Readers’ Awards
Best Blues Artist (Male):
Willie King
Artist of the Year (Female):
Shemekia Copeland
Artist of the Year (Male):
R.L. Burnside
Best Musicain/Guitar (tie):
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Big Jack Johnson
Best Musician/Keyboards:
Pinetop Perkins
Best Musician/Harmonica:
Snooky Pryor
Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush
Best New Album:
R.L. Burnside, Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down, Fat Possum
Best Historical Album:
Various Artists, And This is Maxwell Street, Rooster Blues
Best Blues Singer (tie):
Etta James and Little Milton
Critic’s Awards
Best Blues Album of 2000 – New Recording:
Willie King, Freedom Creek, Rooster Blues
Best Blues Album of 2000 – Contemporary Blues:
Willie King, Freedom Creek, Rooster Blues
Most Outstanding Blues Singer New Recordings- All Types:
Mighty Sam McClain
Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Roy Gaines
Most Outstanding Blues Musician –(Horns):
Calvin Owens
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Henry Butler
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums):
Sam Carr
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass):
Bob Stroger
Best Blues Artist (Female):
Shemekia Copeland
Most Outstanding Blues Musician Other Instrument:
Otha Turner (Fife)
Best Blues Albums of 2000 New Recordings-Soul/Blues:
Mosley and Johnson, Juke Joint, Malaco Records
Best Blues Albums of 2000 New Recordings-Traditional & Acoustic:
Corey Harris & Henry Butler , Vu-du menz, Alligator Records
Best Blues Albums of 2000 Best Debut Album:
North Mississippi Allstars, Shake Hands with Shorty, Tone-Cool Records
Comeback Artist of the Year:
Jerry McCain
Most Outstanding Blues Musician Harmonica: (tie)
Snooky Pryor & Jerry McCain
Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Johnny Rawls
Best Cover Art/Photo 2000 Blues Release:
Lonnie Shields, Midnight Delight, Rooster Blues
Best Blues Albums of 2000 (Historical/Reissue-Postwar):
Various Artists, And This is Maxwell Street, Rooster Blues
Best Blues Song of 2000:
Hole in the Wall (Mel Waiters)
Best Blues Albums of 2000 (Historical/Reissue-Prewar):
Various Artists, Juke Joint Saturday Night, Yazoo Records
Producer of the Year (New Recordings):
Jim O’Neal
Producer of the Year (Historical/Reissue-Prewar):
Don Kent
Best Liner Notes 2000 Release:
Colin Talcroft, And This Is Maxwell Street, Rooster Blues
Inside Living Blues 




