2022 JUS' BLUES HONOREES
JUS' BLUES MUSIC AWARDS
AUGUST 4th
AUGUST 4th
Albert King Lifetime Achievement Award “The Lucy Award”
Being on Fire, Feeling, Funk Blues & Soul
Eric Gales (born October 29, 1974), also known as Raw Dawg, was originally hailed as a child prodigy. Gales picked up the guitar at age four. His older siblings, Eugene and Manuel (Little Jimmy King), taught him songs and licks when he was young, in the style of Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, B.B. King and others. In 1985, the young Gales began to play at blues competitions with his brother Eugene backing him on bass. Although Gales plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the bass E string on the bottom), he is not naturally left-handed; he was taught by his brother, who is left-handed, and never second-guessed the untraditional technique.
|
"King Of The Blues" Award "Tribute to B. B. King"
Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage
D'Kieran "D.K." Harrell was born on April 24, 1998 in Ruston, Louisiana.
From the beginning D.K. was surrounded by the music of the absolute greats of Blues, R&B, Soul, and Gospel provided mostly by His Mother Christal and His Grandfather. At 13, he got his first guitar, and began to teach himself how to play and SOUND like all of his heroes. Which happened to be the greatest blues guitarists of all time B.B. King . Albert King, Freddie King, The King of the Blues, . D.K.'s particular obsession with B.B. King's style and technique has since manifested into His ability to nail the tone and licks of THE King with incredible accuracy. |
KoKo Taylor “Queen of the Blues” Awards
Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage
Demetria Taylor is the daughter of the late blues legend Eddie Taylor Sr. and is helping keep the legacy of her father alive. Eddie is best known as the rhythm guitarist in the band of Jimmy Reed, but he also had his own solo career and recorded some wonderful sides for the VJ label including the classic "Bad Boy". Her mother Vera Taylor was also a blues singer. Demetria has fond memories of blues greats and friends of the family coming by the house including Floyd Jones, Carey Bell, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Littlejohn, Sam Lay, Willie Kent, Tail Dragger, Eddie Shaw, Johnny B. Moore and Magic Slim. Born in Chicago, Demetria grew up surrounded by Blues music listening on records to her biggest influences including Etta James, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton and most importantly, "The Queen of The Blues” Koko Taylor (no relation to her family).
|
Willie Dixon Lifetime Achievement WRITERS Award
For outstanding contributions to Blues & Soul music as a unique Songwriter
Like many other Dallas-based rhythm & blues musicians, Bobby Patterson is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who continued the deep soul tradition of people like Otis Redding, Joe Tex, and Wilson Pickett. But unlike some of these other singers, Patterson has worked in all aspects of the record business: as a songwriter, producer, promotion man, and label owner. Patterson began performing when he was ten, playing guitar and drums. While still in his early teens, he formed a band called the Royal Rockers, who won talent contests in and around Dallas. In 1957, one of the talent contests led to a trip to California to track a single for Liberty Records.
|
Willie Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Artist Award
Outstanding Artistry to Blues & Soul Music
Barbara Morrison (born September 10, 1949) in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and raised in Romulus, Michigan, Barbara Morrison recorded her first appearance for radio in Detroit at the age of 10. In 1973 she moved to Los Angeles at the age of 23 and sang with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's band. Between the mid-1970s and early 1990s, she recorded several albums with Johnny Otis. In 1986, Morrison toured with the Philip Morris Superband, completing a 14-city one-month tour of Canada, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines, playing with jazz organist Jimmy Smith and backed by saxophonist James Moody, guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeter Jon Faddis, and Grady Tate on drums. Morrison also completed a 33-city tour in the US in an all-star tribute to composer Harold Arlen. In 1995, Morrison appeared in a televised tribute to Ella Fitzgerald with Mel Torme, Diane Reeves, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, and Lou Rawls.
|
Bobby Rush Lifetime Achievement Blues Entertainers Award
Outstanding Tradition Blues Entertainer
Terry W. "Harmonica" Bean (born January 26, 1961) in Pontotoc, Mississippi where he has remained living to date. His father, Eddie Bean, was a blues guitarist who played in an electric blues band, and encouraged his son to play both harmonica and guitar. In 1988, Bean saw Robert Lockwood, Jr. play at a music festival in Greenville, Mississippi, and this experience inspired Bean to perform regularly in and around Greensville for the next few years. Bean became more versatile, appearing as a one-man band, accompanist or band leader and he variously worked with T-Model Ford,
|
Denise LaSalle Lifetime Achievement Award
RECORDING OF EXCELLENCE
Tia Carroll was born and raised in Richmond, California and her singer's career started before she even knew it was a career. According to her parents Tia sang instead of crying when she entered this world. Although this might be hard to prove, it can be said that Tia grew up listening to musicians like Stevie Wonder, Larry Graham, Ike & Tina Turner. Tia listened to and sang along with everything and everybody, thus her musical influence runs the gamut which also helps to explain the various styles on her albums. Luckily there have been many memorable performances, including Eddie Money, The Coasters with Leon Hughes and Tia opened shows for Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Patti LaBelle and Tower of Power. |
Jus` Blues & Soul Lifetime Achievement Legend Award
Outstanding Contributions to Blues & Soul
Melvin McArthur Harden Singer and songwriter, born in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Famously known as Mel of Mel & Tim Duo. Mel Harden and Tim McPherson sang some of the sweetest harmonies and made some of the most heartfelt and joyful music of the legendary “Deep Soul” era. As Mel and Tim, the two cousins gave the world such classic songs as “Backfield in Motion,” “Starting All Over Again,” and “Forever and a Day,” among others – testimonials to the power of music to celebrate life, love, and the unbending resilience of the human heart.
|
Millie Jackson “Classy & Sassy” Award
"Keeping it Real"
Shirley Jones (born September 22, 1953) was born in Detroit, Michigan and began singing gospel as a child with her sisters, Brenda and Valorie, and her mother Mary Frazier Jones. Shirley and her sisters eventually began singing secular music as The Jones Girls, and signed their first recording contract with GM Records in 1970, releasing the single "My Own Special Way". The Jones Girls became background singers for Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Teddy Pendergrass and others. In 1979, Jones and her sisters signed a recording contract to Philadelphia International Records and enjoyed a string of hit singles in the first half of the 1980s. After the group disbanded in 1984, Jones was offered a solo contract with Philadelphia International Records, and released the hit single, "Do You Get Enough Love". The song spent 20 weeks on Billboard's R&B chart peaking at No. 1 on August 1986.
|
Benny Latimore “Let's Straighten It Out” Award
Preserving Blues & Soul Heritage Behind the Scenes
Jessie Thompson, Jr born and raised in McComb, Mississippi (Algiers Community), attended and graduated from Higgins High School in McComb, MS, Class of 1969. He graduated from Jackson State University with a B.S. degree in Science Education. He began his career with the Pollution Control Commission in 1976 as an Environmental Aid in the Air Division. While in the Air division he worked with Minor Source permitting, Compliance and Emission Management System. He was also the Stack Testing Expert for air sampling. He is the founder and President of Jackson Music Awards, Inc. This organization produces the annual City with Soul Awards, Mississippi Gospel Music Awards and the Jackson Music Awards. He produces the music venues for The Farish Street Heritage Festival and served on the Jackson Arts and Music Foundation which presented the Jubilee Jam Festival in Jackson.
|
Benny Latimore “Let's Straighten It Out” Award
Preserving Blues & Soul Heritage Behind the Scenes
Lee King was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moved to Jackson, Mississippi over forty (40) years ago. Arrived in Mississippi via Augusta, Georgia where he worked for legendary entertainer James Brown. Lee has been in the entertainment industry since he was twelve (12) years old. As a radio announcer at the age of thirteen (13), he continued singing and dancing. Lee traveled worldwide with international recording artist Joe Tex as his opening act until he received an electrical engineer’s scholarship. Entertainer James Brown read about Lee’s engineer license and had just purchased three radio stations. Lee went to Augusta, Georgia as Brown’s radio engineer and full time DJ. King is currently Executive Producer of the Farish Street Heritage Festival) 34 years and , Executive Producer of the Jackson Music Awards (44 years) is co-owner and CEO of Phoenix Entertainment Group.
|
Bobby Blue Bland” Lifetime Achievement Blues Award
Outstanding Blues Vocal Stylist
Gregg A Smith was born July 25, 1951 in Honeygrove, Texas. He started singing and dancing at the age of 3 in his mother’s cafe, The Luckyheart Cafe, in Bucktussel, Texas. At the age of 9, his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where Gregg began harmonica lessons which led to an appearance on The Uncle Rays Cartoon TV Show. By the time Gregg turned 12 years old he began to sing and play the trumpet which led to him starting his first band called The Soul Flames. The group appeared at the Elks Club American Legion and at the Paloma Bar in Albuquerque during the 1960s. 1970. in Chicago, Gregg had the opportunity to work with Buddy Guy, Jr Wells, KoKo Taylor and many others at Pepper’s Lounge. In the fall of 1970, Gregg returned to Portland, Oregon to attend Portland Community College and Portland State University. At the University he began to study music. While studying, he was given the opportunity to perform as the house band at the Cotton Club with Etta James, the Whispers and many other artists
|
BOBBY Byrd " know you got soul" LIFETIME Achievement AWARD
Outstanding Bandleader
James “Boogaloo” Bolden was born February 9, 1950 to James and Rachel Bolden in Houston, Texas. From youth onward he had a passion for music. He learned to play classical trumpet during his high school years and was a member of the school choir. Later, Bolden also learned to play the guitar. Playing with famous acts such as Stevie Wonder, Issac Hayes, Temptations, Supremes, The Spinners and James Brown, he gained knowledge and reputation and was eventually asked to join Duke Ellington's band. He eventually joined B.B. King's Blues Band and successfully became leader of that world famous band. A member of the King’s Blues Band for more than 30 years, it was B.B. King who gave Bolden the nickname “Boogaloo” because of Bolden’s restless feet.
|
Ruben Hughes Lifetime Achievement Blues Radio Personality Award
Preserving Blues Radio Programming
Rojene Bailey is best known as host of Blues Time in the City, a nationally syndicated radio show playing the best in Blues and Southern Soul. It’s heard in 30 markets and as far away as Paris and Belize. He’s also known for his many years as a multi-Emmy award winning television producer/director. He is currently retired from television as of 2002. He was educated at Columbus College in Columbus Georgia, now Columbus State University, and got his start in television there. He finished Elkins Institute in Atlanta where he earned an engineering license. Working as an engineer and news director for ten years at WYEA-TV in Columbus Georgia, he moved to Atlanta in 1977 to give Public Television a try, where he eventually retired. Over the years, Rojene produced, directed, wrote and edited hundreds of different programs for Georgia Public Television and other organizations, including the Georgia Music Hall of Fame where he is the only producer/director to win an EMMY for the live production, The Lawmakers, Extensions of Congo Square, PrimeTime, PostScript, and many others.
|
JUS' BLUES "THE MUDDY" LIFETIME Achievement BLUES AWARD
Outstanding Contributions to Blues Music
Alabama Mike (Michael Benjamin) a soul singer who's got the blues. He has released three acclaimed records. His latest offering, Upset The Status Quo is the culmination of a life that started, as many do, in the church choir, back home in Talladega, Alabama, though he now calls the Bay Area home. Mike is a throwback to the singers that made this music famous, possessing an emotional tenor voice that can pack a punch or mend a broken heart. His original lyrics deal with life in the modern world, as this is blues for a new time. There has been an almost mythical aura surrounding soul singers, and their church choir connections. It has been deemed a rite of passage for most of the great vocalists and Alabama Mike is certainly no exception, the hymns of his childhood resonating inside him.
|
JUS' Blue JUKE JOINT Award
Preserving & Keeping the traditions of the Chitlin' Circuit Clubs Alive
R.L. Griffin is a major figure on the Dallas blues scene, doing much more than just bending notes to keep the genre of music vital and ensure that a forum exists for its appreciation. He runs his own nightclub, which is R.L. Griffin's Blues Palace 11. The man often called "the Right Reverend of the Blues" or "Ting-A-Ling" is also a classic blues and R&B disc jockey on KKDA, sometimes broadcasting directly from his club. Musicians who toil in the related careers of radio and venue management are naturally in the position to help other players. He initially was a drummer and claims singing came about only in response to an off the cuff request for him to try a version of "Fever" by Little Willie John..
|
jUS' Blues Tyrone Davis soul award
Preserving the style of Soul & Blues
Tucka, a native of Louisiana, his sound is a creative, techno-driven mash-up of Creole, Caribbean, hip-hop, and southern soul influences, and he can charm a lady with pillow talk and romantic endearments as effortlessly as he can galvanize a roomful of dancers. He got his start in 2007, singing lead with Zydeco star Keith Frank (another who has taken a rich tradition and updated it for new audiences and new times); within a year or two he was on his own, making a name for himself on the Southern Soul circuit and billing himself as the “King of Swing'' (“Swing-out,” a meld of Zydeco and Southern Soul.
|