Blues Society of Western PA - Newsletter

With a nod of the head, a blink of the eye, and having clicked my satin high-heeled shoes together, I found myself landing at the 2008 Blues Awards in Tunica, Mississippi. When the smoke from our landing cleared, we found ourselves dressed to kill in our evening finery. (Frankly, we frightened each other-we did not even recognize ourselves!) I felt like a Bond girl, dressed in a satin, sapphire dress and armed with my trusty tools of the trade: pen, notebook, camera and lipstick. My trusted leader, Jim, helped me to plow through the crowd that had swelled to massive proportions. This would be the first time in their twenty-nine year history that the Blues Foundation would present the Blues Music Awards in the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the Blues. The masses were filing in from all parts of the country and from overseas. The air was filled with excitement. We managed to make our way to the cocktail area that was on the runway to the Grand Casino. Trampled Under Feet, the winners of the 2008 Blues Challenge, were playing. The cocktails were flowing and the horderves were being passed Butler style. Val Scott, the lovely photographer from Pittsburgh, was looking for those “specials” shots and was working the room with her usual finesse. We mingled with E.G. Kight, KoKo Taylor, Kenny Wayne Sheppard and again, Hubert Sumlin. On a humorous note, an older gentleman asked Kenny Wayne if he was John Wayne. He quietly replied, “No, I am that other Wayne.” Where else could a person approach a performer and actually talk with them other than a blues event.

When the doors to the massive hall finally opened, everyone scurried in to their assigned tables. We were positioned center stage and close enough to see everything. Large screens were positioned on each side of the stage for easier viewing for the encamped masses. A performer was already on stage playing as the blues fans readied themselves for the very long night ahead. The following are only some of the highlights of a spectacular evening:

Bobby Rush, winner of the Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year, took to the stage clad in overalls. He started the festive night with selections from his acoustic CD, “Raw.” Duke Robillard followed and was a crowd favorite. An acoustic blues/gospel set was offered by Ruthie Foster and was very well received. There was resounding applause when she said, ‘that she walked the middle ground between a blues-singing father and a gospel-singing mother…and ‘had not been struck by lightening…yet.’ At one point Ruthie put down her guitar and sang without accompaniment, “...don’t mind people grinning in your face.” The performers, fans and waiters stopped and clapped with her. The crowd gave a standing ovation for Foster’s soulful and moving rendition. The “great” Dorothy Moore joined the evening. Ms. Moore unveiled a Mississippi marker depicting a point on the newly designated Mississippi Blues Trail. (I was on a local tour with Ms. Moore and she was truly an inspirational and exuberant person).

The crowd was very attentive. They were all together for one purpose…The Blues. Looking great in a suit and tie, Dusty Scott the male photographer from Pittsburgh, scurried around the room with the other photographers to capture all the artists. At times I thought that he was a contortionist in search of that “money” shot. Having been awarded the “Soul Album Award,” The Holmes Brothers soon followed with a rolling blues beat that got the crowd moving into a groove. Stroger was named “Bass Guitarist of the Year.” KoKo Taylor’s album, “Old School,” won “Album of the Year.” Her song, “Gotta Buy Me a Mule,” was then chosen Song of the Year. Koko responded when called back a second time, “I’m not tired of saying thank you. I am gonna go on writin’.” “New Artist of the Year” went to Texan, Diunna Greenleaf and the Blue Mercy. The robust, female artist burst onto the scene with a big rocking voice and sounded like a young KoKo Taylor. She sang “Little Red Rooster” and frenzied the crowd. The crowd was howling, barking, and singing with her rendition of “Rooster on the Prowl.” Bob Stroger and Willie Big Eyed Smith accompanied. She then thanked God and her fans for the award.

Tommy Castro and Deanna Bogart took center stage and livened up the “party.” Theresa James joined the Castro-Bogart team. (She sounded like Annie Sutton and was good but she did not have the extra punch that Annie packs.) James took the keyboards and Deanna fell in with the guys in the horn section. They definitely rocked the house. The energy and the showmanship were unbeatable. Whew! It reminded me of that sizzling Castro show that stormed Pittsburgh last January. Tommy was named the “B. B. King Entertainer of the Year” and also took home the coveted, “Contemporary Blues Album of the Year” for Painkiller. Castro stated “he just played a part in it (the band and the album) and that it has always been group effort.” This was exciting stuff! I have to add that the BSWPA’s 2008 Blues Challenge was a close second for excitement and good music. Wow! …And more music was to come.

Hubert Sumlin, “Traditional Male Blues Artist of the Year,” soon took the stage. When asked about his award, his reply was, “Good things come to those who wait.” Film clips of “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads” were then shown. Kenny Wayne Sheppard was awarded the “Blues DVD of the Year” for his efforts as a producer. His acceptance included stories about the making of that riveting, authentic representation of the blues. Shepherd humbly and quietly thanked God for the ‘privilege to be a part of it.’ Tab Benoit was then given the “Contemporary Male Blues Artist of the Year Award.” His comments were about his efforts for the Katrina revitalization in New Orleans. Benoit stated that the award was hard to accept when his goals back in Louisiana have yet to be realized. Concerning the victims of Katrina, Benoit added, “It is up to us for change and to dump our image, not our goals.” Before leaving the stage, he added that he is politically committed to…“Speak up and do what we need to do before spreading it (the help and assistance) around the world.” Bob Margolin was very touching when accepting his award, “Guitarist of the Year.” He immediately “awarded” it to his wife. He said that she had always believed in him even when he doubted himself. He also claimed that he has learned patience from her. “Breakin’ It UP. Breakin’ it DOWN,” featuring Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter and James Cotton won “Historical Album of the Year.” Fruitland Jackson gave a stellar performance and then heartily proclaimed, “Thank God I’ve got the Blues!”

While roaming between acts, I spoke with Omar of Omar and the Howlers and told him that I was anxious to hear him. We spotted Barbara Blue. She said that she was hiding out in the back of the room and just enjoying the show. Rich DelGrosso, the mandolin playing Texan, was one of players waiting in the wings for a chance to go stage.
The “hands down, over the top” show for the night was…Nappy Brown. What a performance! He lay down on his back, kicked his long skinny legs into the air with the long, dark silk socks and patent shoes showing while he sang and sang. The photographers were fighting each other to get in to get a close up of the rambunctious Nappy Brown. He then went down into audience and managed to serenade and serenade and serenade the same song. It was certainly a scene-stealer. He managed to stretch one song into over thirty minutes. Laurie Bell and Sugar Blue then took to the stage and were joined by Nick Moss and the Flip Tops. The energy was a shot in the arm and everyone was grooving again.

Gaye Adegbalola, a long-time member of the group, Saffire, the Uppity Blues Women, proved to be a very dramatic and stylish blues diva. She had waited many hours to present “The Album of the Year Award.” (We had the privilege of her sitting behind us that evening and of course, I did eaves drop…I could not help myself.) Watermelon Slim, who took out time in the afternoon to hit the greens, was the undisputed winner of the coveted, “Album of the Year Award.” His words included, “By golly” and “I love you all. Blues is a culture without borders.” He added that he was sending out a big thank you to the transportation drivers and that that was “a big 42!” The crowd roared its approval as he accepted his award. He later was setting up for his performance when it was announced that he had won “Blues Band of the Year.” It was amusing because he was so intent on getting set up that he did not hear his name called. He just kept on “doing his thing,” working quickly to get tuned and ready. He finally “broke out of the zone” and went over to collect his award. He sheepishly stated, “This is something else! I won’t say anything else. I will just play and let you know how I feel.” Wow! …and did he play! The crowd was up on their feet and moving with the music.

It was now going on 1:45 in the morning. We were starved, tired, and those darn spandex undergarments were killing me…but thankfully the shoes felt fine. We headed off. I understand that the show went on until almost 3:15 a.m. Whew, what a long night! I am sorry to say that Omar waited until after I left to play his set with Jimmy Vaughn. Sorry, Omar, I waited all night.

Folks, that is the way it was at the 2008 Blues Awards. Much more went on but I only presented a few of the highlights. Try and make the next one. It really is a good time.

-Jonnye Weber