Joe is humbled, honored, and thankful to be nominated for two Blues Music Awards in the categories of the B.B. King Entertainer and Instrumentalist – Guitar.

The Blues Music Awards (BMAs) are held each year by The Blues Foundation to honor and celebrate the best in blues music from the previous year. The BMAs are viewed by most as the highest honor you can receive in the blues. Any member of The Blues Foundation can vote, so the awards are truly decided on by genuine lovers of the blues.

The Blues Foundation, established in 1980, is a non-profit organization based in Memphis and their mission statement is as follows:

Our Mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of the uniquely American art form.

The Award for Blues Instrumentalist is awarded to “That musician whose skills on the guitar, in performance and/or on recordings, best portrays the blues during eligibility period.” – Guitar has been awarded to some of the greatest guitarists in the blues, including Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, and Albert Collins. Joe Bonamassa won the award in 2015 at the 36th Blues Music Awards.

The B.B. King Entertainer Award is awarded to “that performer who has best represented and promoted the blues through recordings and performances during the eligibility period” and has been awarded to such luminaries as Bobby “Blue” Bland, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, and, of course, B.B. King.

For Joe, being nominated for two Blues Music Awards is an incredible honor because these are truly awards given by the blues fans and lovers of the blues around the world. The nominations are truly appreciated by Joe.

Congratulations, Joe, and good luck – we’re rooting for you!