Make that two in a row for Tommy Castro…

The Latino blues, R&B and rock guitarist and singer has won the B.B. King entertainer of the year award for the second year in a row at the 44th Annual Blues Music Awards, which were held at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis on Thursday May 11.

Other artists who held on to their crowns for a second year in a row were Castiglia – blues rock artist; Danielle Nicole – instrumentalist bass, Curtis Salgado – soul blues male artist; and Sue Foley – traditional blues female artist (Koko Taylor award).

Albert Castiglia took home the award for blues rock artist for the second year in a row. 

The 53-year-old half-Cuban American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist also won the award for Blues rock album for his album “I Got Love.”

Curtis Salgado also took home an award for the second year in a row.

The Latino blues, blues rock, and blue-eyed soul singer-songwriter was named Soul blues male artist.

Laura Chavez is a first-time Blues Music Awards winner.

The 41-year-old Latina blues, soul, and rhythm and blues guitarist, songwriter and record producer took home the award for instrumentalist guitar.

In a nice touch, three awards are named after late blues legends. The entertainer of the year award is named after B.B. King, who died in 2015. The award for traditional blues female artist is named after Koko Taylor, who died in 2009. The award for instrumentalist – piano is named after Pinetop Perkins, who died in 2011.

Here’s a complete list of winners for the 2023 Blues Music Awards. 

B.B. King entertainer of the year 
Tommy Castro 

Band of the year
Tedeschi Trucks Band 

Song of the year
Buddy Guy “The Blues Don’t Lie” (Tom Hambridge) 

Best emerging artist album
Dylan Triplett / Who Is He? 

Acoustic blues album
Charlie Musselwhite / Mississippi Son 

Blues rock album
Albert Castiglia / I Got Love 

Contemporary blues album
Buddy Guy / The Blues Don’t Lie 

Soul blues album
Sugaray Rayford / In Too Deep

Traditional blues album
John Németh / May Be the Last Time 

Acoustic blues artist
Doug MacLeod 

Blues rock artist
Albert Castiglia 

Contemporary blues female artist
Ruthie Foster 

Contemporary blues male artist
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram 

Soul blues female artist
Thornetta Davis 

Soul blues male artist
Curtis Salgado 

Traditional blues female artist (Koko Taylor award)
Sue Foley

Traditional blues male artist
John Primer 

Instrumentalist – bass
Danielle Nicole

Instrumentalist – drums
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith

Instrumentalist – guitar
Laura Chavez

Instrumentalist – harmonica
John Németh 

Instrumentalist – horn
Deanna Bogart

Instrumentalist – piano (Pinetop Perkins piano player award)
Anthony Geraci 

Instrumentalist – vocals
Shemekia Copeland