Watermelon Slim Once Again Leads 2008 Blues Music Awards Nominees With Six
Written by Josh Hathaway
Published December 14, 2007
Biocritics.org
Just as I predicted, Watermelon Slim was again heard from in a big way as the nominees were announced for the 2008 Blues Music Awards. Watermelon Slim and his band The Workers were nominated for six BMAs for the second consecutive year.
Legends Bobby Rush and Koko Taylor each received four nominations. Other artists nominated for multiple awards include Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan (3), Bettye LaVette (3), Nick Moss & The Flip Tops (3), Sugar Ray & the Bluetones (3), James Blood Ulmer (3), and Lurrie Bell (3).
Among the intriguing story lines for this year's awards race is that despite the six nominations last year, Slim walked away empty-handed. With six fresh nods, we'll see if 2008 is kinder. Also, 2008 is the first year that DVDs have had a BMA category of their own. The first DVD nominees include live performances as well as documentaries.
BC Magazine and BC Network site Confessions of a Fanboy have already spotlighted several of the nominated albums and artists and will again be the best place to keep up with all the news leading up to the ceremony in Tunica, MS on May 8, 2008.
Here is the complete nominee list:
Acoustic Album of the Year
Bobby Rush - Raw
Dave Riley and Bob Corritore - Travelin' the Dirt Road
Fruteland Jackson - Tell Me What You Say
Jimmy "Duck" Holmes - Done Got Tired Of Tryin'
Marie Knight - Let Us Get Together
Acoustic Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush
Doug MacLeod
Eric Bibb
Fruteland Jackson
Guy Davis
Mary Flower
Album of the Year
Bettye LaVette - The Scene of the Crime
James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood in the City
Koko Taylor - Old School
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops - Play It 'Til Tomorrow
Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan - On the Jimmy Reed Highway
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones - My Life, My Friends, My Music
Watermelon Slim & the Workers - The Wheel Man
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Bettye LaVette
Bobby Rush
Janiva Magness
Tommy Castro
Watermelon Slim
Band of the Year
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
Magic Slim & the Teardrops
Mannish Boys
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
Watermelon Slim & the Workers
Best New Artist Debut
Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy - Cotton Field to Coffee House
Gina Sicilia - Allow Me to Confess
Insomniacs - Left Coast Blues
John Nemeth - Magic Touch
The Soul of John Black - The Good Girl Blues
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Bryan Lee - Katrina Was Her Name
James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood in the City
Kilborn Alley Blues Band - Tear Chicago Down
Tommy Castro - Painkiller
Watermelon Slim & the Workers - The Wheel Man
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year
Bettye LaVette
Candye Kane
Debbie Davies
Fiona Boyes
Teresa James
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year
James Blood Ulmer
Kim Wilson
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Tab Benoit
Watermelon Slim
DVD
Carey & Lurrie Bell - Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa's and Lurrrie's Home
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads
Pinetop Perkins - Born in the Honey
Son Seals - A Journey through the Blues - The Son Seals Story
Willie King - Down in the Woods
Historical Album of the Year
Blind Pig - The Essential Magic Slim - Magic Slim
Blue Witch - House Rockin' and Blues Shoutin' - Various Artists
Delmark - Kidney Stew Is Fine - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Delmark - Steady Rollin' Man - Robert Jr. Lockwood
Epic/Legacy - Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down - Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, James Cotton
Instrumentalist - Bass
Bill Stuve
Bob Stroger
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones
Jeff Turmes
Larry Taylor
Michael "Mudcat" Ward
Instrumentalist - Drums
Jimi Bott
Richard Innes
Robb Stupka
Sam Carr
Sam Lay
Instrumentalist - Guitar
Bob Margolin
Duke Robillard
Kid Ramos
Lurrie Bell
Nick Moss
Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Carey Bell
James Cotton
Kim Wilson
Mark Hummel
Sugar Blue
Sugar Ray Norcia
Instrumentalist - Horn
Big James Montgomery
Calvin Owens
Deanna Bogart
Doug James
Kaz Kazanoff
Instrumentalist - Other
Gerry Hundt - Mandolin
Johnny Sansone - Accordion
Otis Taylor - Banjo
Robert Randolph - Pedal Steel
Sonny Rhodes - Lap Steel
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year
Ann Rabson
Bruce Katz
David Maxwell
Henry Butler
Honey Piazza
Song of the Year
"Gonna Buy Me a Mule" - Koko Taylor, Koko Taylor - Old School
"Jimmy Reed Highway" - Omar Kent Dykes & Steve Callif, Omar Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan - On the Jimmy Reed Highway
"Poor Man's Paradise" - Johnny Sansone, Johnny Sansone - Poor Man's Paradise
"The Last Words of A Fool" - Sugar Ray Norcia, Sugar Ray & the Bluetones - My Life, My Friends, My Music
"The Wheel Man" - William Homans, Watermelon Slim & the Workers - The Wheel Man
Soul Blues Album of the Year
Eugene Hideaway Bridges - Eugene Hideaway Bridges
Holmes Brothers - State of Grace
Mem Shannon - A Night at Tipitina's
Root Doctor -Change Our Ways
Tad Robinson - A New Point of View
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year
Barbara Carr
Denise LaSalle
Irma Thomas
Sharon Jones
Sista Monica Parker
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush
Eugene Hideaway Bridges
Jackie Payne
Mem Shannon
Tad Robinson
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year
Diunna Greenleaf
Koko Taylor
Nora Jean Bruso
Ruthie Foster
Sharrie Williams
Traditional Blues Album of the Year
Big George Brock - Live at Seventy Five
Darrell Nulisch - Goin' Back to Dallas
Koko Taylor - Old School
Nappy Brown - Long Time Coming
Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan - On the Jimmy Reed Highway
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
Bob Margolin
Hubert Sumlin
Lurrie Bell
Magic Slim
Nappy Brown
Phillip Walker
Josh Hathaway is Assistant Music Editor for BC Magazine. He is formerly an award-winning journalist
15th December 2007 08:12 AM
Nellcote
This listing of Harmonica players is suspect.
I do not see Richard Salwitz's name on this list.
15th December 2007 08:37 AM
Jumacfly
thanks again TTM
this list will help me to find new blues pearls.
In France, we love the blues and this year, a guy came with a very stripped and roots style record called "Cryland".
The guy Don Cavalli got an haunted voice and a roots guitar style that sometimes remind me a famous riffer.
Check his site, I love it :
http://www.myspace.com/doncavalli
jU
15th December 2007 08:48 AM
Water Dragon
TTM & JF -
Thanks to you both for posting from the "keeping it real" music side.
Best,
W.D.
15th December 2007 09:06 AM
PartyDoll MEG
This DVD is WELL worth buying...
[Edited by PartyDoll MEG]
15th December 2007 02:37 PM
Jumacfly
quote:Water Dragon wrote:
TTM & JF -
Thanks to you both for posting from the "keeping it real" music side.
Best,
W.D.
you re more than welcome sir
15th December 2007 02:50 PM
Sir Stonesalot
Rotten Belly Blues will sweep these fuckers in 2009!
You guys n gals haven't even heard our good stuff yet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv20kJElbHU
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