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)
