Readers’ Awards:
Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Lil’ Ed Williams
Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Koko Taylor
Best Blues Album of 2006 (New Release):
Junior Wells, Live At Theresa’s 1975 (Delmark)
Best Blues Album of 2006 (Historical Recording):
John Lee Hooker, Hooker (Shout! Factory)
Best Blues DVD of 2006:
Mel Brown, Mel Brown: The DVD (Electro-Fi)
Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar):
Mel Brown
Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica):
Charlie Musselwhite
Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard):
Marcia Ball
Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush
Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Bobby “Blue” Bland
Critics’ Awards:
Blues Artist of the Year (Male):
Lil’ Ed Williams
Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
Bettye LaVette
Most Outstanding Blues Singer:
Bettye LaVette
Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar):
Lurrie Bell
Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica):
Carey Bell
Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard):
Henry Gray
Most Outstanding Musician (Bass):
Bob Stroger
Most Outstanding Musician (Drums):
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
Most Outstanding Musician (Horns):
Big James Montgomery
Most Outstanding Musician (Other):
Stanley Dural a.k.a. Buckwheat Zydeco – Accordion
Best Live Performer:
Bobby Rush
Comeback Artist of the Year:
Jackie Payne
Artist Deserving More Attention:
Lee Gates
Best Blues Albums of 2006:
Album of the Year:
Junior Wells – Live At Theresa’s 1975 (Delmark)
New Recordings/ Southern Soul:
Mel Waiters – Throw Back Days (Malaco/Waldoxy)
New Recordings/ Best debut:
Jimmy “Duck” Holmes – Back To Bentonia (Broke & Hungry)
New Recordings/ Contemporary Blues:
Irma Thomas – After The Rain (Rounder)
New Recordings/ Traditional & Acoustic:
Jimmy “Duck” Holmes – Back To Bentonia (Broke & Hungry)
Historical Reissue/ Pre-War:
Various Artists – The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of (Yazoo)
Historical Reissue/ Post-War:
John Lee Hooker – Hooker (Shout! Factory)
DVD:
Antone’s Home Of The Blues: A Legend Every Night (Koch Vision)
Producer of the Year – New Recording:
Jeff Konkel (Broke & Hungry Records)
Producer of the Year – Historical/ Reissue:
Richard Nevins (Yazoo Records)
