Not letting a pandemic get in their way, the Blues Music Awards announced the 2020 winners via a virtual ceremony.
Last night, The Blues Foundation broadcast the 2020 Blues Music Awards virtually, with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram cleaning up, winning five awards. He won three awards for his debut album, Kingfish, as well as two performer awards – Best Contemporary Blues Male Artist and for Instrumentalist-Guitar. Nick Moss and his band also had a successful evening, winning three awards.
The star-studded evening included Warren Hayes, Beth Hart, Fantastic Negrito, Ken’ Mo’, and Ruthie Foster were amongst the presenters. Due to the restrictions in place due to COVID-19, the annual gala held in Memphis had to be canceled, but instead, blues fans around the world were able to enjoy the show from the comfort of their own homes.
The winners of the evening were as follows:
BB King Entertainer of the Year
Sugaray Rayford
Album of the Year
Kingfish, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Band of the Year
The Nick Moss Band feat. Dennis Gruenling
Song of the Year
“Lucky Guy,” written by Nick Moss
Best Emerging Artist Album
Kingfish, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Acoustic Blues Album
This Guitar and Tonight, Bob Margolin
Acoustic Blues Artist
Doug MacLeod
Blues Rock Album
Masterpiece, Albert Castiglia
Blues Rock Artist
Eric Gales
Contemporary Blues Album
Kingfish, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Shemekia Copeland
Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Historical Blues Album
Cadillac Baby’s Bea & Baby Records – Definitive Collection, Earwig Music
Soul Blues Album
Sitting on Top of the Blues, Bobby Rush
Soul Blues Female Artist
Bettye LaVette
Soul Blues Male Artist
Sugaray Rayford
Traditional Blues Album
Lucky Guy!, The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling
Traditional Blues Female Artist
Sue Foley
Traditional Blues Male Artist
Jimmie Vaughan
Instrumentalist Bass
Michael “Mudcat” Ward
Instrumentalist Drums
Cedric Burnside
Instrumentalist Guitar
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Instrumentalist Harmonica
Rick Estrin
Instrumentalist Horn
Vanessa Collier
Instrumentalist Piano
Victor Wainwright
Instrumentalist Vocals
Mavis Staples
If you want to watch the full broadcast, you can head to The Blues Foundation’s Facebook or YouTube channel.
Congratulations to all of the 2020 nominees and winners!
