2020 Blues Music Awards

For the first time in its 41-year history, the Blues Music Awards was unable to celebrate with its huge extravaganza as they have done for so many years. The pandemic may have shut down the in-person event, but The Blues Foundation found the means to recognize this year’s achievements in high fashion just the same by taking it virtual — online. 

Compacted into a two-hour event broadcast by Facebook and YouTube, the celebration was hosted by Shemekia Copeland, with presentations from celebrities like Bettye LaVette, The Fantastic Negrito, Charlie Musselwhite, Beth Hart, William Bell and others, plus at-home performances by multiple acts including Larkin Poe, Southern Avenue, Walter Trout, Samantha Fish and Sue Foley.  

This year’s biggest winner was young bluesman Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, sweeping every category he was nominated for and taking home five awards, including Album of the Year. Sugaray Rayford won the most coveted prize, the BB King Entertainer of the Year Award, while the Nick Moss Band took Band of the Year honors. 

It may not have been its usual party atmosphere as in years past, with the crowd and musicians mingling together and the extended performances and acceptance speeches, but the Blues Music Awards presentation was very well done during this time when we cannot all be together. Plus, it offered the experience to many who might otherwise not have been able to have been there in person. 

This year’s Blues Music Award winners are: 

B.B King Entertainer of the Year: SUGARAY RAYFORD 

Band of The Year: NICK MOSS BAND featuring DENNIS GRUENLING 

Album of the Year: CHRISTONE KINGFISH” INGRAM – Kingfish 

Song of the Year: NICK MOSS featuring DENNIS GRUENLING – “Lucky Guy” 

 Best Emerging Artist Album Winner: CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM – Kingfish 

 Contemporary Blues Album: CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM – Kingfish 

Contemporary Blues Female Artist: SHEMEKIA COPELAND 

Contemporary Blues Male Artist: CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM 

 Traditional Blues Album Winner: NICK MOSS BAND W-DENNIS GRUENLING – Lucky Guy 

Traditional Blues Male Artist: JIMMIE VAUGHAN 

Traditional Blues Female Artist: SUE FOLEY 

 Rock Artist Winner: ERIC GALES 

Blues Rock Album Winner: ALBERT CASTIGLIA – Masterpiece 

 Acoustic Blues Album: BOB MARGOLIN – This Guitar And Tonight 

Acoustic Blues Artist: DOUG MACLEOD 

Historical Blues Album: EARWIG MUSIC COMPANY/MICHAEL FRANK – Cadillac Baby’s Bea & Baby Records – The Definitive Collection 

 Best Soul Blues Album: BOBBY RUSH – Sitting On Top Of The Blues 

Best Soul Blues Male Artist: SUGARAY RAYFORD 

Best Soul Blues Female Artist: BETTYE LAVETTE 

 Instrumentalist Guitar: CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM 

Instrumentalist Bass: MICHAEL “MUDCAT” WARD 

Instrumentalist Horn: VANESSA COLLIER 

Instrumentalist Vocals: MAVIS STAPLES 

Instrumentalist Drums: CEDRIC BURNSIDE 

Instrumentalist Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player): VICTOR WAINWRIGHT 

Instrumentalist Harmonica: RICK ESTRIN