Guitarist Hubert Sumlin Wins Second Consecutive BMA

by Staff.

Blues guitar icon Hubert Sumlin received the 2007 Blues Music Award (known until 2006 as a Handy Award) in the Instrumentalist - Guitar category from the Blues Foundation at an awards ceremony that took place on May 10, 2007, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Sumlin was similarly honored in 2006. The Blues Music Awards is an annual event sponsored by the nonprofit Blues Foundation that recognizes talented blues artists and songwriters in a number of categories.

Though best known for his work with Howlin' Wolf's backup band, the 75-year-old Sumlin has recorded an influential catalog of solo albums since 1969's Hubert's "American Blues!. In 2002, Sumlin was diagnosed with lung cancer and had one lung removed. Since then, he has remained cancer-free and continues to record and tour. Hubert Sumlin has been named a major influence by guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.

Complete list of 2007 Blues Music Award recipients:

Comeback Album of the Year: Jerry Lee Lewis - Last Man Standing
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year: Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year: Etta James
Acoustic Artist of the Year: David "Honeyboy" Edwards
Acoustic Album of the Year: Rory Block - The Lady and Mr. Johnson
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year: Marcia Ball
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year: Bobby Rush
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year: Irma Thomas
Soul Blues Album of the Year: Irma Thomas - After the Rain
Historical Album of the Year: Shout! Factory - Hooker - John Lee Hooker
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year: Guitar Shorty - We the People
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year: Janiva Magness
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year: Tab Benoit
Instrumentalist-Guitar: Hubert Sumlin
Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite
Instrumentalist-Bass: Mookie Brill
Instrumentalist-Drums: Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
Instrumentalist-Horn: Eddie Shaw
Instrumentalist-Other: Robert Randolph
Best New Artist Debut: Slick Ballinger- Mississippi Soul
Song of the Year: "Church is Out" - Charlie Musselwhite
Traditional Blues Album of the Year: Charlie Musselwhite - Delta Hardware
Album of the Year: Charlie Musselwhite - Delta Hardware
Band of the Year: Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year: Tab Benoit

---