Main Blues

by Robert Horn 

The 2010 Muddy Awards happened in Portland on November 4th at the Melody Ballroom. The Cascade Blues Association's annual Muddy Awards Celebration honors local, regional, national and international stars of the blues. There were a total of 22 awards handed out (nothing to do with the fact that this is the 22nd annual show). Over 1,000 CBA members participate in the Muddy Awards process. For more information you can visit their website by clicking here.

Becky Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies were the opening performance at the event. They also picked up the award for Best Regional Blues Act. Earlier this year in Washington State where the band is from, the Washington Blues Society gave an award to the Robbie Laws Band. Robbie is more known in Oregon. So, it appears that blues fans in both states are reaching across the Columbia River to shake hands and hug each other---and that is a good thing!

There were newly-named awards this year. One named after Duffy Bishop for Female Vocalist of the Year, and one named after Curtis Salgado for Male Vocalist of the Year. The Hurley Award recognizes folks who work behind the scenes in performance production on stage. The "Back What You Believe In" Muddy, selected by the CBA Board of Directors, honors an individual in a non-performing role who has made a significant difference within the Blues community. There is also the Lifetime Achievement Muddy.

Here are all of the 2010 CBA Muddy Award winners:

• Contemporary Blues Act: Ty Curtis Band
• R&B Act: Curtis Salgado
• Traditional Blues Act: Kevin Selfe and The Tornadoes
• New Act: Billy D & The Hoodoos
• Regional Act: Karen Lovely Band
• "Duffy Bishop" Female Vocalist: Karen Lovely
• "Curtis Salgado" Male Vocalist: Ty Curtis
• Electric Guitar: Robbie Laws
• Acoustic Guitar: Terry Robb
• Bass: Lisa Mann
• Drums: Jimi Bott
• Harmonica: Jim Wallace
• Keyboards: Dover Weinberg
• Venue: Trail's End Saloon
• NW Recording: Ty Curtis Band "Cross That Line"
• National Recording: Joe Bonamassa "Black Rock"
• Performance of the Year: Karen Lovely Band at the Waterfront Blues Festival
• NW Event: Waterfront Blues Festival
• Hurley Award (for stage production and behind the scenes) : Lynn Wymore
• Back What You Believe In (for non-musician) : Dan Dalton
• Lifetime Achievement: Duffy Bishop

Below are a few pictures of some Muddy Award winning perfromers in their natural habitat. I took these photos over the last year. You can also click here to browse pictures from the awards event taken by Kat Rose Photography.


Lisa Mann

 

Curtis Salgado



Robbie Laws



Duffy Bishop