2022 JUS' BLUES HONOREES
"NIGHT OF THE LIVING LEGENDS:"

 August 4th - Jus' Blues Music Awards Show
Horseshoe Tunica​
​"Join us in the Mississippi Delta"

Jus` Blues Lifetime Living Legends Award

Benjamin Wright

​Outstanding Contributions to Blues & Soul

Benjamin Wright born in Greenville, Ms, embarked on his first major musical tour with rhythm and blues icon Ted Taylor. His subsequent success within the industry took him on the road with James Brown, Otis Redding, Billy Stewart and Gladys Knight and The Pips. In 1969, Wright worked as a copyist for notable musical arrangers for such artist as Charles Stepney, Gene Barge, Donny Hathaway and Richard Evans. Concurrently, Wright performed with Pieces of Peace, a group of musicians who recorded music sessions for Jackie Wilson, The Chi-Lites, Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions.

Jus` Blues & Soul Lifetime Legend Award

Sugar Pie DeSanto

Preserving Blues & Soul Heritage 
 
Sugar Pie DeSanto born Umpeylia Marsema Balinton of Filipino and African-American parentage, she was dubbed Little Miss Sugar Pie by the legendary Johnny Otis. He signed her to her first professional contract in 1954, after which she had her first hit record in 1959. “I Want to Know” was recorded on the Veltone® label and produced by the Godfather of Oakland Blues, Bob Geddins, Sr. It rose to Number 3 on the Billboard charts, spring boarding Ms. DeSanto into a lucrative contract with Chess Records®. At that time, Chess Records’ artists included Etta James, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, and Bo Diddley. During her tenure at Chess Records, she became the most prolific and highest paid writer in their employ.

Jus' Blues "The Muddy"  Lifetime Blues Award

Jimmy Johnson

Outstanding Contributions to Blues Music

Jimmy Johnson is an American Bluesman, born November 25th, 1928 in Holly Spring, Mississippi. His music has taken him all over the world. He has also had the great pleasure of playing with some of the greatest musicians of all-time: BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Magic Sam to name just a few.  He say that they all had a tremendous influence on  him and his music. It’s difficult to put into words just how much they all continue to mean to me.  He say his music has introduced him to some truly amazing people of every color and creed from all over our planet.

KoKo Taylor “Queen of the Blues” Awards

Mary Lane

Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage

Mary Lane an 83-year-old Blues singer began performing as a kid on the street corners of Clarendon, Ark. before making her way north to Chicago as part of the Great Migration. There, Lane developed a local following playing in clubs, alongside members of the blues pantheon including Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, Magic Sam and Junior Wells. Along the way, she recorded just one album more than 20 years ago. Now, Lane is back with a new collection called Travelin' Woman, out now. Lane remembers her earliest days performing in Arkansas, where she would sing for the workers in the cotton fields. "I used to go to the field and all the people were out there picking cotton and everything. I'd always be behind. I'd be back there just singing and everybody say, 'Come and sing, Mary. Go on and sing.' And I kept on doing it for years and years as I came up."

Benny Latimore “Let's Straighten It Out” Award ​

Latimore

Preserving Blues Heritage
On stage & off stage

​​​Latimore was born in Charleston, Tennessee, and was influenced by country music, his Baptist church choir, and the blues. His first professional experience came as a pianist for various Florida-based groups including Steve Alaimo.  He first recorded around 1965 for Henry Stone's Dade record label in Miami, Florida.[4] In the early 1970s, he moved to the Glades label, and had his first major hit in 1973 with a jazzy reworking of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday", which reached No. 27 on the R&B chart. Latimore's first national hit was "If You Were My Woman," which reached No. 70 on the R&B chart. His biggest success came in 1974, with "Let's Straighten It Out", a No. 1 R&B hit, which also reached No. 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. He followed it up with more hits, including "Keep The Home Fire Burnin'" (No. 5 R&B, 1975) and "Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha" (No. 7 R&B, 1976). 

​Bobby Blue Bland” Lifetime Blues Award

Leon Blue

Outstanding Blues Vocal Stylist

Leon Blue (yes, that's his real name!) Born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1931, may just be the finest blues piano man you've never heard, had lengthy spells with The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Lowell Fulson, and Albert Collins to name just a few - he's spent most of his career as a sideman rather than out front in the spotlight.  Leon was first inspired to play piano in 1940 after hearing records of the pounding boogie-woogie of Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons, and also early live performances by fellow Texan Charles Brown. By 1955, Leon and his three brothers, all also musicians, had relocated to Los Angeles. He recorded with B.B. King, Albert King, Roy Milton, Fats Washington, Little Joe Blue, and many others. He was a regular member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue during their most successful years, from 1964 until 1978.

Bobby Rush Lifetime Blues Entertainers Award

Kevin Burt

​Outstanding Tradition Blues Entertainer
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Kevin Burt, for more than 25 years Kevin Burt has been electrifying audiences throughout the Midwest. His soul-inspired presentation is unique which consistently get him compared to a range of artists like Bill Withers and Aaron Neville. Blues Challenge Champions, Named as one of the top 25 unsigned blues bands in the world by the International Blues Challenge Competition. Festival appearances include: Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, Des Moines, IA, Freedom Festival Cedar Rapids, IA, Prairie Duchien, WI, North Liberty Barbeque and Blues Fest, North Liberty, IA. Kevin Burt has shared the stage with B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, Bernard Allison, Junior Wells, Robert Lockwood Jr., David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Lonnie Brooks and Ronnie Baker Brooks.

Denise LaSalle Lifetime Recording Of Excellence Award

Thornetta Davis

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​Outstanding Recordings Of Excellence 

Thornetta Davis is a fantastic blues singer and songwriter. Crowned “Detroit’s Queen of the Blues” in 2015, Thornetta Davis a multi-talented International Singer and Songwriter from Detroit MI, . Thornetta has been exciting and wowing audiences all over the world. Her voice is strong, commanding, melodic and smooth. She tells her stories with incredible delivery. Thornetta has opened for legendary blues and R&B greats such as Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, Johnnie Johnson and many more…her history is extensive and her performances are memorable.

"King Of The Blues" Award  "Tribute to B. B. King"

Jamell Richardson

​Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage
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Jamell Richardson was born in Meridian, MS and raised in the small town of Butler, AL. Jamell’s musical journey all started shortly after the day he was born. His Grandmother who was a church pastor. By age 11 he was already an active studio and church musician as well as a vocalist.  Jamell groomed his skills playing behind numerous gospel quartet groups, from Rance Allen, Paul Beasley, to Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp and a number of other well- known gospel acts. As he matured, Jamell began to expand his horizons by listening to B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, and many more which lead to his growing interest in the Blues. He begin touring and recording with the legendary Southern Soul Bluesman Mel Waiters. There he was being featured as Mel Waiters’ “Young Gun” and  phenomenal guitar player.

Willie Mitchell Lifetime Artist Award

Lola

​Outstanding Artistry to Blues & Soul ​Music

Lola (just Lola) is a dynamic blues and R&B singer/keyboard player who has been igniting stages in the Atlanta area and beyond as a national and international artist. Blessed with a deep soul voice, a funkified keyboard style and an intense, high energy stage presence, Lola combines traditional blues with hard-edged R&B to create her own brand of contemporary, tough music.  Lola is honored to be named among  "Atlanta's Queens of Blues" along with the dynamic Francine Reed and Sandra Hall. Lola began sitting in with her father's funk band, playing trumpet and drums before switching to keyboards. Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Jimmy Smith and Joe Sample were her key piano influences, along with her father's favorite, bluesman Amos Milburn. 

Albert King Lifetime Award “The Lucy Award”

Gregg Wright

​Being on Fire, Feeling, Funk Blues & Soul

Gregg Wright began his professional career on the U.S. Southern circuit in the mid-1970's. He honed his craft with years of playing endless one-nighters across the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, often opening shows for the big national touring acts of the day. “I was privileged to work and learn around greatness!” says Gregg. “I opened several times for Albert King and Freddie King, and learned a great deal from them. Their words of encouragement really energized me. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude!". An '80's move from Louisiana to Los Angeles saw Wright become a session man and "hired gun" touring guitarist. His reputation grew over the next decade doing albums and tours with Mick Fleetwood, Michael Jackson, the Gap Band, Berlin and Spencer Davis.

Millie Jackson “Classy & Sassy” Award

Lacee

Soul/Blues Queens "Keeping it Real"
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Lacee, born Lacy Yvonne Reed in Memphis, TN, on July the 1st.  Lacee: “My mother JoAnn did a lot of singing in our local Mercy Seat Baptist Church. My father Joe is a preacher as well.  He did the preaching and she did the singing in the same church.

Lacee biggest musical influences names Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight. “I love those artists because they’re strong entertainers, as well as their vocal capabilities are very strong.  I just like the pitches that Patti gives and Gladys’ style of singing. It’s always nice to listen to Ella Fitzgerald and Della Reese. Lacee started singing in church at the tender age of five.  “My mom wouldn’t let me just sit there and not sing, so she did a lot of the teaching, how to utilize my vocals.  When you’re young, you have to be trained.  You have to have a coach to help you.  She was very skilful in showing me how to do these things.”

Little Milton Lifetime Bluesman Award

Major Handy

Smooth Vocals - Unique Guitar Style

​Major Handy is a Zydeco musician and blues accordion player who was born in 1947 in Lafayette, Louisiana. Surrounded by Creole music while growing up, he has since fine-tuned his skills on the guitar, bass, piano and accordion, along with becoming a vocalist. His past gigs include playing guitar with Rockin’ Dopsie’s band for 12 years and with Buckwheat Zydeco’s original lineup for about a year. Over the years, he has held various jobs including acting as deputy sheriff in the late 1970s, holding a regular gig in Canada that include doing a cooking show before his set and running his own auto business.

Ruben Hughes Lifetime  Blues Radio Personality Award 

Cyreio Hughes

​Preserving Blues Radio Programming

​Cyreio was born on April 29th 1960 in Greenwood.  He studied Mass Communication Broadcasting at Jackson State University. Cyreio has worked in radio for 30 Years.  He has one daughter and a set of beautiful twin grandchildren. R&B, Hits and Old School Jock and Host of the Wake up Morning Show for 22 years.