The Blues Music Awards took place again in Memphis on May 5^th. We were fortunate enough to have the one and only Mike Lovato on hand to preserve the many fine moments in pictures. As far as the awards go they were ridiculously predictable and as usual virtually shunned any artist west of the Mississippi. It is of course an awards show. What did you expect? Integrity and good taste? It was about sentimentality and regional bias. The concert was great though and I think these pictures capture that magic

 Bob Stroger

Rick Estrin

Kirk Fletcher 

Reba Russell

Randy Chortkoff

Finis Tasby

Buddy Guy

John Hammond

Zach Zunis & Janiva Magness

Magic Slim

Karen Lovely

Sonny Rhodes

Smokin' Joe Kubek & B'Nois King
Janiva Magness

Arthur Adams

Tad Robinson

Mitch Woods

Preston Hubbard

Matt Hill

The Chris O'Leary Band

Bob Margolin