2011 LIVING BLUES AWARDS

18th Annual Living Blues Awards

Critics’ Poll:

Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
James Cotton

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Mavis Staples

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Mavis Staples

Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar):
Lurrie Bell

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica):
James Cotton

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard):
Pinetop Perkins

Most Outstanding Musician (Bass):
Bob Stroger

Most Outstanding Musician (Drums):
Kenny Smith

Most Outstanding Musician (Horns):
Eddie Shaw

Most Outstanding Musician (Other):
Major Handy – Accordion

Best Live Performer:
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials

Comeback Artist of the Year:
James Kinds

Artist Deserving More Attention:
The Relatives

Best Blues Albums of 2010:

Album of the Year:
James Cotton – Giant  (Alligator Records)

New Recordings/ Southern Soul:
Denise LaSalle – 24 Hour Woman  (Malaco Records)

New Recordings/ Best debut:
James Kinds – Love You From The Top  (Delmark Records)

New Recordings/ Traditional & Acoustic:
Eric Bibb – Booker’s Guitar  (Telarc Records)

New Recordings/Contemporary Blues
Kenny Neal – Hooked On Your Love  (Blind Pig)

Historical:
Junior Wells – Live In Boston 1966  (Delmark Records)

Blues Book of the Year:
Scott Barretta and Ken Murphy – State Of The Blues  (Proteus Publishing)

Readers’ Poll:

Blues Artist of the Year (Male)
Buddy Guy

Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Marcia Ball

Best Blues Album of 2010 (New Release):
Buddy Guy – Living Proof  (Silvertone/Jive)

Best Blues Album of 2010 (Historical Recording):
Dinah Washington – The Fabulous Miss D! The Keystone, Decca, & Mercury Singles 1943-1953 (Verve/Mercury/Hip-O Select)

Best Blues DVD of 2010:
Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan – In Session  (Stax Records)

Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar):
Buddy Guy

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica):
Charlie Musselwhite

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard):
Marcia Ball

Best Live Performer:
Buddy Guy

Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Buddy Guy