Oregon Music News

The Melody Ballroom was standing-room-only Thursday night for the Cascade Blues Association’s annual Muddy Awards hosted by Charlie-Girl Shel Bailey.

Karen Lovely

Picking up two Muddys were relative newcomer Ashland’s Karen Lovely, one for Best New Act and for Best Performance for her set at 2009’s Waterfront Blues Festival. She also performed, opening the show.

Also winning twice, for R&B Act and Male Vocalist was Curtis Salgado, and Lisa Mann won for Bass and Female Vocalist.

Lovely came out of nowhere in the past year. Her album “Lucky Girl” was the number one “Pick to Click” on XM’s “B.B. King’s Bluesville” show. It debuted on the Living Blues Magazine chart at #13. She will represent the CBA in Memphis in the International Blues Challenge competition.

Obviously surprised and delighted as she held her awards. She said afterward, “I’m blown away. I was at Waterfront Blues Festival for Malford’s (Milligan, also nominated) performance and he had me in tears. I thought it was the best thing I had ever seen and to be nominated in the same category just blew my mind. I’m still comprehending it!”

Peter Dammann

Peter Dammann won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award. Typically humble, he told the story of his moving to Portland in the early 1980’s and going to work for Willamette Week as a writer, and not a music writer.

He brought chuckles from the crowd when he said that he had promised his family that he would play with Paul deLay for only three months. He lasted twenty-five years, until Paul’s death.

You might say that the Waterfront Blues Festival won three awards. Besides Damman’s and Lovely’s the Festival itself won Best NW Blues Event.

An all-star jam followed with many of the winners. Also playing were Norman Sylvester, Steve Williams, Rae Gordon and Guitar Julie.

The complete list of winners in the order presented.

Contemporary Blues Act: Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes

R&B Act: Curtis Salgado

Traditional Blues Act: Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings

New Act: Karen Lovely Band

Regional Act: Ty Curtis Band

“Duffy Bishop” Female Vocalist: Lisa Mann

Male Vocalist: Curtis Salgado

Electric Guitar: Phil “suburban slim” Wagner

Acoustic Guitar: Terry Robb

Bass: Lisa Mann

Drums: Jimi Bott

Harmonica: Hank Shreve

Keyboards: D.K. Stewart

Horns: Brad Ulrich

Venue: Duff’s Garage

NW Recording: The Insomniacs “At Least I’m Not With You”

National Recording: Elvin Bishop “The Blues Roll On”

Best Performance: Karen Lovely Band–Waterfront Blues Festival

NW Blues Event: Waterfront Blues Festival

The Hurley Award (Backstage): Sheldon Phillips

The Back What You Believe In Award: (Tie) John Etten, Betsey McBride

Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Dammann