Tommy Castro proved to be the big winner at the Blues Music Awards…
The 67-year-old Latino American blues, R&B and rock guitarist and singer swept three major awards at the 43rd Blues Music Awards, which were held at the Renasant Convention Center in downtown Memphis on Thursday, May 5.
Castro won the B.B. King entertainer of the year award, album of the year for Tommy Castro Presents a Bluesman Came to Town and, with his band, the Painkillers, band of the year. The album reached No. 2 on Billboard‘s Blues Albums chart.
This is the third time Castro has won entertainer of the year, an award he previously won in 2008 and 2010.
This year marked the first time the awards have been presented in person since 2019. The show was held virtually the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s the full list of winners for the 2022 Blues Music Awards.
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year: Tommy Castro
Album of the Year: Tommy Castro Presents a Bluesman Came to Town, Tommy Castro
Band of the Year: Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Song of the Year: “I’d Climb Mountains,” written & performed by Selwyn Birchwood
Best Emerging Artist Album: Live on Beale Street: A Tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland, Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band
Acoustic Blues Album: Dear America, Eric Bibb
Blues Rock Album: Resurrection, Mike Zito
Contemporary Blues Album: 662, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Soul Blues Album: Long As I Got My Guitar, Zac Harmon
Traditional Blues Album: Pinky’s Blues, Sue Foley
Acoustic Blues Artis: Keb’ Mo’
Blues Rock Artist: Albert Castiglia
Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Vanessa Collier
Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Soul Blues Female Artist: Annika Chambers
Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado
Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award): Sue Foley
Traditional Blues Male Artist: Taj Mahal
Instrumentalist – Bass: Danielle Nicole
Instrumentalist – Drums: Tom Hambridge
Instrumentalist – Guitar: Eric Gales