Welcome To The Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame
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The Hall of Fame Committee
(09/27/2022)
History
In 2006, The Greater Twin Cities Blues Music Society (now known as The Minnesota Blues Society) solicited nominations from the public at large for the Inaugural Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame. The nominations were in the following categories: Blues Performer, Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues, Blues Recording, Blues Song and Blues Literature. These nominations were then placed on a ballot and voted upon by the members of the Society. The first Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony was held at The Junction (Whiskey Junction) in Minneapolis in late October of 2007. The event was by all accounts a smashing success. The 2007 inductees into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame were: Mojo Buford; Aces, Straights and Shuffles; Tony Glover; KFAI Community Radio and Bruce McCabe.
Over the years new categories have been added to the Hall of Fame and the process for vetting nominees is constantly being reviewed and modified to better insure the timely induction of deserving people.
Criteria for Selection
The MN Blues Hall of Fame is a historical record of those who have made the Blues timeless through performance, documentation, recording and sponsoring. The Minnesota Blues Society will induct new members annually into the Blues Hall of Fame for their historical contribution, impact and overall influence on the Blues in Minnesota.
The current nomination and voting process for the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame is contained in the "Election Policy" was adopted by the MnBS Board of Directors to govern those processes. The specific criteria for candidates are listed in this policy.
Year-By-Year Listing of Inductees and Ceremony Location
2007
- Whiskey Junction (October 26, 2007) — Minneapolis, MN
- Blues Performer — George "Mojo" Buford
- Blues Recording — "Deep Sleep/2000 Miles" by Aces, Straights & Shuffles
- Blues Song — "As Simple As That" by Bruce McCabe
- Blues Literature — Blues Harp by Tony Glover
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — KFAI Community Radio
2008
- Eagles Club #34 (October 19, 2008) — Minneapolis, MN
- Blues Performer — Willie Murphy
- Blues Recording — Blues, Rags, & Hollers by Koerner, Ray & Glover
- Blues Song — "It's All Right" by Dave Ray
- Blues Literature — Rock Keyboard by Scottie Miller
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Tom Asp (Photography)
2009
- Famous Dave's Calhoun Square (October 11, 2009) — Minneapolis, MN
- Blues Performer — Lazy Bill Lucas
- Blues Recording — Honey From The Bee by Willie Murphy & the Bumblebees
- Blues Song — "Upper Mississippi Shakedown" by Bruce McCabe & Pat Hayes
- Blues Literature — Twin Cities Blues News by Kurt Koehler
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues* — Ray Stiles, Minnesota Blues On Stage (Web Page)
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues* — Lolly Obeda, KFAI Sugar Shop (Radio Program)
* There was a tie for this category and the Board awarded the honor to both nominees.
2010
- Minnesota Music Café (October 17, 2010) — St Paul, MN
- Blues Performer — Paul Testa, Jr "Sweet Paulie T"
- Blues Recording — Ready To Go, RJ Mischo & the Kid Morgan Band featuring Percy Strother
- Blues Song — "If I Could Change" by Big George Jackson
- Blues Art & Literature — Pat Dawson, Blue Loon Records
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Chris Mackey, Bayfront Blues Festival
2011
- O' Gara's (November 13, 2011) — St Paul, MN
- Blues Performer — Bruce McCabe
- Blues Sideman — Curtis Blake (harmonica)
- Blues Recording — "Big Leg Woman/Cadillac Baby" by Sonny Rodgers & the Cat Scratchers
- Blues Song — "Lost In The Blues" by Doug Maynard
- Blues Art & Literature — Tim "Dr. Dog" Bradach, Cold Wind Records (Record Company)
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Ted Wilebski, Wilebski's Blues Saloon
- Keeping The Blues Alive Award — Judy Cedar, Founder of Greater Twin Cities Blues Music Society (aka Minnesota Blues Society)
2012
- Wilebski's Blues Saloon (October 14, 2012) — St Paul, MN
- Blues Performer — Big Walter Smith
- Blues Legend — James Samuel "Cornbread" Harris, Sr
- Blues Sideman — Dan Schwalbe (guitar)
- Blues Recording — Tiger In Your Tank, Lamont Cranston Band
- Blues Song — "Blues On The Bank" by Will Donicht
- Blues Art & Literature — West Bank Boogie by Cyn Collins
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — The Electric Fetus (Record Store)
2013
- Minnesota Music Café (October 6, 2013) — St Paul, MN
- Blues Performer — Willie Walker
- Blues Legend — Barbara LeShoure
- Blues Legacy — Milwaukee Slim (Angelo Chambers)
- Blues Sideman — John Franken (guitar)
- Blues Recording — Home Is Where My Harp Is, George "Mojo" Buford
- Blues Song — "Brother To The Blues" by Big Walter Smith
- Blues Art & Literature — Blues With a Feeling, Little Walter Story by Tony Glover
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Charlie Campbell, Promoter/Producer
- Keeping the Blues Alive† — Jake and Melody Jacobson (Minnesota Blues Society)
†Award presented at 2013 Annual Meeting and Holiday Party at Wilebski's Blues Saloon, December 8, 2013.
2014
- Wilebski's Blues Saloon (October 5, 2014) — St Paul, MN
- Blues Performer — Jimi "Primetime" Smith
- Blues Legend — Big John Dickerson
- Blues Legacy — Joseph E. "Jo Jo" Williams
- Blues Sideman — Jeremy Johnson (guitar/drums)
- Blues Recording — A Hot Cup of Joe Juliano by Joe Juliano
- Blues Song — "Crying To Do" by Curt Obeda
- Blues Art, Literature & Media — Black and White Blues by Marc Norberg (Photography Book)
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — John Hammer, Blue Monday Monthly
2015
- Wilebski's Blues Saloon (October 11, 2015) — St Paul, MN
- Blues Performer — Big George Jackson
- Blues Legend — John Beach
- Blues Legacy — Auburn "Pat" Hare
- Blues Sideman — Donald "Hye Pockets" Robertson (drums)
- Blues Recording — City Music by Joel Johnson Band
- Blues Song — "A Good Woman Is Hard To Find" by Percy Strother
- Blues Art, Literature & Media — Jacquie Maddix "Lady J Griot", Blues History Performances
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Harold Tremblay, KFAI Community Radio
2016
- Pepito's Parkway Theater (October 16, 2016) — Minneapolis, MN
- Blues Performer — Paul Mayasich
- Blues Legend — Wilbur Cole
- Blues Legacy — Bobby Johnson and Laverne "Lady Blue" Johnson
- Blues Sideman — Steve "Boom Boom" Vonderharr (harmonica/vocals)
- Blues Recording — (No Blues Recording Was Selected This Year)
- Blues Song — "Two Hours From Tulsa" by RJ Mischo
- Blues Art, Literature & Media — Gary Eckhart (Photographer)
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Mike Shaw, Shaw's Bar & Grill
- Keeping The Blues Alive‡ — Charles Lawson (Musician/Promoter/Blues Fan)
‡Award presented at 2016 Annual Meeting and Holiday Party at Crooner's Lounge, December 4, 2016.
2017
- Famous Dave's Calhoun Square (October 14, 2017) — Minneapolis, MN
- Blues Performer — Scottie Miller
- Blues Legend — 'Famous' Dave Anderson
- Blues Legacy — Dave 'Snaker' Ray
- Blues Sideman — Robb Stupka (drums)
- Blues Recording — If Nothing Ever Changes, Willie Walker
- Blues Song — "Leopard Print Dress" by Dee Miller & Jimi "Primetime" Smith
- Blues Art, Literature & Media — KBEM-FM (88.5 FM)
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Sue Mclean & Associates
2018
- Crooner's Lounge (October 28, 2018) — Fridley, MN
- Blues Performer — Dee Miller
- Blues Legend — 'Doghouse' Jon Lackey
- Blues Legacy — Mike 'The Hook' Deutsch
- Blues Sideman — Larry Wiegand (bass)
- Blues Recording — One Night, The Butanes Soul Revue
- Blues Song — "Sweet Cream Sugar Delight" by Scottie Miller
- Blues Art, Literature & Media — Karl Bremer
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Mike 'Tiny' Rogers
2019
- Historic Concord Exchange (October 27, 2019) — South St Paul, MN
- Blues Performer — Pat Hayes
- Blues Legend — Curt Obeda
- Blues Legacy — John Lindberg
- Blues Sideman — Bill Black (bass)
- Blues Recording — Long Shot, Joe T Cook
- Blues Song — "Touble Caught Me" by Phil Kitze
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Miki Muvehill van Tyne
2020
- No Hall of Fame Due To Covid-19
2021
- Jimmy's Event Center (October 17, 2021) — Vadnais Heights, MN
- Blues Performer — Don Scott
- Blues Legend — 'Spider' John Koerner
- Blues Legacy — Dave 'Cool Breeze' Brown
- Blues Sideman — Allen Kirk (drums)
- Blues Recording — "Lie To Me", Jonny Lang
- Blues Song — "Blinded" by Jimi 'Prime Time' Smith
- Art, Media & Literature — Johnny P Hanson (Artist)
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Jackson Buck
2022
- Jimmy's Event Center (October 16, 2022) — Vadnais Heights, MN
- Keeping the Blues Alive Educator — Everett Smithson
- Blues Performer — Moses Oakland
- Blues Legend — Papa John Kolstad
- Blues Legacy — Paul Manske
- Blues Sideman — Tom Kochie (guitar)
- Mancini's Char House & Lounge (December 4, 2022) — St Paul, MN
- Blues Recording — Vicksburg Blues, by Pat Donohue and Butch Thompson
- Blues Song — "Boxwood's Blues" by Lonesome Dan Kase
- Art, Media & Literature — Blue Guitar Highway by Paul Metsa
- Non-Performer Supportive of the Blues — Steve 'Nipper' Barrette
This Page Last Updated: Monday, December 12, 2022
