Ike Turner, B.B. King, Dr. John, Others Land W.C. Handy Blues Awards Nominations

01/18/2002 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Billy Altman

(1/18/02, 5 p.m. ET) -- Ike Turner, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, and R.L. Burnside are among the artists who received multiple nominations for the upcoming 23rd annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards.

Turner, whose 2001 album Here & Now marked his first of new material in 23 years, is nominated in a total of four categories, including blues entertainer of the year, soul/blues male artist of the year, comeback blues album of the year, and soul/blues album of the year. Legendary performer B.B. King will battle Turner for the title of blues entertainer of the year.

Fellow multiple nominees Buddy Guy and Jimmie Vaughan will go head-to-head in two categories: best blues guitar instrumentalist and best contemporary blues album of the year for Sweet Tea and Do You Get The Blues, respectively. Guy also picked up a third nomination for best contemporary male blues of the year.

Burnside received two nominations, one for traditional blues male artist of the year and traditional blues album of the year, while Dr. John received a nomination in the blues keyboards instrumentalist category. For a full list of nominees, log on to handyawards.com.

The 23rd annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards will be presented at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis on May 23. The star-studded ceremony will feature performances and will be followed by two days of blues music on the city's legendary Beale Street.

-- Sue Falco, New York

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