The Blues Foundation is proud to announce the
19th Annual W.C. Handy Awards Final Round Nominees

Winners announced April 30, 1998 during ceremonies at the Orpheum in Memphis, Tennessee

For more information, contact The Blues Foundation at 901 527-2583
Blues Entertainer of the Year Blues Band of the Year
Contemporary Blues - Male Artist of the Year Contemporary Blues - Female Artist of tile Year
Soul/Blues - Male Artist of the Year Soul/Blues - Female Artist of the Year
Traditional Blues - Male Artist of the Year Traditional Blues - Female Artist of the Year
Acoustic Blues - Artist of the Year Best New Blues Artist
Blues Instrumentalist - Guitar Blues Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Blues Instrumentalist - Keyboards Blues Instrumentalist - Bass
Blues Instrumentalist - Drums Blues Instrumentalist - Other
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year Soul / Blues Album of the Year
Traditional Blues Album of the Year Comeback Blues Album of the Year
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year Reissue Blues Album of the Year
Blues Song of the Year

Song Title - Composer – Label
(Artist/Album Title)

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THE
NOMINATION
PROCEDURE

 Every year the Blues Foundation recognizes individuals and organizations who have accomplished outstanding achievements in the Blues by presenting them with various awards— The W. C. Handy Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, and the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards. Each award is determined by nominations is through a balloting process.

This years Handy Awards and Blues Hall of Fame inductee ballots were sent to approximately 200 people who receive and review blues recordings, such as blues programmers and writers.

Three rounds of voting are held for the Handys, including votes polled from the readership of Blues Revue, Blues Access, and BluePrint magazines. A brief description of each nominating category is provided on the ballot.

The period of eligibility spans November t through October 31. The most popular nominee in each category wins.

The Blues Hall of Fame inductees are nominated through the same process as the Handys But, on he second round of balloting, the Balloting Committee considers all the recommendations and determines the inductees. For the Blues Hall of Fame nominations, both the "performer" and "non-performer" categories are on the ballot. The "non-performer" category is for individuals who have been longtime advocates of the Blues, paid their dues, and are finally being recognized. The nomination list ranges from record label owners to radio programmers.

The 19971 Hall of Fame inductees are announced during the W. C. Handy Awards, with the induction ceremony held during the lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony in December in Los Angeles, California.

The Keeping the Blues Alive Award ballots are sent to all Blues Societies affiliated with the Foundation, as well as past KBA winners, and the Blues Foundation Board of Directors and International Advisory Board for their nominations. Again, the Balloting Committee discusses at length and chooses the most exemplary blues achievement for a KBA. The winners are announced in the Handy Awards program and receive their awards at the annual banquet to be held on May 2nd, during the handy Weekend events in Memphis.

As you might imagine, the balloting process is not an easy task and every precaution is taken that ballots are not sent to anyone who would benefit monetarily.

As always we need your participation and input in order to ensure credibility of all Blues Foundation Awards. Please do not hesitate to contact the Blues Foundation with your comments and suggestions.

On behalf of the Blues Foundation, the Balloting Committee would like to thank everyone who found the time to fill out and mail in their ballot.

Congratulations to all the 1997 Blues Foundation Awardees

—Balloting Committee: Chuck Bloomingburg, Mindy Giles, Kerry Kudlacek, John Radai, Andy Robble and Bob Vorel.

  

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Last updated on 05/04/98
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