Living Blues Awards for 1997
Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison
Best Live Performer:
Luther Allison
Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Koko Taylor
Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
B.B. King
Best Blues Song of 1996:
Big Jack Johnson, We Gotta Stop This Killin’ (MC)
Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording):
Junior Wells, Come On in this House (Telarc)
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
William Clarke
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Pinetop Perkins
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Otis Rush
Best Blues Album of 1996 (Historical Recording):
Bobby “Blue” Bland, That Did It! The Duke Recordings, Vol. 3 (MCA/Duke)
Critics’ Poll:
Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison
Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Lynn White
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Floyd Dixon
Comeback Artist of the Year:
Floyd Dixon
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Other Instrument):
C.J. Chenier (accordion)
Most Outstanding Blues Musician(s) (Sax, Trumpet, or Horn Section):
Eddie Shaw
Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Otis Rush
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Billy Branch
Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Johnny Adams
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass):
Willie Kent
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums):
Sam Carr
Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Larry Garner
Producer/Compiler of the Year (Historical Recordings):
Lawrence Hoffman, Various Artists, Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940-94 (Smithsonian)
Best Liner Notes, 1996 Blues Release(s):
Lawrence Hoffman, Various Artists, Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940-94 (Smithsonian)
Best Cover Art/Photo 1996 Blues Release:
Various Artists, Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940-94 (Smithsonian)
Best Zydeco Album of 1996:
C.J. Chenier, The Big Squeeze (Alligator)
Best Blues Album of 1996 (Historical-Prewar):
Mississippi John Hurt, Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Recordings (Columbia/Legacy)
Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording-Contemporary):
Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones, Ain’t Gonna Worry (Earwig)
Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording- All Types):
Alvin Youngblood Hart, Big Mama’s Door (OKeh)
Best Debut Album of 1996:
Alvin Youngblood Hart, Big Mama’s Door (OKeh)
Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording-Traditional or Acoustic):
Alvin Youngblood Hart, Big Mama’s Door (OKeh)
Producer of the Year (New Recordings):
George Paulus, St. George Records
Best Blues Album of 1996 (Historical-Postwar):
Various Artists, The Mercury Blues ‘N’ Rhythm Story 1945
Best Blues Song of 1996:
Johnnie Taylor, Last Two Dollars (Malaco), written by George Jackson
Best Blues Album of 1996 (New Recording-Soul/Blues):
Johnnie Taylor, Good Love (Malao)
