soul- Blues):
Bobby Bland, Years of Tears

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar): 
Otis Rush

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums):
Sam Carr

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass):
Willie Kent

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Other instrument):
Lonnie Pitchford (one-string)

Best Horn Section:
The Memphis Horns

Best Blues Album of 1993 (New Recording): 
Lonnie Shields, Portrait (Rooster Blues)

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards:
Pinetop Perkins

Best Blues Album of 1993 (Historical-Prewar):
Blind Willie Johnson, The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (Columbia/Legacy)

Best Blues Album of 1993 (Historical-Postwar):
Little Walter, The Essential Little Walter (MCA)

Producer of the Year (New Recordings):
Ron Levy

Producer/Compiler of the Year (Historical recordings):
Andy McKaie, MCA

Best Liner Notes, 1993 Blues Release:
Samuel Charters

Best Cover/Art Photo, 1993 Blues Release:
Muddy Waters, The Complete Plantation Recordings (MCA)

Best Zydeco Album of 1993:
Chubby Carrier, Dance All Night (Blind Pig)

Best Live Performer:
Big Jack Johnson

Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Ray Bailey

Best Debut Blues Album of 1993:
Ray Bailey, Satan’s Horn (Bohemia Music)

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Jimmy Rogers

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Denise LaSalle

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
(tie) Otis Rush and Big Jack Johnson

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Charles Brown

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Johnny Adams

Comeback Artist of the Year:
Syl Johnson

Producer/Compiler of the Year (Historical Recordings):
Andy McKaie, MCA

Producer of the Year (New Recordings):
Robert Palmer

Best Blues Song of 1994:
Artie “Blues Boy” White, I’m Gonna Marry My Mother-In-Law

Best Liner Notes, 1994 Blues Release:
Ray Topping

Best Cover Art/Photo, 1994 Blues Release:
Elmore James, The Classic Early Recordings

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Carey Bell

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Other Instrument):
Lonnie Pitchford (one-string)

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass):
Willie Kent

Best Blues Album of 1994 (New Recording Soul-Blues):
Syl Johnson, Back in the Game (Delmark)

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums): 
Sam Carr

Best Blues Album of 1994 (Traditional or Country Blues):
R.L. Burnside, Too Bad Jim (Fat Possum)

Best Debut Blues Album of 1994:
Michael Hill’s Blues Mob, Bloodliness (Alligator)

Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Vance Kelly

Best Blues Album of 1994 (New Recording):
Vance Kelly, Call Me (Wolf)

Best Blues Album of 1994 (Historical-Prewar):
Skip James, The Complete Early Recordings (Yazoo)

Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush

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

Best Blues Album of 1994 (Historical-Postwar):
Charles Brown, The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Charles Brown(Mosaic)

Best Zydeco Album of 1994:
Boozoo Chavis & the Majik Sounds, Live At the Habibi Temple (Rounder)

 

1996 Readers’ Awards

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Luther Allison

Best Live Performer:
Luther Allison

Best Blues Album of 1995 (New Recording):
Luther Allison, Blue Streak (Alligator)

Best Blues Song of 1995:
Luther Allison, Cherry Red Wine

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Koko Taylor

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboard):
Pinetop Perkins

Critics’ Awards:

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar): 
Luther Allison

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Charlie Musselwhite

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
B.B. King

Best Live Performer:
Luther Allison

Best Blues Album of 1995 (New Recording):
Luther Allison, Blue Streak (Alligator)

Best Blues Album of 1995 (Historical Recording): 
T-Bone Walker, The Complete Capitol Black & White (Capitol)

Best Blues Song of 1995:
Luther Allison, Cherry Red Wine

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
(tie) Little Milton and B.B. King

Blues Artist of the Year
(Female): Bonnie Lee

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass):
Willie Kent

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Other Instrument):
Howard Armstrong (violin)

Comeback Artist of the Year:
Little Sammy Davis

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums):
Sam Carr

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Omar Sharriff

Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Omar Sharriff

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

Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Carey Bell

Best Blues Album of 1995 (Traditional or Country Blues):
Corey Harris, Between Night and Day (Alligator)

Best Zydeco Album of 1995:
C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Too Much Fun (Alligator)

Best Blues Album of 1995 (Historical-Postwar):
J.B. Lenoir Vietnam Blues-The Complete L+R Recordings (Evidence)

Best Debut Album of 1995:
Paul “Wine” Jones, Mule (Fat Possum/Capricorn)

Best Cover Art/ Photo, 1995 Blues Release:
(tie) Ollie Nightingale, I’ll Drink Your Bath Water, Baby (Ecko)
Mem Shannon, A Cab Driver’s Blues (Hannibal)

Best Blues Album of 1995 (New Recording-Soul/Blues):
Lee Shot Williams, Cold Shot (Black Magic)

Producer of the Year (New Recordings):
Dick Shurman

Best Liner Notes, 1995 Blues Release(s):
Cub Koda, various reissues for AVI/Excello

Producer/Compiler of the Year (Historical recordings):
Jerry Gordon, Evidence

Best Blues Album of 1995 (Historical-Prewar):
Sippie Wallace, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order
(1923-1945), Vols. 1&2 (Document)

 

1997 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 (Malaco)

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 50th 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