1999 Grammy Awards
by Delta Pickens' Leon McEntire

The 41st. Annual Grammy Awards Blues nominations were released January 5, 1999 and the award ceremony will be held Wednesday, February 25. The awards are for recordings released during the period of October 1, 1997 through September 30, 1998.

I am proud to see Robert Lockwood Jr. among the nominees for Best Traditional Blues Album of the year, as he is one of the true orignals and deserves all the recognition he can get. Of course, he is up against some major competition. Otis Rush and Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson have also turned in some great music and are likely candidates to win this catagory as well.

Buddy Guy will probably win Best Contemporary Blues Album, since he seems to win anything he is nominated for, but B.B. King's effort comprised of duets might just edge him out this time around. I would like to congratulate all of the nominees and wish them good luck. It is great to be chosen for the final round, but even better to win.

Blues:

Best Traditional Blues Album
vocal or instrumental:

A Tribute To Howlin' Wolf
Henry Gray, Calvin Jones, Sam Lay,
Colin Linden & Hubert Sumlin
With Special Guests
Telarc Blues Records

Long As I Have You
John Hammond
Pointblank Records

Got To Find A Way
Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson
And The Magic Rockers
Telarc Blues Records

I Got To Find Me A Woman
Robert Lockwood Jr.
Verve Records

Any Place I'm Going
Otis Rush
House Of Blues Records



Best Contemporary Blues Album
vocal or instrumental:

Sing It!
Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas & Tracy Nelson
Rounder Records

Heavy Love
Buddy Guy
Silvertone Records

Life, Love & The Blues
Etta James
Private Music

Slow Down
Keb Mo
Okeh/550 Music

Deuces Wild
B.B. King
MCA Records

Email me leon@deltaboogie.com
My review site Delta Pickens
The Grammy Awards