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2006
Recipient for Best Blues Society
The Detroit Blues
Society's
Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded since 1992 and is the
highest musical honor awarded by the Society. It is traditionally
awarded to musicians, both living and deceased, that have made
significant contributions to Detroit Blues during their careers in
the music business.
____________________
PRESS
RELEASE
February 16, 2011
For Immediate Release
Detroit
Blues Society Announces Their 2011 Detroit Blues
Awards
The Detroit Blues Society has announced the results of the
membership voting for the 2010 Blues Award Nominees. There are 2
award categories and those are THE
LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD and THE JAMES S. HENRY AWARD.
_____________
The LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS have been given every year since 1992
and is the highest musical honor given by the DBS. It is awarded to
living and deceased musicians that have made significant
contributions to Detroit Blues during their careers in the business
and is voted upon by all Detroit Blues Society Members. Past
recipients have been Kim Wilson, Son House, Thornetta Davis, Sippie
Wallace, Larry McCray, Garfield Angove, Little Mac Collins, Odessa
Harris, Priscilla Price, Joe Hunter, Billy Davis, RJ Spangler,
Little Jr. Cannaday, Kenny Martin, Stanley Mitchell, BoBo Jenkins,
John Lee Hooker, Eddie Kirkland, Little Sonny Willis, Sir Mack
Rice, Lazy Lester, Duke Dawson, Harmonica Shah, the Butler Twins,
Alberta Adams, Uncle Jessie White, Mr. Bo Collins, Howard
Armstrong, Johnnie Bassett, Rev. Robert Jones, Robert Noll, Steve
Gornall, Jimmy Thackery, Kim Simmonds, Bobby Murray, Willie D.
Warren and the Famous Coachman.
_____________
2011 WINNERS
The
2010 winner of the LIVING LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is Odell
"Bluesboy D" McDowell
Odell was born and raised
in Delhi, Louisiana, the oldest of 17 children. He is self taught
in singing the blues. He would sing all the time as he rode a
tractor and worked the fields. In 1964 he came to Detroit and was
hired at General Motors in 1967. In 1985 he met Uncle Jessie White
and was one of the blues performers who would sit around and sing
the blues at White’s legendary 29th Street blues house.
He would also perform at the Attic Bar in Hamtramck along with
Uncle Jessie, the Butler Twins and Johnny Yard Dog Jones. In 1988
he formed his own band called The Louisiana Heat Blues Band. That
band broke up in 1997. In 2005 The Delta Five Blues Band was
formed. Blues Boy “D” was the lead singer until 2008 when he
retired from performing because of health
conditions.
CONGRATULATIONS Odell "Blues Boy D!"
The 2010 winner of the POSTHUMUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is
Vernon "Boogie Woogie Red" Harrison
Boogie Woogie
Red was born Vernon Harrison in Rayville, Louisiana in 1925. The
family moved to Detroit around 1927. During the depression the
Harrison family was living on Henry Street, a rough East Side
location near Hastings Street. Here Red was raised and got his
nickname because of his complexion.
He was self taught on the piano picking up tips and inspiration
from other Detroit pianist Big Maceo and Little Maceo. By age 18 he
moved to Chicago. While there he played with the likes of Lonnie
Johnson, Tampa Red and Memphis Slim.
By the late 40’s he joined up with John Lee Hooker back in Detroit
and went to work with Baby Boy Warren and Washboard Willie. It was
with Baby Boy Warren’s band that Sonny Boy Williamson was a part of
for a short
time in 1953-54. When Motown Records came into prominence gigs
became hard to find; Red retired from the scene.
In 1972 the call came to tour Europe along with Baby Boy Warren and
he received much positive attention. That led to re-entering the
Detroit music scene and more tours. He recorded the albums Live at
the Blind Pig and Red Hot for Blind Pig Records. His early
recordings as back-up pianist were with Staff, JVB, Drummond,
Excello, Blue Lake, Decca and Sampson labels. Red performed at the
1972 and 1973 Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festivals and continued to
play at many clubs in the Detroit Area including the Blind Pig in
Ann Arbor. Boogie Woogie Red died in 1992 and was buried at the
Lincoln Memorial Park cemetery in Clinton
Township.
The
Awards Ceremony
The awards will be presented on
Saturday, January 14, 2012 (9pm) at Freddy’s, 40000 Garfield
Road,
Clinton Township
The
Detroit Blues Society
The Detroit Blues Society (DBS) is a
registered, federal, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to
the history, promotion, and preservation of the Blues music
tradition. It has as its primary goals to promote a wider
appreciation for the blues by the general public and to serve the
members of the Society.
Contact:
Mike Boulan
(248) 398-6877
heatstocker@aol.com
______________________________
Past
Winners
2010
Willie
D. Warren (Posthumus)
Bobby
Murray (Living)
2009
Son
House (Posthumus)
Kim
Wilson (Living)
