Curtis Salgado The Night’s Biggest Winner at 38th Blues Music Awards

10th Annual Blues Build Benefit

Benefit Performance & Fundraising Site For Curtis SalgadoLocal blues icon Curtis Salgado received three nominations for this year’s prestigious Blues Music Awards and walked away with all three, making him the most awarded artist of the night. Salgado received recognition as Soul Blues Artist of the Year, Soul Blues Recording for The Beautiful Lowdown, and Song of the Year for the tune “Walk a Mile In My Blues” from The Beautiful Lowdown album, co-written by David Duncan and Mike Finnigan. Despite not being able to attend while recovering from a recent heart attack and by-pass surgery, Salgado sent a message to The Blues Foundation thanking the members who voted for the awards and congratulating each of the other nominees. The message also drew a laugh as Salgado mentioned that his doctor told him he could no longer have pork ribs, hot links or sweet potatoes which he was sure many were enjoying while visiting Memphis for the show.

Other multiple winners of the night included Joe Bonamassa taking home the Instrumentalist –  Guitarist Award and the coveted BB King Entertainer of the Year recognition; Bobby Rush for Album of the Year for Porcupine Meat and Historical Album for Chicken Heads: A 50 Year History of Bobby Rush; and the Tedeschi Trucks Band who were honored with Band of the Year and Rock Blues Album for Let Me Get By. (Susan Tedeschi from the band was also named Contemporary Blues Female Artist).

Local musicians Lisa Mann and Jimi Bott were amongst the performers who played in the sixteen musical sets throughout the event. All in all, given the terrific talent that performed, this was a rare night, likely never to be repeated on stage.

The complete list of the 2017 Blues Music Award winners is:

Acoustic Album: “The Happiest Man in the World,” Eric Bibb

Acoustic Artist: Doug MacLeod

Album: “Porcupine Meat,” Bobby Rush

B.B. King Entertainer: Joe Bonamassa

Band: Tedeschi Trucks Band

Best Emerging Artist Album: “Tengo Blues,” Jonn Del Toro Richardson

Contemporary Blues Album: “Bloodline,” Kenny Neal

Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Susan Tedeschi

Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Kenny Neal

Historical: “Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush,” Bobby Rush (Omnivore Recordings)

Instrumentalist-Bass: Biscuit Miller

Instrumentalist-Drums: Cedric Burnside

Instrumentalist-Guitar: Joe Bonamassa

Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Kim Wilson

Instrumentalist-Horn: Terry Hanck

Koko Taylor Award: Diunna Greenleaf

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Victor Wainwright

Rock Blues Album: “Let Me Get By,” Tedeschi Trucks Band

Song: “Walk a Mile in My Blues” written by David Duncan, Curtis Salgado & Mike Finigan and performed by Curtis Salgado

Soul Blues Album: “The Beautiful Lowdown,” Curtis Salgado

Soul Blues Female Artist: Mavis Staples

Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado

Traditional Blues Album: “Can’t Shake This Feeling,” Lurrie Bell

Traditional Blues Male Artist: Bob Margolin