The Blues Foundation is pleased to announce the nominations for their annual Blues Music Awards, which the organization will present at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN on May 5, 2011. Performers, industry representatives and fans from around the globe will have the chance to celebrate the best in Blues recording and performance from 2010.     

Among those heading the list of honorees for the 32nd Blues Music Awards is last year's Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Buddy Guy, with five nominations in such categories as B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year for Living Proof, and Song of the Year for its title track, a co-nomination (with Tom Hambridge). Charlie Musselwhite, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee last year, also garnered five nominations, in the categories of Album of the Year (for The Well) and Song of the Year (for "Sad and Beautiful World," from The Well), among others.

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year (2009) Janiva Magness garnered four nominations this year, and three nominations each went to Derek Trucks, Eden Brent, Joe Louis Walker, James Cotton, Nick Moss, Paul Oscher and The Mannish Boys. This year's nominations also celebrate Steve Miller's return to the blues - and his first-ever nomination - with the album Bingo, nominated for Best Rock Blues Album of the Year. (The full nominee list is below.)

"The ballot is balanced between familiar names nominated because of stellar releases and more than a dozen first-ever nominees," Jay Sieleman, The Blues Foundation's Executive Director said. "The nominations prove not only the sustaining power of Blues music, but also its ability to constantly evolve and remain relevant to today's fans."

Among the nominations are also two - for Soul Blues Album and Soul Blues Male Artist - given posthumously to the late Solomon Burke, who passed away in October at age 70.

December 16 is an early Christmas for Blues fans. Tickets for the May 5 Award show go on sale.  The DVD memorializing the 2010 Blues Music Awards will be available for purchase.  Online voting begins then too. Blues Foundation members are the only fans who vote to decide which nominees will actually take home the Blues Music Award.  Members also receive seating preference at the Awards show. 

Every year, the Blues Music Awards ceremony itself proves to be one of the best shows of the year. After all, almost every nominee not only attends, but also performs - creating a lineup comprised of the best of the best in blues all in one evening.  A complete nominee list, as well as membership, DVD sales, voting, ticket sales and host hotel information can be found at The Blues Foundation's website www.blues.org. Hall of Fame honorees will be announced in mid-February.