20th Annual Living Blues Awards Announced

Oxford’s own Living Blues, the world’s leading blues music magazine, recently announced the results of the 20th annual Living Blues awards!

The winners in the 2013 reader’s poll are:

Blues Artist of the Year (Male)
Buddy Guy

Blues Artist of the Year (Female)
Janiva Magness

Most Outstanding Blues Singer
Buddy Guy

Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)
Robert Cray

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)
Charlie Musselwhite

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard)
Marcia Ball

Best Live Performer
Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials

Best Blues Album of 2012 (New Release)
Buddy Guy – Live at Legends – RCA/Silvertone

Best Blues Album of 2012 (Historical Recording)
Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You – Stax Records

Best Blues DVD of 2012
Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones – Checkerboard Lounge Live Chicago 1981 – Eagle Vision

Best Blues Book of 2012
When I Left Home: My Story – Buddy Guy and David Ritz – Da Capo Press

The winners in the 2013 Critics’ Poll are:

Blues Artist of the Year (Male)
Lurrie Bell

Blues Artist of the Year (Female)
Ruthie Foster

Most Outstanding Blues Singer
Bobby Bland

Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)
Lurrie Bell

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)
Billy Boy Arnold

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard)
Ironing Board Sam

Most Outstanding Musician (Bass)
Bob Stroger

Most Outstanding Musician (Drums)
Kenny Smith

Most Outstanding Musician (Horns)
Eddie Shaw

Most Outstanding Musician (Other)
Dom Flemons – Banjo

Best Live Performer
Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials

Comeback Artist(s) of the Year
Jewel Brown and Milton Hopkins

Artist Deserving More Attention
Blind Boy Paxton

Best Blues Albums of 2012

Album of the Year
Mud Morganfield – Son of the Seventh Son – Severn Records

New Recordings/Contemporary Blues
Joe Louis Walker – Hellfire – Alligator Records

New Recordings/ Southern Soul
Barbara Carr – Keep the Fire Burning – Catfood Records

New Recordings/ Best debut
Heritage Blues Orchestra – And Still I Rise – Raisin Music

New Recordings/ Traditional & Acoustic
Carolina Chocolate Drops – Leaving Eden – Nonesuch Records

Historical Pre-War
Various Artists – The Return of the Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of – Yazoo Records

Historical Post-War
Various Artists – Plug It In! Turn It Up! A History of Electric Blues – Bear Family Records

Blues Book of the Year
Ernie K-Doe: The Emperor of New Orleans – Ben Sandmel – The Historic New Orleans Collection

Producer of the Year – New Recording
Larry Skoller – Heritage Blues Orchestra – And Still I Rise – Raisin Music

Producer of the Year – New Recording
Bill Dahl – Plug It In! Turn It Up! A History of Electric Blues – Bear Family Records

Winners are printed in the August issue of Living Blues available at newsstands now. Visit www.livingblues.com to subscribe today!