If you missed this year’s Blues Music Awards, then you missed quite a show.  After a year in Tunica, the Memphis Convention Center played host to the 30th Annual Blues Music Awards. The Blues is alive and well and it was nice to see the awards back in Memphis where they belong.

Performance highlights included Maria Muldaur and Taj Mahal, Steve Miller, Curtis Salgado with B.B. King,  and Betty Lavette. (Understand these highlights are based on my blues style preferences, I’m sure everyone had their own favorites.)

30 was a good year for the Blues Foundation as more award winners than ever showed up to accept their BMAs.  Koko Taylor walked up on stage with a sassy spring in her step as she accepted her award for best traditional blues female voicalist. Jeff Healy’s wife Cristie gave a moving speech on the how her husand had rediscovered his love of music through his final record Mess of Blues which won Rock Blues Album of the Year.  Janiva Magness was almost speechless when Bonnie Raitt and B.B. King presented her with the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award. There were even a host of folks from Greenville, Mississippi to cheer on their hometown gal Eden Brent as she won two awards.  The ladies seemed to reign supreme this year.

Outside of performances and award giving, the Blues Music Awards are also an opportunity to see friends from around the blues industry. I loved the action onf stage but the highlight of my night was the touching serenade I got from the legendary Pinetop Perkins. What a night!

The following Blues music performers were honored with 2009 Blues Music Awards:

Blues Music Awards Music