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Allison sweeps Handy Awards


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>Memphis Mojo


Before the W.C. Handy Awards, Luther Allison Jr. said he hoped it would be a special night for his late father and namesake. He didn't need to worry. By the end of the night, Luther Allison had again swept the show.

Allison, who died of cancer last August, won six Handy Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Contemporary Blues-Male Artist and Blues Song of the Year. He shared Blues Band of the year honors with his longtime backup band, the James Solberg Band, and also took home the awards for Blues Instrumentalist - Guitar and Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Reckless, which was recorded in Memphis by Jim Gaines.

Joining Allison as multiple winners were Ruth Brown (Soul/Blues-Female Artist and Soul/Blues Album) and Carey Bell (Traditional Blues-Male Artist and Traditional Blues Album).

The Handy Awards show, which took place April 30 at the Orpheum Theatre, was hosted by Brown and Robert Cray. The show was capped off by a performance by special guest Bonnie Raitt with Rufus Thomas and Keb Mo.

The winners were:

  • Blues Entertainer of the Year - Luther Allison.
  • Blues Band of the Year - Luther Allison/James Solberg Band.
  • Contemporary Blues Album of the Year - Luther Allison.
  • Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year - Marcia Ball.
  • Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year - Luther Allison.
  • Soul/Blues Male Artist of the Year - Little Milton.
  • Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Year - Ruth Brown.
  • Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year - Rory Block.
  • Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year - Carey Bell.
  • Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year - Keb Mo.
  • Best New Blues Artist - Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones.
  • Blues Instrumentalist-Other - Roomful of Blues Horn Section.
  • Blues Instrumentalist-Harmonica - Rod Piazza.
  • Blues Instrumentalist-Keyboard - Pinetop Perkins.
  • Blues Instrumentalist-Guitar - Luther Allison.
  • Blues Instrumentalist-Bass - Calvin "Fuzz" Jones.
  • Blues Instrumentalist-Drums - Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.
  • Soul/Blues Album of the Year - R+B=Ruth Brown, Ruth Brown.
  • Blues Song of the Year - "Living in the House of the Blues," Jerry Lynn Williams, songwriter; Luther Allison, artist.
  • Acoustic Blues Album of the Year - Fish Ain't Bitin', Corey Harris.
  • Traditional Blues Album of the Year - Good Luck Man, Carey Bell.
  • Comeback Album of the Year - Another Cow is Dead, Eddie King.
  • Re-Issue Album of the Year - The Complete Chess Recordings, Jimmy Rogers.