The results of the British Blues Connection poll for 2000 are reported in the latest issue of Blueprint Magazine (Vol. 2, Issue 39). The details of the winners are reported below. These are the nearest thing to the Handy Awards in the US. Some of the artists have featured in CD reviews this year in Blues On Stage.
In order to prevent an overdominance by any act in any of the categories, five times winners are inducted into the British Blues Connection Gallery of the Greats. This means that they are excluded from future polls in that category.
The Gallery of the Greats:
Blues Rock Band : The Hoax:
Acoustic Artist : Dave Kelly (who plays with the Blues Band too) :
Blues Band : Paul Lamb & The King Snakes:
Female Vocalist : Dana Gillespie:
Guitarist : Otis Grand:
Harmonica Player : Paul Lamb:
Female Overseas Artist : Bonnie Raitt:
Blueprint (which is the magazine of the British Blues Connection) also has a Scroll of Honour, where people who have made a special contribution to the Blues are recognized. The awards are made at the discretion of the editorial staff.
The Blueprint Scroll of Honour:
Rory Gallagher:
Peter Green:
Paul Jones:
Alexis Korner:
Jo Ann Kelly:
John Mayall:
Mike Vernon:
The Poll Winners:
| Category |
Winner |
Runner up |
| Blues Band |
The Producers |
Errol Linton's Blues Vibe |
| Best Album |
Paul Lamb & the Kingsnakes
"The Blue Album" |
Angela Brown & The Mighty 45's
"Thinking Out Loud" |
| Reissue Album |
Fleetwood Mac
"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" |
|
| Acoustic Artist |
Adrian Byron Burns |
Michael Roach |
| Blues Rock Band |
Nine Below Zero |
The Hamsters |
| Female Vocalist |
Connie Lush |
Ruby Turner |
| Male Vocalist |
Eugene Hideaway Bridges |
Earl Green |
| Guitarist |
Johnny Whitehill
(Paul Lamb & the Kingsnakes) |
Sonny Black |
| Harmonica |
Errol Linton |
Tie between Little George Sueref (Big Joe Louis & His Blues Kings) and Steve "West" Weston |
| Keyboards |
Mike Sanchez |
Dino Baptiste |
| Bass |
Dave Bronze
(Eric Bibb) |
Tony Caddle
(Eddie Martin Band) |
| Drums |
Sam Kelly |
Brendan O'Neill
(Nine Below Zero) |
| Saxophone |
Dick Heckstall-Smith |
Frank Mead
(Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings) |
| Overseas Band |
B.B. King Orchestra |
Magic Slim & The Teardops |
| Overseas Best Album |
Luther Allison
"Live In Chicago" |
|
| Overseas Female Artist |
Angela Brown |
Shemekia Copeland |
| Overseas Male Artist |
Eric Bibb |
B.B. King |
Details of the winners reproduced by kind permission of Blueprint magazine (www.blueprint-blues.co.uk).
This article is copyright © 2000 by Gordon Baxter, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.
E-mail Ray Stiles at: 
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