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This page contains the winners of the awards and contests sponsored by the Kentuckiana Blues Society.
[ Sylvester Weaver Award | Unsigned Competition ]

Sylvester Weaver was a Louisvillian who in 1923 made recording history with his "Guitar Blues", the first blues guitar record. His career was short-lived, but his music lives on. He retired as a recording artist in 1927, but the second record that he made, "Guitar Rag", was appropriated by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in the early 1930s and reincarnated as "Steel Guitar Rag", which has become a country classic.

In 1991 the KBS raised the funds necessary to right a longtime wrong. We put a headstone on the grave of pioneering bluesman and Louisville native Sylvester Weaver. A dedication ceremony took place on Sunday, March 29,1992. The KBS has setup an award, The Sylvester Weaver Award, to honor the memory of a true pioneer in the blues music world and is presented to those who the KBS feels has dedicated their lives to presenting, preserving, and perpetuating the blues. Sylvester’s grave is in the Old Louisville Cemetery and is high on the hill facing Poplar Level Road. Take some time to visit the site and pay tribute to a great blue musician. (From the November 1999 issue of the KBS newsletter "Blues News" - Text and Photos by Paul Schneider)

Sylvester Weaver Award Winners

Please see Keith Clement's article "Weaver Winners" in the Jan 2005 Louisville Music News

• 2008 ??
• 2007 Sonny Sitgraves - Louisville Artist
• 2006 da Mudcats - Louisville Band members Mike Lynch, Rob Pickett, Gene Wickliffe 
• 2005 John Burgard - Louisville Artist
• 2004 Keith Clements - former President of KBS, Blues Journalist for Louisville Music News, Blues aficionado and historian
• 2003 Sue O'Neil - Louisville Artist
• 2002 Mark Stein - Louisville Artist
• 2001 Scott Mullins -  Louisville Blues Promoter & WFPK DJ
• 2000 Rocky Adcock - Co-Founder of KBS, Musician, advocate of local blues musicians
• 1999  Tanita Gaines - Louisville Artist
• 1998  Joey Lamont Gillispie - Louisville Artist
• 1997  Smoketown Red - Louisville Artist
• 1996  Mary Ann Fisher - Back-up singer to Ray Charles 1950's
• 1995  Fred Murphy - 26th Street Blues Band
• 1994  Perry Aberli - Promotion of the Midwest Blues Fest, South Bend IN
• 1993  Winston Hardy - CD: Mumbo Jumbo
• 1992  Pen Bogert - Oral History Project
• 1991  Foree Wells - CD: It's a New Day Brother (not yet released)
• 1990  Jim Rosen - CD: Let Me Play In Your Big Brick Yard - and FOX 100.5 FM Radio Show
• 1989  Henry Woodruff - House Band at The Pleasure Inn

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KBS sponsors an Unsigned Blues Talent Competition annually. Among other prizes that include money, gigs and notoriety, the winner has the opportunity to compete in the Blues Foundation's Annual International Blues Talent Competition in Memphis. Past winners:

• 2008 ?? Your group here ??
• 2007 Velveeta Jones
• 2006 Stella Vees (Lexington KY)
• 2005 * Contest Cancelled *
• 2004 Stella Vees (Lexington KY)
• 2003  Rock Garden Blues Band
• 2002  Michael "Blind Dog" Gatewood
• 2001  Blues Kravin (Marion NC)
• 2000  Sofa Kings Deluxe (Richmond KY)
• 1999  The Jimmy Roberts Blues Band (Salvisa KY)
• 1998  Jim Diamond and the Blues Syndicate (Franklin KY)
• 1997  Walnut Street Blues Band
• 1996  Tyler Henderson Blues Band
• 1995  Redd Snapper Blues Band
• 1994  Rude Mood (Dayton OH)
• 1993  MR2 Blue

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