“Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years,” said Ike Turner (pictured) as he accepted his 2002 W.C. Handy Blues Award for Comeback Album of the Year. Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith yelled at him telling him to quit hemmin’ and hawin’, accept the award and get off the stage. Newcomer Otis Taylor tried to conceal his sweat as he accepted his award for Best New Artist of the Year and shared the spotlight with giants like Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and the original Hoochie Coochie Man, Muddy Waters, a legend with clout so strong he collars awards from beyond the grave. All proceeds for the event went to The Blues Foundation.
And, the winner is…
Acoustic Album of the Year – John Hammond for Wicked Grin
Acoustic Artist of the Year – Keb’ Mo’
Band of the Year – Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
Best New Artist of the Year – Otis Taylor
Blues Album of the Year – Marcia Ball for Presumed Innocent
Comeback Album of the Year – Ike Turner for Here and Now
Contemporary Album of the Year – Buddy Guy for Sweet Tea
Contemporary Female Artist of the Year – Shemekia Copeland
Contemporary Male Artist of the Year – Buddy Guy
Entertainer of the Year – B.B. King
Historical Blues Album of the Year – Muddy Waters for Fathers and Sons
Instrumentalist of the Year – Bass – Willie Kent
Instrumentalist of the Year – Drums – Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
Instrumentalist of the Year – Guitar – Buddy Guy
Instrumentalist of the Year – Harmonica – Charlie Musselwhite
Instrumentalist of the Year – Horns – Roomful of Blues
Instrumentalist of the Year – Keyboards – Pinetop Perkins
Instrumentalist of the Year – Other – Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Song of the Year – “Charlie’s Old Highway 51 Blues” – Charlie Musselwhite (Kid Ramos/Greasy Kid Stuff)
Soul Blues Album of the Year – Little Milton for Feel It
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year – Etta James
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year – Little Milton
Traditional Album of the Year – R.L Burnside for Burnside on Burnside
Traditional Female Artist of the Year – Koko Taylor
Traditional Male Artist of the Year – R.L. Burnside
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