Main Blues

A Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes significant contributions and a lifetime body of work in the field of Blues music. Past recipients include David "Honeyboy" Edwards and Koko Taylor. This is the only award that the editor gets to choose! This years award goes to Chicago Blues Legend Otis Rush. The Award will be presented at the Blues Blast Music Awards October 28.

Otis is one of the top Chicago Bluesmen of all time! If you know anything at all about bending strings, you know Otis. His singing, stirring guitar playing and original songs have influenced and inspired artists such as Albert King, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, Led Zeppelin, Peter Green, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bonnie Raitt and Sean Costello among many others. Otis Rush evolved and the whole genera of Blues guitar evolved with him! He was a contemporary of Blues legends Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.

Otis has not been performing since a stroke in 2004. He is coming to the awards to accept and we are excited to meet him! This week we feature a few videos we found. These are GREAT examples of his talent and a primer on his work. SCROLL DOWN!

Info on the 2010 Blues Blast Music Awards on October 28th at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago is available HERE.