Alligator Records artists receive nine awards at 46th Annual Blues Music Awards

Tommy Castro performing at the
Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser

Check out the official media release that just arrived in my inbox. Congrats to the strong field of blues greats who earned top honors at the 46th Annual Blues Music Awards last night. I've had a chance to catch most of the award winners in concert over the years and each is definitely deserving of these honors. Learn more about Alligator Records and visit the record label's official website HERE...Robert Kinsler

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram performing at The Coach
House in San Juan Capistrano, CA on Sept. 10, 2021.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

ALLIGATOR RECORDS ARTISTS RECEIVE NINE BLUES MUSIC AWARDS Ronnie Baker Brooks Wins Three Awards, Including Song Of The Year For Blues In My DNA Shemekia Copeland, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Tommy Castro, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Billy Branch And Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith (Of The Cash Box Kings) Each Receive One Award

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Blues Foundation announced the winners for the 46th Annual Blues Music Awards. Seven Alligator Records artists were honored with nine Blues Music Awards. Leading all artists with three wins is Ronnie Baker Brooks. Brooks won Song Of The Year for Blues In My DNA, the title track from his Alligator Records debut. He also won the awards for Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (for Blues In My DNA) and for Contemporary Artist Of The Year (Male). Multiple GRAMMY-nominee Shemekia Copeland won the top Album Of The Year Award for her 2024 release, Blame It On Eve. Copeland now holds 16 Blues Music Awards Rick Estrin & The Nightcats took home the coveted award for Band Of The Year. This is the third time the band has received this high honor.   GRAMMY Award-winner Christone "Kingfish" Ingram won Instrumentalist--Guitar, his 10th Blues Music Award. Tommy Castro won Blues Rock Artist. Billy Branch won Instrumentalist--Harmonica, and drummer Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith (of The Cash Box Kings) was awarded Instrumentalist--Drums. The 46th Annual Blues Music Awards were held in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday, May 8 at The Renasant Convention Center. Click here for a full list of award winners. Alligator artists and their Blues Music Awards follow:

Contemporary Blues Male Artist Contemporary Blues Album (Blues In My DNA) Song Of The Year -- Blues In My DNA, performed and written by Ronnie Baker Brooks

Album Of The Year (Blame It On Eve)

Band Of The Year

Blues Rock Artist

Instrumentalist -- Guitar

Instrumentalist -- Harmonica

Instrumentalist -- Drums: Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith

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