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2022 Award Recipient

Joe Louis Walker

Joe Louis Walker, a versatile blues icon, blends gospel, jazz, and rock. A prolific artist and mentor, his legacy and influence span generations, keeping the blues vibrant and evolving.

2014 Award Recipient

Eddie Shaw

Eddie Shaw, a legendary saxophonist, shaped blues with his work alongside Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. His legacy endures through his music and mentorship in the blues community.

2013 Award Recipient

John Primer

John Primer, a stalwart of Chicago blues, rose from Mississippi roots to fame with Muddy Waters and Magic Slim. His authentic style and mentoring keep the blues vibrant for future generations.

2012 Award Recipient

Bobby Rush

Bobby Rush, a blues legend, rose from humble beginnings in Louisiana to Grammy-winning fame, blending traditional blues with funk and soul, inspiring generations with his dynamic performances and resilience.

2012 Award Recipient

Lonnie Brooks

Lonnie Brooks, born in Louisiana, became a blues icon with his unique blend of Delta, Texas, and Chicago blues. His influential career, marked by dynamic performances and mentoring, left a lasting legacy.

2011 Award Recipient

Otis Clay

Otis Clay, a gospel-rooted soul and blues icon, bridged musical genres with his powerful voice, leaving a lasting legacy of emotional depth and community dedication.

2010 Award Recipient

Hubert Sumlin

Hubert Sumlin, a blues guitar legend, known for his emotive, innovative style with Howlin' Wolf, influenced generations of musicians, leaving an enduring legacy in blues and rock.

2009 Award Recipient

Sugar Pie DeSanto

Sugar Pie DeSanto, a dynamic blues artist, blended cultural influences into her music, leaving a lasting legacy of passionate performances and powerful vocal delivery.

2009 Award Recipient

Magic Slim

Magic Slim, born Morris Holt, was a blues titan from Mississippi. His powerful guitar and gritty vocals defined Chicago blues, leaving an enduring legacy in the genre.

2008 Award Recipient

Denise LaSalle

Denise LaSalle, born in Mississippi, rose to fame with hits like "Trapped by a Thing Called Love." A trailblazing blues singer, songwriter, and producer, her legacy inspires future generations.

2008 Award Recipient

Billy Boy Arnold

Billy Boy Arnold, a Chicago blues legend, revolutionized harmonica playing and influenced generations with hits like "I Wish You Would," leaving an indelible mark on blues and rock music.

2007 Award Recipient

Nappy Brown

Nappy Brown, born in 1929, blended gospel, blues, and R&B with his powerful voice. His hits like "Don't Be Angry" and dynamic performances left a lasting legacy in music.

2007 Award Recipient

Jimmie Jones

Jimmie Jones, a jazz and blues historian, photographer, and advocate, dedicated his life to preserving and promoting these genres, leaving a lasting legacy of passion and education.

2007 Award Recipient

Alberta Adams

Alberta Adams, the Queen of Detroit Blues, rose from humble beginnings to become a trailblazing vocalist, blending blues, jazz, and gospel, leaving an enduring legacy in American music.

2006 Award Recipient

James Cotton

James Cotton, "Superharp," revolutionized blues harmonica, mentored by Sonny Boy Williamson II and played with Muddy Waters. His energetic performances and albums left a lasting legacy on the blues genre.

2005 Award Recipient

Sterling D. Plumpp

Sterling Plumpp, a blues poet, bridged music and literature, capturing African American experiences in his works. His legacy inspires future generations in both genres.

2005 Award Recipient

R. L. Burnside

R.L. Burnside, a Mississippi blues legend, fused traditional Delta blues with modern sounds. His gritty style and resilience left an enduring impact on the blues genre and future generations.

2004 Award Recipient

Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, a genre-blending blues virtuoso, left an indelible mark on music with his eclectic style, Grammy-winning albums, and unforgettable performances. His legacy endures.

2004 Award Recipient

Bob Koester

Bob Koester, founder of Delmark Records, preserved and promoted blues and jazz, impacting the genre significantly with his recordings and dedication. His legacy endures through his work and influence.

2003 Award Recipient

John Mayall

John Mayall, the "Godfather of British Blues," shaped the genre with his Bluesbreakers, nurturing legends like Eric Clapton. His enduring legacy continues to inspire musicians worldwide.

2003 Award Recipient

Henry Townsend

Henry Townsend, a blues legend, bridged Delta and urban styles. Spanning 80 years, his career included iconic recordings, influential mentorship, and unwavering dedication to the blues.

2003 Award Recipient

Fred Anderson

Fred Anderson, a saxophone virtuoso, bridged jazz and blues. From Louisiana to Chicago, his innovation and mentorship left a lasting impact on the music scene and future generations.

2002 Award Recipient

“Little Milton” Campbell

Little Milton, born James Milton Campbell, was a soulful bluesman from Mississippi. Known for blending blues and soul, his hits like "We're Gonna Make It" left a lasting legacy on the genre.

2001 Award Recipient

Odetta

Odetta Holmes, the "Voice of the Civil Rights Movement," bridged folk and blues, inspiring artists like Bob Dylan. Her powerful performances championed social justice and equality.

2001 Award Recipient

Koko Taylor

Koko Taylor, the "Queen of the Blues," rose from humble beginnings in Tennessee to blues stardom with hits like "Wang Dang Doodle," breaking barriers and influencing future generations.

2001 Award Recipient

John Dee Holeman

John Dee Holeman was a Piedmont blues artist known for his fingerpicking guitar style, blending traditional and modern blues. His legacy includes preserving the Piedmont blues and influencing future generations.

2000 Award Recipient

Henry Gray

Henry Gray, born in Louisiana in 1925, was a pioneering blues pianist who shaped Chicago blues. His legacy lives on through iconic recordings and influence on future musicians.

2000 Award Recipient

Gene “Daddy G” Barge

Gene "Daddy G" Barge, saxophonist and producer, shaped blues and R&B with Chess Records, iconic tracks, and innovative arrangements, leaving a lasting legacy in music.

2000 Award Recipient

Boozoo Chavis

Boozoo Chavis, zydeco pioneer, blended Creole, blues, and Cajun sounds. Known for hits like "Paper in My Shoe," he shaped zydeco and influenced future generations.

2000 Award Recipient

Bobby “Blue” Bland

Bobby "Blue" Bland, born in Tennessee, became a blues legend with hits like "Two Steps from the Blues." His blend of blues and soul influenced countless artists, leaving a lasting legacy.

1999 Award Recipient

Pinetop Perkins

Pinetop Perkins, born in 1913, was a legendary blues pianist whose career spanned eight decades. His boogie-woogie style and influence on the blues genre remain unmatched.

1999 Award Recipient

Howard Armstrong

Howard Armstrong, a versatile blues musician, blended diverse musical traditions, influenced American roots music, and left a lasting legacy through his recordings and charismatic performances.

1999 Award Recipient

Francis Clay

Francis Clay, influential blues drummer, shaped the Chicago blues sound with Muddy Waters. His blend of jazz and blues rhythms left a lasting impact on the genre and future generations.

1998 Award Recipient

John Jackson

John Jackson, a master of Piedmont blues, rose from humble beginnings to preserve traditional blues, inspiring future generations with his authentic style and soulful performances.

1998 Award Recipient

Jay McShann

Jay McShann, a pioneering pianist and bandleader, blended blues and jazz, shaping Kansas City jazz and mentoring talents like Charlie Parker, leaving a lasting musical legacy.

1997 Award Recipient

Snooky Pryor

Snooky Pryor, a pioneering blues harmonica player, revolutionized the genre with his amplified sound. His influential career and innovative style left a lasting legacy on the blues.

1997 Award Recipient

Franz Jackson

Franz Jackson, a jazz and blues legend, bridged New Orleans jazz and Chicago blues, leaving a lasting legacy through his recordings, performances, and mentorship of young musicians.

1996 Award Recipient

Robert Lockwood Jr.

Robert Lockwood Jr., a pioneering blues guitarist mentored by Robert Johnson, fused delta and Chicago blues, leaving a lasting legacy through his recordings and mentorship.

1995 Award Recipient

David “Honeyboy” Edwards

David "Honeyboy" Edwards, a Delta blues legend, preserved traditional blues while inspiring future generations with his emotive guitar work and rich storytelling. His legacy endures.

2005 Award Recipient

Sterling D. Plumpp

A Blues Poet’s Journey

Sterling D. Plumpp was born on January 30, 1940, in Clinton, Mississippi, during an era when the South was rife with racial segregation and economic hardship. Growing up in a rural environment, Plumpp was immersed in a world where music was a vital part of daily life and cultural expression. His family, though not musicians themselves, were steeped in the traditions of blues, gospel, and spirituals, which were the soundtracks of his early years. This environment fostered a deep appreciation for the rhythms and stories embedded in the music that surrounded him.

Introduction to Music and Early Influences

Plumpp’s introduction to music came through the communal experiences of church services and local gatherings, where blues and gospel were ever-present. The sounds of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and other blues legends formed the backdrop of his youth. These early influences left an indelible mark on Plumpp, shaping his understanding of the blues as both a musical form and a means of storytelling. His passion for the genre grew stronger as he witnessed the power of music to convey the struggles, joys, and resilience of the African American community.

Key Moments and Milestones in His Career

Sterling Plumpp’s career took a significant turn when he moved to Chicago in 1962 to attend Roosevelt University. The city, a bustling hub for blues music, provided Plumpp with the perfect environment to delve deeper into the genre. While in Chicago, he became actively involved in the Black Arts Movement, a period that saw African American artists and writers advocating for cultural and political change through their work.

Plumpp’s early works, including his first poetry collection, Steps to Break the Circle (1974), were infused with the rhythms and themes of the blues. His writing captured the essence of the African American experience, intertwining the struggles for civil rights with the personal tales of love, loss, and endurance. As Plumpp continued to write, his reputation as a “blues poet” grew, earning him recognition and respect within both literary and music circles.

Significant Albums, Songs, and Performances

While Sterling Plumpp is primarily known for his poetry, his contributions to the blues genre are deeply intertwined with his literary works. His poetry collections, such as Blues: The Story Always Untold (1989) and Velvet Be Bop Kente Cloth (2002), stand out for their vivid portrayal of blues music and its impact on African American culture. These collections are considered seminal works that bridge the gap between music and literature, offering readers a poetic exploration of the themes central to the blues.

Plumpp’s performances, often at literary festivals and blues events, are renowned for their intensity and emotional depth. His readings are more than recitations; they are dynamic performances that bring the spirit of the blues to life, engaging audiences and transporting them to the world he describes in his verses.

Impact on the Blues Genre and Music Industry

Sterling Plumpp’s impact on the blues genre extends beyond his poetry. By infusing his literary works with the essence of blues music, he has contributed to a broader understanding and appreciation of the genre. Plumpp has highlighted the blues as a vital cultural and historical narrative, emphasizing its significance in documenting the African American experience.

His work has inspired a new generation of poets and writers to explore the connections between music and literature, demonstrating that the blues is not just a musical form but a profound mode of storytelling. Plumpp’s contributions have helped to preserve the blues’ legacy, ensuring its continued relevance in contemporary culture.

Personal Anecdotes or Notable Stories

One of the most notable stories from Sterling Plumpp’s life is his friendship with blues musicians in Chicago. Plumpp often recounts his encounters with blues legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, whose music had influenced him since childhood. These relationships provided Plumpp with a deeper insight into the lives of the musicians and the struggles they faced, enriching his understanding of the blues and further fueling his passion for the genre.

Plumpp’s dedication to teaching and mentoring young writers is another significant aspect of his legacy. As a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, he has inspired countless students to explore their creative potential and understand the cultural importance of the blues.

Legacy and Influence on Future Generations

Sterling Plumpp’s legacy as a blues poet is firmly established. His work continues to resonate with readers and listeners, offering a powerful testament to the enduring influence of the blues. Plumpp has demonstrated that the blues is not confined to music but can be a profound source of literary inspiration.

Future generations of poets, writers, and musicians are likely to draw from Plumpp’s work, finding in it a rich tapestry of cultural history and artistic expression. His ability to capture the essence of the African American experience through the lens of the blues ensures that his contributions will remain a vital part of the literary and musical landscape for years to come.

In conclusion, Sterling Plumpp’s journey from the rural South to the vibrant blues scene of Chicago has made him a pivotal figure in the world of blues poetry. His work stands as a bridge between music and literature, preserving the spirit of the blues and inspiring future generations to carry forward its legacy.

A Poem by Sterling

The following excerpts from his poem “My History” (reprinted from the Penguin anthology African American Literature) reveal Sterling Plumpp better than any standard biography.

My History

I was born in the delta, my mother’s
tears, the river, Muddy Waters color
with mud slide
guitar callings for heaven, Lord
callings for mojo voices to claim space
for my homeless spirituals
coming to carry me home, swing low
swing low.

worker of myth I believe
I’ll dust my broom in
side self definition
My history loneliest
moment I know inventing
when facts say I don’t exist
but I build my self fromn junk,
artists, people collecting scraps
to quilt worlds, quilt identity
built from paths to self.

I am a poet opening
worlds inside closed fists
I sing to wake demons whom
I incarcerate in song
I am a dreamer, a dreamer
a junk man with tools to invent
from his collectibles.

Blues, place where you got
nowhere to run to and
you can’t run from.
Something or
somebody blocking the muddy
road to the door of heaven.
I break down with riffs
Be bopping claims to be

Because every day since I was five
I climb Mount McKinley
Morganfield
hollers to breathe stations of the cross
roads where Shango and Ogun wrestle Robert
Johnson till Muddy Waters
moan down streams of consciousness
to flood overtures I cannot understand.

— Sterling D. Plumpp

Background

BornJanuary 30, 1940 (age 84)
Clinton, Mississippi
Occupation(s)Poet, critic