Living Blues Poll: Critics vs. Fans

The 20^th Annual Living Blues Critics' and Readers' Polls were published in the August issue. Although I start to get bored with all these awards at this time of year, these two polls allow us to compare the opinions of the average person with the professionals. Unfortunately, readers are asked to vote in fewer categories. In October, the Down Beat Readers' Poll will be released and we'll be able to make a similar comparison among jazz musicians. (Here are the Critics' Poll results.)

	Critics	Readers
Blues Artist of the Year (Male)	Lurrie Bell	Buddy Guy
Blues Artist of the Year (Female)	Ruthie Foster	Janiva Magness
Most Outstanding Blues Singer	Bobby “Blue” Bland	Buddy Guy
Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)	Lurrie Bell	Robert Cray
Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard)	Ironing Board Sam	Marcia Ball
Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)	Billy Boy Arnold	Charlie Musselwhite
Most Outstanding Musician (Horns)	Eddie Shaw
Most Outstanding Musician (Bass)	Bob Stroger
Most Outstanding Musician (Drums)	Kenny Smith
Most Outstanding Musician (Other)	Dom Flemons—Banjo
Best Live Performers	Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials	Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials
Comeback Artists of the Year	Jewel Brown and Milton Hopkins
Artist Deserving More Attention	Blind Boy Paxton
Best Blues Album (New Release)	Mud Morganfield—Son of the Seventh Son	Buddy Guy—Live at Legends
Best Blues Album (Historical Recording)		Albert King—I'll Play the Blues For You
Best Blues DVD		Muddy Waters/Rolling Stones—Checkerboard Lounge Live, Chicago 1981
Best Blues Book	Ben Sandmel—Ernie K. Doe: The Emperor of New Orleans	Buddy Guy/David Ritz—When I Left Home
Contemporary Blues Album	Joe Louis Walker--Hellfire
Southern Soul Album	Barbara Carr—Keep the Fire Burning
Traditional and Acoustic Album	Carolina Chocolate Drops—Leaving Eden
Best Debut Album	Heritage Blues Orchestra—And Still I Rise
Historical Pre-War	VA—The Return of the Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
Historical Post-War	VA—Plug It In, Turn It Up: A History of Electric Blues

With the exception of Bobby Bland, who probably died just as the critics were casting their ballots, the critics tend to reward performers currently at the top of their game, while the readers reward past performance—or, in other words, folks who are more well known. Lurrie Bell is held in high esteem by the critics, while the readers prefer Buddy Guy and Robert Cray. Billy Boy Arnold has had a terrific last couple of years. Charlie Musselwhite has been less active, although he is rebounding strongly in 2013.

However, these blues critics are not out of touch with the average fan. They chose Joe Louis Walker's Hellfire as the Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. It was also the #1 album of 2012 as measured by the Living Blues survey of radio playlists. It's unfortunate that Walker didn't make more headway in the singer and guitarist categories.

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