Mid-South artists Mr. Sipp, Eden Brent and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram were among the winners at the annual Blues Music Awards on May 8.
The 46th edition of the BMA honors — staged by the Memphis-based Blues Foundation — were held at the Renasant Convention Center in Downtown Memphis.
The Mississippi trio of Ingram, Brent and Mr. Sipp, aka Castro Colemen, represented the Magnolia State at the ceremonies. Greenville native Brent earned the Pinetop Perkins Award as the best Piano Player, Clarksdale’s Ingram won for Best Guitarist, and McComb’s Mr. Sipp took the coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award.
Aside from the locals, Chicago blues guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks was one of the evening’s big winners. Brooks took home trophies for Song of the Year and Contemporary Blues Album, for his “Blues in My DNA.” Brooks also won as Contemporary Blues Artist (Male).
Canadian blues guitarist Sue Foley also notched a pair of wins for Best Acoustic Blues Album (“One Guitar Woman”) and Traditional Blues Artist (Female). Texas-born blues vet Ruthie Foster also won two awards, for Contemporary Blues Artist (Female), and Best Vocalist.
The full list of winners is below:
BB King Entertainer of the Year: Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)Album of the Year: “Blame It On Eve,” Shemekia CopelandBand of the Year: Rick Estrin and the NightcatsSong of the Year: “Blues In My DNA,” performed and written by Ronnie Baker BrooksBest Emerging Artist Album: “Revelation,” Piper & The Hard TimesAcoustic Blues Album: “One Guitar Woman,” Sue FoleyBlues Rock Album: “Life is Hard,” Mike ZitoContemporary Blues Album: “Blues In My DNA,” Ronnie Baker BrooksSoul Blues Album: “Fine By Me,” Curtis SalgadoTraditional Blues Album: Crawlin’ ’Kingsnake, John Primer & Bob CorritoreAcoustic Blues Artist: Keb’ Mo’Blues Rock Artist: Tommy CastroContemporary Blues Female Artist: Ruthie FosterContemporary Blues Male Artist: Ronnie Baker BrooksSoul Blues Female Artist: Thornetta DavisSoul Blues Male Artist: Curtis SalgadoTraditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award): Sue FoleyTraditional Blues Male Artist: John PrimerInstrumentalist – Bass: Bob StrogerInstrumentalist – Drums: Kenny ”Beedy Eyes” SmithInstrumentalist – Guitar: Christone “Kingfish” IngramInstrumentalist – Harmonica: Billy BranchInstrumentalist – Horn: Vanessa CollierInstrumentalist – Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player): Eden BrentInstrumentalist – Vocals: Ruthie Foster
Bob Mehr covers music for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at bob.mehr@commercialappeal.com
Chicago's Ronnie Baker Brooks, and a trio of Mississippians win big at Blues Music Awards – The Commercial Appeal
