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Since Apr 1, 1997

 

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... to preserve, promote and perpetuate the Blues Tradition ...

Awards Information Page

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


The Sylvester Weaver Award is given yearly to an individual who exemplifies the goals of the KBS and is presented to the winner at the Garvin Gate Blues Festival or the Annual KBS General Membership Meeting & Birthday Party. (The Blues Festival is held the second weekend in October, the KBS Party is held in November.) 

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 Headstone

Louisville Cemetary Marker


Sylvester Weaver Award Winners

2004 - Keith Clements was quite surprised with the presentation by Brenda Major, KBS Prez

Photo by Debbie D. Wilson

KBS Sylvester Weaver Award Winner Keith Clements being presented with plaque by KBS Prez Brenda Major


Mark Stein wins 2002 KBS Sylvester Weaver Award

Mark Stein the 2002 winner is flanked by Brenda Major, President of KBS (far left), his wife Beth, and Joey "Lamont" Gillispie who was the 1998 winner.

 

Photo by Debbie D. Wilson

Then & Now


Henry Woodruff, far left, received the Sylvester Weaver Award from Rocky Adcock at the 1989 Garvin Gate Blues Festival

Rocky Adcock 2000
Rocky Adcock 2000

Photos by Keith Clements

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

2023 Bill Dean Louisville Artist

Pictured are Natalie Carter and Keith Clements on the left
as they present the Weaver Award to Bill Dean at the
2023 Garvin Gate Blues Festival.

2022  Cort Duggins Louisville Artist
2021  Rusty Ends Louisville Artist
2020  Bruce Lively Louisville Artist

(Photo Credit: David True)

2019 Jason Lockwood Louisville Artist
2018 James Warfield Louisville Artist
(pictured with KBS Co-founder Keith Clements on right)
2017 Gary Sampson

Former KBS President
WCHQ Vice-President, Music Director & on-air personality
Germantown-Schnitzelburg Blues Festival organizer
Local Blues Supporter

2016 Mike Suttles Garvin Gate Blues Festival Talent Organizer and MC
Owner of Down in the Alley Records
Local Blues Supporter, Writer and Educator
2015 Natalie Carter KBS Membership Director and
KBS Newsletter Editor since 2000
Local Blues Supporter
2014 Mark "Big Poppa" Stampley Louisville Artist
2013 Byron Davies Louisville Artist

Byron Davies

2012 Howard Rosenberg Garvin Gate Blues Festival Committee Chairman
2011 Jimmy Brown Louisville Artist and Owner Guitar Emporium
2010 Robbie Bartlett Louisville Artist
2009 Jim Masterson Louisville Artist
(April 2009 Louisville Music News Article
on Jim by Keith Clements)
2008 Joe DeBow Louisville Artist
2007 Sonny Sitgraves Louisville Artist
2006 da Mudcats Louisville Band members
Mike Lynch, Gene Wickliffe, Rob Pickett
da Mudcats
2005 John Burgard Louisville Artist
2004 Keith Clements former President and founding member of KBS,
Blues Journalist for Louisville Music News,
Blues aficionado and historian,
"KBS Blues Curmudgeon Emeritus"
2003 Sue O'Neil Louisville Artist
2002 Mark Stein Louisville Artist Mark Stein wins 2002 KBS Sylvester Weaver Award
2001 Scott Mullins Louisville Blues Promoter & WFPK DJ
2000 Rocky Adcock Co-Founder of KBS, Musician,
advocate of local blues musicians
Rocky Adcock 2000
1999 Tanita Gaines Louisville Artist
1998 Joey Lamont Gillispie Louisville Artist
1997 Smoketown Red
(Junie Downs)
Louisville Artist
1996 Mary Ann Fisher Back-up singer to Ray Charles in the 1950's
1995 Fred Murphy Louisville Artist with 26th Street Blues Band
1994 Perry Aberli Promotion of the Midwest Blues Fest, South Bend IN

Perry is pictured with
Winston Hardy on the left and
Foree Wells on the right

1993 Winston Hardy CD: Mumbo Jumbo
 
1992 Pen Bogert Oral History Project
1991 Foree Wells CD: It's a New Day Brother
(finally released Dec 12, 2006)
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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Blues Talent Competition

One of the big events KBS sponsors is the annual Blues Talent Competition, which has recently expanded to include Solo/Duo acts and Best Self-Produced CD. Among prizes that include money, gigs and notoriety; the winner has the opportunity to compete in the Blues Foundation's Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Past competition winners are listed on the Contest Information Page

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This site created and maintained by Debbie D. Wilson, KBS Websmith
 Page first Published:  24 Oct 1997 * Last Revised: 17 Oct 2023

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