29th Annual Living Blues Awards (2022)

Critics’ Poll


Blues Artist of the Year (Male)
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram


Blues Artist of the Year (Female)
Shemekia Copeland


Most Outstanding Blues Singer
Sugaray Rayford


Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram


Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)
Charlie Musselwhite


Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard)
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne


Most Outstanding Musician (Bass)
Bob Stroger


Most Outstanding Musician (Drums)
Rodd Bland


Most Outstanding Musician (Horns)
James “Boogaloo” Bolden


Most Outstanding Musician (Other)
Cedric Watson (Accordion)


Best Live Performer
Bobby Rush


Comeback Artist of the Year
Johnny Tucker


Artist Deserving More Attention
Crystal Thomas



Best Blues Albums of 2021

Album of the Year
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – 662 (Alligator)


New Recordings / Contemporary Blues
Crystal Thomas – Now Dig This! (Dialtone)


New Recordings / Traditional & Acoustic
Eric Bibb – Dear America (Provogue)


New Recordings / Southern Soul
Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra – Not in My Lifetime (Blue Dot)


New Recordings / Best Debut
Buffalo Nichols – Buffalo Nichols (Fat Possum)


Historical / Pre-war
Various Artists – The Matchbox Bluesmaster Series (Matchbox Records)


Historical / Postwar
Various Artists – Down Home Blues: Miami, Atlanta & The South Eastern States (Wienerworld)


Blues Book of the Year
I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story
By Bobby Rush with Herb Powell
Hachette Books


Producer of the Year: New Recording
Tom Hambridge: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – 662 (Alligator)


Producer of the Year: Historical Recording
Tom Vickers: Chicago / The Blues / Today! – (Vanguard)



Readers’ Poll


Blues Artist of the Year (Male)
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram


Blues Artist of the Year (Female)
Mavis Staples


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
Mavis Staples


Best Blues Album of 2021 (New Release)
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – 662 (Alligator)


Best Blues Album of 2021 (Historical Recording)
Jimmie Vaughan – The Jimmie Vaughan Story (The Last Music Company)


Best Blues Book of 2021
King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King
By Daniel de Visé
Atlantic Monthly Press