The Best of the Blues Coming to Public Television

The 2010 Blues Music Awards, held in Memphis, TN, brings together Blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. Each year, the Foundation presents The Blues Music Awards to the artists selected by its members. They are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. This annual music event is now available to air on public television stations across the country.

The 2010 Blues Music Awards is produced by The Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN. It is being distributed to public television stations by WKNO/Memphis through NETA (National Educational Telecommunications Association).

Hosted by Bill Wax (Program Director and host for B.B. King’s Bluesville on SiriusXM Satellite Radio) and Big Lou (the voice of Sirius XM Satellite Radio), the awards showcase the best blues talent from the past year.

The performance show features a number of performances including Traditional Male Artist of the Year Duke Robillard joined by Al Basile (cornet), Bruce Bears (piano), Doug James (vocals), Brad Hallen (bass), Carl Querfurth (trombone) and Mark Teixeira (drums) for “Stomp the Blues Tonight”.

Also appearing in The 2010 Blues Music Awards is 28-time Blues Award winner (and this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award) Buddy Guy performing “Damn Right I Got the Blues” with Billy Flynn, Johnny Iguana, Kenny Smith and Bob Stroger. Other artists also featured with performances on the show include Cyril Neville, Joe Louis Walker, Johnny Rawls, Debbie Davies, Super Chikan, and Louisiana Red.

The live event from which the program was produced is presented by the following sponsors: The Gibson Foundation. 2010 BMA sponsors include ArtsMemphis, BMI, Casey Family Programs, Eagle Rock Entertainment, FedEx, I 55 Productions, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and the Tennessee Arts Commission. For more information about the Blues Music Awards visit http://www.blues.org/.