THIRTEEN ALLIGATOR ARTISTS RECEIVE 25 W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARD NOMINATIONS!

The W.C. Handy Blues Awards ceremony and concert will be held May 5, 2005 in Memphis, TN, at the Cook Convention Center. Alligator artists and nominations are as follows:

THE HOLMES BROTHERS
Blues Album of the Year - "Simple Truths"
Blues Band of the Year - The Holmes Brothers
Blues Song of the Year - "Run Myself Out Of Town" (writer Wendell Holmes, performed by The Holmes Brothers)
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year - "Simple Truths"
Best Instrumentalist, Bass - Sherman Holmes
Best Instrumentalist, Drums - Popsy Dixon

MAVIS STAPLES
Blues Album of the Year - "Have A Little Faith"
Blues Song of the Year - "Have A Little Faith" (writer Jim Tullio and Jim Weider, performed by Mavis Staples)
Soul/Blues Album of the Year - "Have A Little Faith
Soul/Blues - Female Artist of the Year - Mavis Staples

W.C. CLARK
Blues Album of the Year - "Deep In The Heart"
Soul/Blues-Male Artist of the Year - W.C. Clark
Soul/Blues Album of the Year – “Deep In The Heart”

GUITAR SHORTY
Blues Album of the Year - "Watch Your Back"
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year - "Watch Your Back"

MARCIA BALL
Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year - Marcia Ball
Best Instrumentalist-Keyboards - Marcia Ball

BILLY BRANCH & KENNY NEAL
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year - "Double Take"

CAREY BELL & LURRIE BELL
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year - "Second Nature"

LITTLE CHARLIE AND THE NIGHTCATS
Blues Band of the Year - Little Charlie and the Nightcats

SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year - Shemekia Copeland

HOUND DOG TAYLOR
Historical Blues Album of the Year - "Release The Hound"

ROOMFUL OF BLUES
Best Instrumentalist-Horns - Roomful of Blues Horns

ANDRA FAYE (of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women)
Best Instrumentalist-Other – Andra Faye - Mandolin

KOKO TAYLOR
Traditional Blues-Female Artist of the Year - Koko Taylor