Luther Allison was named blues entertainer of the year during the recent W.C. Handy Blues Awards concert.
The awards, named for blues pioneer W.C. Handy, are given out by the Blues Foundation, headquartered in Memphis.Other winners were:
Blues Band of the Year: Luther Allison & the James Solberg Band
Contemporary Blues Artist, Male: Luther Allison.
Contemporary Blues Artist, Female: Debbie Davies.
Soul-Blues Artist, Male: Bobby "Blue" Bland.
Soul-Blues Artist, Female: Irma Thomas.
Traditional Blues Artist, Male: James Cotton.
Traditional Blues Artist, Female: Rory Block.
Acoustic Blues Artist: Keb' Mo' (Kevin Moore).
New Blues Artist: Alvin Young-blood Hart.
Blues Instrumentalist, Guitar: Ronnie Earl.
Harmonica: William Clarke.
Keyboards: Pinetop Perkins.
Bass: Willie Kent.
Drums: Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.
Other: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, violin.
Contemporary Blues Album: William Clarke, "The Hard Way."
Soul-Blues Album: W.C. Clark, "Texas Soul."
Traditional Blues Album: Junior Wells, "Come on in This House."
Comeback Blues Album: Floyd Dixon, "Wake Up and Live."
Acoustic Blues Album: James Cotton, "Deep in the Blues."
Reissue Blues Album: Freddie King, "Live at the Electric Ballroom, 1974."
Blues Song of the Year: "Fishing Blues," William Clarke.