Congratulations to our
2024 Lifetime Achievement
Award Winners

Living (awarded posthumously)

Bugs Beddow

Bugs Beddow was one of Detroit's legendary music artists. Known primarily for his trombone and flute playing, Bugs was also skilled with the harmonica and keyboards.

Bugs performed at prestigious venues like Comerica Park, The Fox Theatre, Joe Louis Arena, The Huntington Place Convention Center, Meadowbrook Amphitheater, and Royal Oak Music Theater. He has also performed at major events and festivals like The Detroit Grand Prix, The Detroit Jazz Festival, Arts Beats & Eats, The Cherry Festival in Traverse City, The Bluewater Festival in Port Huron, The Ypsilanti Blues Festival, and Top of the Park in Ann Arbor.

Bugs began his career back in the sensational Sixties when he took up the trombone at age 9. By the time he reached Groves High School, he had formed his first band called "Smokey Burgundy" that played Psychedelic Rock. He followed that with "The Wellington Jazz Gathering" band that played Pop-Rock. In college at Northern Michigan University, he was a member of the 17-piece Big Band and also the Jazz Band. When the Rock Era of 70s got rolling, Bugs played in a Rock band called "Stash," a Jazz Fusion band called "Ecstacy," a Funk dance band called "Chopper," a Funk-Soul band called "Newt and The Salamanders," a classic Big Band called "The Ralph Harris Big Band," and a Pop Dance band called "Air Condo. He was pretty busy covering a wide palette of music.

Then in 1979, Bugs formed the eponymous "Bugs Beddow Jazz Quintet" and began building a brand for himself. When the 80s Disco Era arrived, Bugs switched gears and formed the Bugs Beddow Band which focused on Fusion Dance Music.

The 90s Hip-Hop Era followed and Bugs decided to switch gears once again to form "The Bugs Beddow Blues Brigade." That gave way to the generic "Bugs Beddow Band" which focused on dance music and lasted until 2014 when Bugs formed his final iteration, "Bugs Beddow and The Good Stuff Band" which played Blues, Rock, R&B, Jazz, and Soul.

Over the course of the past 10 years, Bugs and his band have received over 50 nominations and earned more than 30 coveted honors at the prestigious Detroit Music Awards. It was a remarkable career for a remarkable music artist and band leader.

Posthumous

Johnny Yard Dog Jones

Born June 21, 1941, died September 15, 2015, age 74. Guitarist, vocalist, harp player, songwriter. W.C. Handy Award winner, Best New Blues Artist (1998), debut LP "Ain't Gonna Worry" was Living Blues magazine's Best New Blues Album (1996).

Born John Junia Jones, Jr., in Arkansas, raised in East St. Louis, moved to Chicago 1959, moved to Detroit in 1971. Jones stated that he took harmonica lessons from Little Walter. Played with noted Detroit-based artists Bobo Jenkins, the Butler Twins, Baby Boy Warren, Little Junior Cannaday, Little Mack Collins and Detroit Junior. Jones was a founding member of the Detroit Blues Club. Jones died in Decatur, Illinois.

Well into his music career, Jones released "Ain't Gonna Worry" on Earwig at age 55. Additional recordings include contributions to "Blues at Midnight-Live at the Attic" (various artists), "Uncut Detroit: Live Blues in the Night" (various Artists), and "Detroit Blues Factory Vol. 1" (various artists).

2020 Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Awards
Living - Bettye LaVette
Posthumous - Dr. Isiah Ross "The Harmonica Boss"

2019 Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Awards
Living - Lester "HamBone" Brown
Posthumous - Paul Carey

2018 Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Awards
Living & Posthumous - The Alligators

2017 Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Awards
Living - Muruga Booker
Posthumous - William Paden Hensley "Washboard Willie"

2016 Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Awards
Living - Cathy Davis
Posthumous - Alford Odsie Harrell, Sr. "Chicago Pete"