Living Blues Awards for 1998
Readers’ Awards:
Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Luther Allison
Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Ruth Brown
Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Bobby Rush
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Luther Allison
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Junior Wells
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Pinetop Perkins
Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush
Best Blues Album of 1997 (New Recording):
Luther Allison, Reckless (Alligator)
Best Blues Album of 1997 (Historical Recording):
Jimmy Rogers, Complete Chess Recordings (MCA/Chess)
Best Blues Song of 1997:
Robert Cray, The One In The Middle
Critics’ Awards:
Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Bobby Rush
Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Denise LaSalle
Most Outstanding Blues singer:
Bobby Rush
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Guitar):
Johnny B. Moore
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Harmonica):
Junior Wells
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards):
Pinetop Perkins
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Drums):
Sam Carr
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Bass):
Nick Holt
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Other Instrument):
Freddie Roulette, lap steel
Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Sax, Trumpet, or Horn Section):
A.C. Reed
Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush
Comeback Artist of the Year (tie):
Freddie Roulette & Mighty Joe Young
Artist Most Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Mary Lane
Best Blues Album of 1997 (New Recording-Contemporary):
Super Chikan, Blues Come Home to Roost (Rooster Blues)
Best Blues Album of 1997 (New Recording –Soul/Blues):
Denise LaSalle, Smokin’ in Bed (Malaco)
Best Blues Album of 1997 (New-Recording-Traditional or Acoustic):
Corey Harris, FoB
Best Debut Album of 1997:
Super Chikan, Blues Come Home to Roost (Rooster Blues)
Best Blues Song of 1997:
Super Chickan, Down In The Delta
Best Blues Albums of 1997 (Historical-Prewar) :
Big Maceo, The Bluebird recordings , 1941-1942;
The Victor/Bluebird Recordings, 1945-1947 (RCA)
Best Blues Album of 1997 (Historical-Postwar):
Various artists, Aristocrat of the Blues (Chess)
Producer of the Year (New Recordings):
Lawrence Hoffman
Producer/Compiler of the Year (Historical Recordings):
Andy McKaie, MCA/ Chess 50th Anniversary Series.
Best Liner Noters, 1997 Blues Releases:
Jim O’Neal
Best Cover Art/Photo, 1997 Blues Release:
Robert Lee McCoy
Best Zydeco Album of 1997:
Boozoo Chavis, Hey do Right! (Rounder)
