PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2025
It’s a Wrap — 25th Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference Celebrates a Silver Anniversary of Legacy, Innovation & Soul Jus’ Blues Music Foundation Celebrates 25th Annual Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference With a Star-Studded Week of Legacy, Innovation, and Soul
BILOXI, MS – The Jus’ Blues Music Foundation proudly wrapped up its 2025 Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference, a monumental celebration held July 30th through August 2nd, 2025, at the IP Casino, Hotel and Spa in Biloxi, MS. This year's silver anniversary event brought together legendary performers, rising stars, music scholars, and fans from around the country for a vibrant, soul-stirring week of music, technology, and tradition. A Celebration of Legends and Luminaries
What a week — highlights
A star-studded Awards Show honoring icons, torchbearers and innovators across blues and soul.
Award honorees
This year’s distinguished honorees included:
Showstopping performances
Musical Director T.C. Coleman led an unforgettable slate of performers. Artists who lit up the stage included:
Kenny Neal, Willie Buck, Betty Padgett, Stan Mosley, Sean McDonald, Keith Johnson, Trudy Lynn, Shirley Johnson,
Gerald McClendon, Ms. Jody, Singa B, Willie Clayton and special guests and surprise appearances made the awards show a night to remember.
Jus’ Blues Technology Conference: Preparing artists for the future
This year’s conference took a bold step into the future, integrating sessions on AI, licensing and digital rights. Highlights included:
Juke Joint Parties — the Soul of the South
Our legendary Juke Joint Parties kept the energy high with live Southern soul, blues and old-school R&B. Featured performances included:
A message from our CEO
“The 25th Annual Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference was more than a milestone—it was a movement,” said Charles Mitchell, CEO, Jus’ Blues Music Foundation. “We honored our legends, gave a platform to new voices, and embraced the future of the music we love. The Blues is not just history—it’s alive, it’s evolving, and it’s ours.”
Thank you A heartfelt thank-you to our sponsors, artists, volunteers, attendees and partners who helped make this landmark event possible. Your passion keeps the flame of blues, soul and Black musical excellence burning bright.
Stay connected
For event highlights, photo galleries and video recaps visit www.jusblues.org. Follow the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation on social media for updates and announcements about next year’s event.
Media contact
Kevin Mills
Marketing & Public Relations, Jus’ Blues Music Foundation
Email: [email protected]
678-403-1993
August 5, 2025
It’s a Wrap — 25th Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference Celebrates a Silver Anniversary of Legacy, Innovation & Soul Jus’ Blues Music Foundation Celebrates 25th Annual Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference With a Star-Studded Week of Legacy, Innovation, and Soul
BILOXI, MS – The Jus’ Blues Music Foundation proudly wrapped up its 2025 Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference, a monumental celebration held July 30th through August 2nd, 2025, at the IP Casino, Hotel and Spa in Biloxi, MS. This year's silver anniversary event brought together legendary performers, rising stars, music scholars, and fans from around the country for a vibrant, soul-stirring week of music, technology, and tradition. A Celebration of Legends and Luminaries
What a week — highlights
A star-studded Awards Show honoring icons, torchbearers and innovators across blues and soul.
- Electrifying live performances that bridged tradition and modern expression.
- Our first dedicated Technology Conference exploring AI, digital rights, legacy preservation and new revenue paths for artists.
- Legendary Juke Joint Parties that kept the dance floor packed and spirits high.
Award honorees
This year’s distinguished honorees included:
- Gerald McClendon — Jus’ Blues Bobby "Blue" Bland Award
- Margie Joseph — Jus’ Blues Legend Lifetime Achievement Award
- Sean McDonald — Jus’ Blues B.B. King King of the Blues Award
- Willie Buck — Jus’ Blues “Muddy Award” Tribute to Albert King
- Jimmy Holmes — Jus’ Blues “The Hook Award” Tribute to John Lee Hooker
- DJ Godfather — Jus’ Blues Ruben Hughes Radio Personality Award
- Betty Padgett — Jus’ Blues Denise LaSalle Recording Excellence Award
- Candice Ivory — Jus’ Blues Millie Jackson Classy & Sassy Award
- Stan Mosley — Jus’ Blues Willie Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award
- Keith Johnson — Jus’ Blues Bobby Rush Blues Entertainer Award
- Johnny Rawls — Jus’ Blues “The Lucy Award” Tribute to Albert King
- Shirley Johnson — Jus’ Blues Koko Taylor Queen of the Blues Award
- J-Wonn — Jus’ Blues William Bell Blues & Soul Award
- Hense Powell — Jus’ Blues Legend Lifetime Achievement Award
- Jack Dappa — Jus’ Blues Benny Latimore “Let’s Straighten It Out” Award
Showstopping performances
Musical Director T.C. Coleman led an unforgettable slate of performers. Artists who lit up the stage included:
Kenny Neal, Willie Buck, Betty Padgett, Stan Mosley, Sean McDonald, Keith Johnson, Trudy Lynn, Shirley Johnson,
Gerald McClendon, Ms. Jody, Singa B, Willie Clayton and special guests and surprise appearances made the awards show a night to remember.
Jus’ Blues Technology Conference: Preparing artists for the future
This year’s conference took a bold step into the future, integrating sessions on AI, licensing and digital rights. Highlights included:
- Attorney Jonathan Mason on Chat GPT/AI use in music production, branding and legal considerations.
- Jack Dappa (Blues Heritage Foundation) presenting on the Legacy, Landscape & Liberation of B.B. King.
- Robert Terrell (Deputy Director, B.B. King Museum) debuting a B.B. King documentary launching on public television in observance of B.B. King’s 100th birthday.
The sessions reinforced Jus’ Blues’ commitment to equipping artists with tools to preserve their legacy and monetize creativity in the digital age.
Juke Joint Parties — the Soul of the South
Our legendary Juke Joint Parties kept the energy high with live Southern soul, blues and old-school R&B. Featured performances included:
- Mr. Sipp — The Mississippi Blues Child
- Mose Stovall & The TCB Band
- Rashad The Blues Kid
DJs Cyreio Hughes with side man RT Terrell and Rojene Bailey kept the crowd dancing late into the night.
A message from our CEO
“The 25th Annual Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference was more than a milestone—it was a movement,” said Charles Mitchell, CEO, Jus’ Blues Music Foundation. “We honored our legends, gave a platform to new voices, and embraced the future of the music we love. The Blues is not just history—it’s alive, it’s evolving, and it’s ours.”
Thank you A heartfelt thank-you to our sponsors, artists, volunteers, attendees and partners who helped make this landmark event possible. Your passion keeps the flame of blues, soul and Black musical excellence burning bright.
Stay connected
For event highlights, photo galleries and video recaps visit www.jusblues.org. Follow the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation on social media for updates and announcements about next year’s event.
Media contact
Kevin Mills
Marketing & Public Relations, Jus’ Blues Music Foundation
Email: [email protected]
678-403-1993