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The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, "Father of the Blues".[1] The first award was presented in 1980 and is "universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded musicians and songwriters in blues music".[2] In 2006, the awards were renamed Blues Music Awards in an effort to increase public appreciation of the significance of the awards.[3]
They are presented annually in Memphis, Tennessee, where the Blues Foundation is located, although the 2008 award ceremony was held in Tunica, Mississippi.[4] The 39th Blues Music Awards were held on May 10, 2018, at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Two new award categories had been announced (Instrumentalist-Vocals and Blues Rock Artist of the Year) bringing the number of awards to be presented up to 26 in total.[5] The 40th Blues Music Awards took place on May 9, 2019, with the Historical Album of the Year category being dropped, reducing the overall number of categories to 25.[6]
The 41st ceremony was scheduled for May 7, 2020, but the live event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] The 2020 winners were announced at a virtual event.[9] The 42nd ceremony was again presented at a virtual event on June 6, 2021.[10] The 43rd ceremony took place on May 5, 2022, as the first in-person event since 2019.[11] The 44th event was held on May 11, 2023, in Memphis.[12] The 45th event took place on May 8, 2024, in Memphis.[13]
- ^ "BMI Ain't Singin' the Blues with Sweep of Handys". BMI.com. 2002-06-02. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ "2013 Blues Awards Nominees Announced". Offbeat.com. December 10, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ [1] Archived September 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] Archived June 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "2018 Blues Music Award nominees announced: Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Keb' Mo', N. Mississippi Allstars among nominees". Blues Foundation. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "2019 Blues Music Awards: Memphis: May 9, 2019 – Calendar". Bmi.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "The 2020 Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN are canceled". Blues.org. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ McKay, Robin. "Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ McKay, Robin. "BLUES MUSIC AWARDS". Blues.org. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ McKay, Robin. "BLUES MUSIC AWARDS". Blues.org. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ "2022 Blues Music Awards Winners". Blues.org. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Ehrenclou, Martine (January 10, 2023). "2023 Blues Music Award Nominees Announced". Rockandbluesmuse.com. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Dickerson, Candace. "Blue Music Awards - Home Page & Nominations". Blues.org. Retrieved February 23, 2024.