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
