2025 BLUES MUSIC AWARDS INCLUDE SOME OF CHICAGO'S FINEST MUSICIANS

This year’s Blues Music Awards (BMAs) in Mephis included some of Chicago's finest Blues musicians, Ronnie Baker Brooks, John Primer, Billy Branch and Shemekia Copeland. See the full list of winners below:

Full List of Major Winners:

• BB King Entertainer of the Year: Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

• Album of the Year: Blame It On Eve, Shemekia Copeland

• Band of the Year: Rick Estrin and the Nightcats

• Song of the Year: Blues In My DNA, Ronnie Baker Brooks

• Best Emerging Artist Album: Revelation, Piper & The Hard Times

• Acoustic Blues Album: One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley

• Blues Rock Album: Life is Hard, Mike Zito

• Contemporary Blues Album: Blues In My DNA, Ronnie Baker Brooks

• Soul Blues Album: Fine By Me, Curtis Salgado

• Traditional Blues Album: Crawlin’ ’Kingsnake, John Primer & Bob Corritore

Top Instrumentalists & Artists:

• Acoustic Blues Artist: Keb’ Mo’

• Blues Rock Artist: Tommy Castro

• Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Ruthie Foster

• Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Ronnie Baker Brooks

• Soul Blues Female Artist: Thornetta Davis

• Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado

• Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award): Sue Foley

• Traditional Blues Male Artist: John Primer

Instrumental Awards:

• Bass: Bob Stroger

• Drums: Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith

• Guitar: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

• Harmonica: Billy Branch

• Horn: Vanessa Collier

• Piano (Pinetop Perkins Award): Eden Brent

• Vocals: Ruthie Foster