MEMPHIS, Tenn. —The Renasant Convention Center was packed with blues musicians, fans and music luminaries on May 5, eager to see who the winners of the 43rd Annual Blues Music Awards would be.

As well as handing out honors in 25 categories, the BMAs, as is tradition, featured performances from many of the nominees, with the gala ending with a jubilant all-star jam.

Tommy Castro took home the award of the night, winning three BMAs, first for BB King Entertainer of the Year (which he previously won in 2010 and 2008) and Album of the Year for Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came to Town, and finally for winning Group of the Year honors with his band, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers.

This year, Sue Foley was one of two double winners, capturing the traditional blues album for the first time and winning the traditional blues female artist award – Koko Taylor, repeating her 2020 win. of his victory at the Grammy Awards,

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram won Contemporary Blues Male Artist for the third year in a row. He also received the Contemporary Blues Album award, for which he had already won a BMA in 2020.

Song of the Year was first awarded to Selwyn Birchwood with “I’d Climb Mountains”, which he also recorded. Rodd Bland & The Members Only Band made their BMA debut for Best Emerging Artist Album for LIVE ON BEALE STREET: A Tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland.

Seven-time BMA winners Keb ‘Mo for Acoustic Blues Artist and Curtis Salgado for Soul Blues Male, Danielle Nicole won the Instrumentalist Bass award. Jimmy Carpenter captured Instrumentalist – Horn and Mike Zito won the Blues Rock album with Ressurection.

Eric Bibb for Acoustic Blues Album, Albert Castiglia for Blues Rock Artist, Annika Chambers for Soul Blues Female and Jason Ricci for Instrumentalist – Harmonica have regained their BMA crowns.

Winners of multiple BMA awards debuting in a category were Taj Mahal for Male Traditional Blues Artist, Tom Hambridge for Instrumentalist – Drums and Eric Gales for Instrumentalist – Guitar. Additionally, Mike Finnegan won the Instrumentalist – Piano award (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award) and John Nemeth won the Instrumentalist – Vocals award. Finally, Zac Harmon received the Soul Blues Album award for Long As I Got My Guitar.