Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album
Encyclopedia
The Grammy Award
for Best Contemporary Blues Album was awarded from 1988 to 2011. From 2001 to 2003 the award recipients included the producers and engineers as well as the artists. Until 1992 the award was known as Best Contemporary Blues Performance and in 1989 was awarded to a song rather than to an album..
The award will be discontinued from 2012 in a major overhaul of Grammy categories. From 2012, this category will merge with the Best Traditional Blues Album category to form the new Best Blues Album category.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for music released in the previous year.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Contemporary Blues Album was awarded from 1988 to 2011. From 2001 to 2003 the award recipients included the producers and engineers as well as the artists. Until 1992 the award was known as Best Contemporary Blues Performance and in 1989 was awarded to a song rather than to an album..
The award will be discontinued from 2012 in a major overhaul of Grammy categories. From 2012, this category will merge with the Best Traditional Blues Album category to form the new Best Blues Album category.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for music released in the previous year.
2010s
- Grammy Awards of 2011
- Buddy GuyBuddy GuyGeorge "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
for Living ProofLiving Proof (Buddy Guy album)Living Proof is Buddy Guy's 26th studio album. After nearly fifty years in the music business, this was Buddy's highest charting album ever, peaking at #46 on the main Billboard album chart.The album loosely follows the progression of Buddy Guy's life...
- Buddy Guy
- Grammy Awards of 2010
- The Derek Trucks BandThe Derek Trucks BandThe Derek Trucks Band has been called a "group of musicians that share a passion for improvisation and musical exploration" by a reviewer at Allmusic....
for Already FreeAlready FreeAlready Free is the sixth studio album by The Derek Trucks Band. It was released in the US on January 13, 2009 by Legacy Recordings. A European release followed on February 20, 2009. The album has received very positive reviews, and debuted at #19 on the Billboard Top 200 reached #1 on the blues...
- The Derek Trucks Band
2000s
- Grammy Awards of 2009
- Dr. JohnDr. JohnMalcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
and The Lower 911 for City That Care Forgot
- Dr. John
- Grammy Awards of 2008
- J. J. Cale and Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
for The Road to EscondidoThe Road to EscondidoThe Road to Escondido is an album by J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton. It was released on November 7, 2006. Contained on this album are the final recordings of Billy Preston, to whom the album is dedicated....
- J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton
- Grammy Awards of 2007Grammy Awards of 2007The 49th Annual Grammy Awards was a ceremony honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning September 15, 2005 and ending September 14, 2006 in the United States. The awards were handed out on Sunday February 11, 2007 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dixie Chicks...
- Irma ThomasIrma ThomasIrma Thomas is an American Grammy Award-winning soul and rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans"....
for After the Rain
- Irma Thomas
- Grammy Awards of 2006Grammy Awards of 2006The 48th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 8, 2006 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Irish rock band U2 were the big winners, winning five awards including Album of the Year. Mariah Carey, John Legend, and Kanye West each were nominated for eight awards and won three,...
- Delbert McClintonDelbert McClintonDelbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
for Cost of Living
- Delbert McClinton
- Grammy Awards of 2005Grammy Awards of 2005The 47th Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were hosted by Queen Latifah , and televised in the United States by CBS. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year...
- Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.-Early life:From early on he had an appreciation for the blues and gospel music...
for Keep It Simple, Zuriani Zonneveld (producer)& Keb Mo (producer)
- Keb' Mo'
- Grammy Awards of 2004Grammy Awards of 2004The 46th Grammy Awards were held on the February 8, 2004. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. The big winners were Outkast, who won three awards including Album of the Year & Beyoncé Knowles, who won 5 Awards...
- Donto James (engineer/producer), Josh Sklair (producer), Sametto James (producer) & Etta JamesEtta JamesEtta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
for Let's RollLet's Roll (album)Let's Roll is a 2003 blues album by Etta James. It won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2003 and also won the Soul/Blues Album of the Year from the Blues Foundation in 2004.-Track listing:...
- Donto James (engineer/producer), Josh Sklair (producer), Sametto James (producer) & Etta James
- Grammy Awards of 2003Grammy Awards of 2003The 45th Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2003. Musicians accomplishments from the previous year were recognized. Norah Jones was the night's big winner winning five awards including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal...
- Joe HenryJoe HenryJoseph Lee "Joe" Henry is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Henry's musical style spans several genres, including alt. country, rock, jazz and folk.- Early years :...
(producer), S. Husky HöskuldsS. Husky HöskuldsS. Husky Höskulds is a Grammy Award–winning audio engineer based in Los Angeles, California.He moved to Los Angeles in 1991, to study audio engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles...
(engineer/mixer) & Solomon BurkeSolomon BurkeSolomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
for Don't Give Up On MeDon't Give Up On MeDon't Give Up on Me is a studio album by R&B/Soul singer Solomon Burke, recorded and released in 2002 on Fat Possum Records. The album won the MOJO Award for Album of the Year, as well as the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album...
- Joe Henry
- Grammy Awards of 2002Grammy Awards of 2002The 44th Grammy Awards were held on February 27, 2002. The biggest was Alicia Keys, winning 5 Grammys, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Fallin'". U2 won 4 awards including Record of the Year and Best Rock Album.-Award winners:...
- Gary Nicholson (producer), Richard Dodd, Don Smith (engineers) & Delbert McClintonDelbert McClintonDelbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
(producer & artist) for Nothing Personal
- Gary Nicholson (producer), Richard Dodd, Don Smith (engineers) & Delbert McClinton
- Grammy Awards of 2001Grammy Awards of 2001The 43rd Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001. Steely Dan was the biggest winner winning three awards including Album of the Year for Two Against Nature. U2 was also a big winner winning three awards as well; including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Beautiful Day. Dr...
- Tony Braunagel (producer), Joe McGrath, Terry Becker (engineers/mixers), Taj MahalTaj Mahal (musician)Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
& the Phantom Blues Band for Shoutin' In Key
- Tony Braunagel (producer), Joe McGrath, Terry Becker (engineers/mixers), Taj Mahal
- Grammy Awards of 2000Grammy Awards of 2000The 42nd Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2000. During the show, Santana won 8 Grammys, tying Michael Jackson's record for most awards won in a single night. Santana's album Supernatural was awarded a total of nine awards....
- Steve JordanSteve Jordan (musician)Steve Jordan is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, musical director and Grammy Award-winning artist, who has made a name for himself as a producer from the Bronx in New York City. A graduate of the Fiorello H...
(producer), The Robert Cray BandRobert CrayRobert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
for Take Your Shoes OffTake Your Shoes OffTake Your Shoes Off is a blues album by Robert Cray, winning the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. It was released on 27 April 1999, through the Rykodisc label. The album won a Grammy Award not just for Cray, but also for drummer and composer Steve Jordan as producer...
- Steve Jordan
1990s
- Grammy Awards of 1999Grammy Awards of 1999The 41st Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill was the nights big winner winning a total of 5 awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Madonna won three awards while country musicians the Dixie...
- Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.-Early life:From early on he had an appreciation for the blues and gospel music...
for Slow Down
- Keb' Mo'
- Grammy Awards of 1998Grammy Awards of 1998The 40th Grammy Awards were held on February 25, 1998. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Rock icon Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss, and R...
- Taj MahalTaj Mahal (musician)Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
for Señor BluesSeñor BluesSeñor Blues is a 1997 album by blues musician Taj Mahal, featuring a cover of James Brown's "Think". It won Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording at that year's Grammy Awards....
- Taj Mahal
- Grammy Awards of 1997Grammy Awards of 1997The 39th Grammy Awards were held on February 26, 1997. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.- Award winners :*Record of the Year**Babyface & Eric Clapton for "Change the World"*Album of the Year...
- Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.-Early life:From early on he had an appreciation for the blues and gospel music...
for Just Like YouJust like You (Keb' Mo' album)Just like You is the second album by Delta blues artist Keb' Mo'. It features guest artists Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt both on the title track "Just Like You." Unlike the first album, Just Like You features a more Blues-pop to Blues-rock feel and more of its tracks feature a full band...
- Keb' Mo'
- Grammy Awards of 1996Grammy Awards of 1996The 38th Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1996. The awards recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Alanis Morissette was the night's big winner, scoring four trophies, including Album of the Year.-Award winners:...
- Buddy GuyBuddy GuyGeorge "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
for Slippin' InSlippin' InSlippin' In is a studio album by Buddy Guy, released in 1994 through Silvertone Records. The album earned Guy the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album....
- Buddy Guy
- Grammy Awards of 1995Grammy Awards of 1995The 37th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1995. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year**Bill Bottrell & Sheryl Crow for "All I Wanna Do"*Album of the Year...
- Pops StaplesPops StaplesRoebuck "Pops" Staples was a Mississippi-born Gospel and R&B musician.A "pivotal figure in gospel in the 1960s and 70s," he was an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and singer...
for Father Father
- Pops Staples
- Grammy Awards of 1994Grammy Awards of 1994The 36th Grammy Awards were held in 1994. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Whitney Houston is the Big Winner winning 3 awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
- Buddy GuyBuddy GuyGeorge "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
for Feels Like RainFeels Like RainFeels Like Rain is a studio album by Buddy Guy, released in 1993 through Silvertone Records. The album earned Guy the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album....
- Buddy Guy
- Grammy Awards of 1993Grammy Awards of 1993The 35th Grammy Awards were held in 1993. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Eric Clapton was the night's big winner, winning 6 awards including Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
- Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble for The Sky Is CryingThe Sky Is Crying (album)The Sky Is Crying is an electric blues album containing studio performances spanning most of the career of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble...
- Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble for The Sky Is Crying
- Grammy Awards of 1992Grammy Awards of 1992The 34th Grammy Awards were held on February 26, 1992. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year . Natalie Cole was the big winner winning three awards including Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
- Buddy GuyBuddy GuyGeorge "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
for Damn Right, I've Got the BluesDamn Right, I've Got the BluesDamn Right, I've Got the Blues is a studio album by Blues guitarist Buddy Guy. The album has been described as Guy's commercial comeback album after limited recording for 10 years.- Track listing :# "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues" 4:29...
- Buddy Guy
- Grammy Awards of 1991Grammy Awards of 1991The 33rd Grammy Awards were held on February 20, 1991. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Quincy Jones was the night's big winner winning a total of six awards including Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
- Jimmie VaughanJimmie VaughanJames Lawrence "Jimmie" Vaughan is an American blues rock guitarist and singer from Dallas, Texas, United States. He is the older brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan....
& Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray VaughanStephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
for Family StyleFamily StyleFamily Style is a blues-rock album by the Vaughan Brothers, released on September 25, 1990. The album features the brethren guitarists and vocalists, Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, in their only studio collaboration. In his early years, Stevie Ray Vaughan often remarked that he would like to do an...
- Jimmie Vaughan
- Grammy Awards of 1990Grammy Awards of 1990The 32nd Grammy Awards were held in 1990. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-General:*Record of the Year**Arif Mardin & Bette Midler for "Wind Beneath My Wings"*Album of the Year...
- Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double TroubleStevie Ray VaughanStephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
for In StepIn StepIn Step is the fourth studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble released in 1989. The title In Step can be seen as referring to Vaughan's new-found sobriety, following the years of drug and alcohol use that eventually led Vaughan into rehabilitation. It was also Vaughan's final album...
- Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
1980s
- Grammy Awards of 1989Grammy Awards of 1989The 31st Grammy Awards were held in 1989. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year**Linda Goldstein & Bobby McFerrin for "Don't Worry, Be Happy"*Album of the Year...
- The Robert Cray BandRobert CrayRobert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
for Don't Be Afraid of the DarkDon't Be Afraid of the Dark (album)Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, released in 1988, was American blues musician Robert Cray's follow-up to Strong Persuader. It was unable to match the mainstream success of Strong Persuader, despite having an equal number of gems.-Track listing:...
- The Robert Cray Band
- Grammy Awards of 1988Grammy Awards of 1988The 30th Grammy Awards were held March 2, 1988. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.- Award winners :*Record of the Year**Paul Simon for "Graceland"*Album of the Year...
- The Robert Cray BandRobert CrayRobert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
for Strong PersuaderStrong PersuaderStrong Persuader is American blues guitarist Robert Cray's fifth studio album, released in 1986, and became his breakthrough album to the mainstream. "Strong Persuader" also became a nickname for Cray...
- The Robert Cray Band