The Blues Foundation Announces 35th Blues Music Award Nominees

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Blues Foundation is pleased to announce the nominations for their annual Blues Music Awards, which the international organization will present at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, TN, on Thursday, May 8, 2014. The Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded musicians and songwriters in Blues music. The annual Blues Music Awards ceremony is the premier event for Blues professionals, musicians, and fans from all over the world.

It is good year for members of the Blues Hall of Fame as Billy Boy Arnold, Otis Clay, James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Denise LaSalle, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush and Irma Thomas each are nominated.  Leading the list of nominees with five nominations are Cotton, Musselwhite and Lurrie Bell.  Buddy Guy received four.  Rick Estrin, Doug MacLeod and Bobby Rush each garnered three nominations.  Two releases featuring Musselwhite are nominated -- Get Up! with Ben Harper and Remembering Little Walter  with a quintet of harpists. 

The complete list of 35^th Blues Music Award nominees can be found at https://www.blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_nominees

Tickets for the Award show go on sale December 16. Blues Foundation members are the only fans who vote to decide which nominees will actually take home the Blues Music Award.  Of course, anyone can become a member!

Every year, the Blues Music Awards ceremony itself proves to be one of the best shows of the year. After all, almost every nominee not only attends, but also performs – creating a lineup comprised of the best of the best in blues all in one evening.  A complete nominee list, as well as membership, voting, ticket and host hotel information can be found at The Blues Foundation's website—www.blues.org. For more information, call 901.527.2583.

Major funding is provided by ArtsMemphis and the Tennessee Arts Commission.  The 34^rd Blues Music Awards are also sponsored by BMI, Catfood Records, Eagle Rock Entertainment, FedEx, First Tennessee Foundation, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Sony/Legacy.

The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but world-renown as THE organization dedicated to preserving our blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excellence, supporting blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form.  Its signature honors and events--the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards--make it the international center of blues music.

SOURCE The Blues Foundation