Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame

Annual Dates to Remember

January – June

Public Nominations for Hall of Fame Candidates Accepted   

July 

Inductees Announced at Annual Picnic 

 

October

Hall of Fame Banquet

Past Inductees

The MN Blues Hall of Fame is a historical record of those who have made the Blues in Minnesota timeless through performance, documentation and recording.

 

2007 at Whiskey Junction
Blues Performer: George ‘Mojo’ Buford
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer): KFAI Community Radio
Blues Song: “As Simple As That” – Bruce McCabe
Blues Recording: “Deep Sleep / 2000  Miles” – Aces, Straights & Shuffles
Arts, Literature and Media: Blues Harp by Tony Glover

2008 at the Eagles Club
Blues Performer: Willie Murphy
Supporter of the Blues( Non-Performer):  Tom Asp (Photography)
Blues Song: “It’s All Right” – Dave Ray
Blues Recording: Blues, Rags & Hollers – Koerner, Ray & Glover
Arts, Literature and Media: Rock Keyboard by Scott Miller

2009 at  Famous Dave’s Barbecue
Blues Performer: Lazy Bill Lucas
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer): Ray Stiles (Blues on Stage website)
And  Lolly Obeda  (host of KFAI Sugar Shack)
Blues Song: “It’s All Right” – Dave Ray
Blues Recording: Blues, Rags & Hollers – Koerner, Ray & Glover
Arts, Literature and Media: Twin Cities Blues News by Kurt Koehler

2010 at The Minnesota Music Cafe
Blues Performer: Paulie Testa, Jr.
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer): Chris Mackey (Bayfront Blues Festival)
Blues Song: “If I Could Change” – Big George Jackson
Blues Recording: Ready To Go” – RJ Mischo & the Kid Morgan Band feat. Percy Strother
Arts, Literature and Media: Blue Loon Records – Pat Dawson

2011 at O’Gara’s
Blues Performer: Bruce McCabe
Blues Sideman: Curtis Blake

Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Blues Saloon (Blues Club)
Blues Song: "Lost In The Blues" – Doug Maynard
Blues Recording: “Big Leg Woman/Cadillac Baby” – Sonny Rodgers & The Cat Scratchers
Arts, Literature and Media: Cold Wind Records (Recording Company) by Tim “Dr. Dog” Bradach
Blues Legacy: Leonard "Baby Doo" Casto
Keeping the Blues Alive: Judy Cedar

2012 at  Wilebski’s Blues Saloon
Blues Performer: Big Walter Smith
Blues Sideman: Dan Schwalbe
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Electric Fetus (Record Store)
Blues Song: "Blues on the Bank" – Will Donicht
Blues Recording: "Blues on the Bank" – Will Donicht
Arts, Literature and Media: West Bank Boogie (Book) by Cyn Collins
Blues Legend: Samuel ‘Cornbread’ Harris

2013 at The Minnesota Music Cafe
Blues Performer: Willie Walker
Blues Sideman: John Franken
Supporter of the Blues( Non-Performer):  Charlie Campbell (Promoter/Producer)
Blues Song:  “Brother To The Blues" – Big Walter Smith
Blues Recording: “Home Is Where My Harps Is” – Mojo Buford
Arts, Literature and Media: Blues With A Feeling, Little Walter Story (Book) by Tony Glover
Blues Legend: Barbara LeShoure
Blues Legacy: Milwaukee Slim (Angelo Chambers)
Keeping the Blues Alive: Jake & Melody Jacobson

2014 at Wilebski’s Blues Saloon

Blues Performer:  Jimi ‘PrimeTime’ Smith

Blues Sideman: Jeremy Johnson

Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer): John Hammer (Writer/ Photographer/ Publisher/
      Promoter

Blues Song: “Crying To Do”  Curt Obeda

Blues Recording: “A Hot Cup of Rhythm and Blues” – Joe Juliano

Arts, Literature and Media: Marc Norberg ( Black and White Blues) book

Blues Legend: Big John Dickerson

Blues Legacy: Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Williams

2015 at Wilebski’s Blues Saloon
Blues Performer:  Big George Jackson
Blues Sideman: Donald ‘Hye Pockets’ Robertson
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Harold Tremblay
Blues Song: A Good Woman Is Hard to Find” – Percy Strother
Blues Recording: “City Music”  Joel Johnson Band
Arts, Literature and Media: Jacquie Maddix  “Lady J Griot”  (Storytelling Performance)
Blues Legend: John Beach
Blues Legacy: Auburn Pat Hare

2016 at The Parkway Theater

Blues Performer: Paul Mayasich

Blues Sideman: Steve Vonderharr

Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Mike Shaw

Blues Song: “Two Hours From Tulsa”- R J Mischo

Arts, Literature and Media: Gary Eckhart, (Photography)

Blues Legend: Wilbur Cole

Blues Legacy: LaVerne ‘Lady Blue’ Johnson and Bobby Johnson

Keeping the Blues Alive:  Charlie Lawson (Presented @ Holiday Party)

2017 at Famous Dave’s

Blues Performer Scottie Miller

Blues Sideman: Robb Stupka

Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Sue McLean & Assoc.

Blues Song: “Leopard Print Dress” Dee Miller and Jimi “Primetime” Smith

Blues Recording: “If Nothing Ever Changes” – Wee Willie Walker

Arts, Literature and Media: KBEM–FM 88.5

Blues Legend: ‘Famous’ Dave Anderson

Blues Legacy: Dave ‘Snaker’ Ray

2018 at Crooner’s Lounge
 Blues Performer: Dee Miller
Blues Sideman: Larry Wiegand
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):   Mike ‘Tiny’ Rogers
Blues Song:  Sweet Cream Sugar Delight”- Scottie Miller
Blues Recording: “One Night” – The Butanes Soul Revue
Arts, Literature and Media: Karl Bremer 
Blues Legend: ‘Doghouse’ Jon Lackey
Blues Legacy: Mike ‘The Hook’ Deutsch

2019 atThe Concord Exchange
Blues Performer: Pat Hayes
Blues Sideman: Bill Black
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Miki Mulvehill
Blues Song: “Trouble Caught Me” – Phil Kitze, from The Sky is Clearing, Cold Wind Records (ft. B McCabe, R Stupka and V Nelson)
Blues Recording: “Long Shot” – Joe T Cook
Blues Legend: Curt Obeda
Blues Legacy: John Lindberg

2020 Cancelled due to Covid

2021 @ Jimmy’s Event Center
Blues Performer: Don Scott
Blues Sideman: Allen Kirk
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Jackson Buck
Blues Song:  “Blinded” - Jimi "Prime Time" Smith
Blues Recording: “Lie To Me” – Jonny Lang
Arts, Literature and Media: John Hanson (Graphic Artist)
Blues Legend: ‘Spider John’ Koerner
Blues Legacy:
Dave ‘Cool Breeze’ Brown

2022 at Jimmy’s Event Center and Mancini’s
Blues Performer: Moses Oakland
Blues Sideman: Tom Kochie
Supporter of the Blues (Non-Performer):  Steve “Nipper” Barrette
Blues Song: “Boxwood’s Dream” –Lonesome Dan Kase
Blues Recording: “Vicksburg Blues” Pat Donohue & Butch Thompson
Arts, Literature and Media:  ‘Blues Guitar Highway” Book by Paul Metsa
Blues Legend: Papa John Kolstad
Blues Legacy:  Paul Manske
Keeping the Blues Alive:  Everett Smithson (Blues Educator)

2023 at The Historic Concord Exchange and Mancini’s 

Blues Performer: Bernard Allison

Blues Sideman: Michael Velasquez 

Supportive of the Blues (Non-Performer): Jerry and Sandy Hokanson

Blues Song: "Cryin" - Barbara LeShoure

Blues Recording: Hook’s Combo – The Blues is all Around Me

Arts, Literature and Media: Neil Schloner

Blues Legend:   Virgil Nelson

Blues Legacy: Steve “Killer” Kilbride

Keeping the Blues Alive: Rosalyn Goldberg



2024 at The Hook and Ladder and Minnesota Music Cafe

Blues Performer: Pat Donahue

Blues Sideman: Keith Boyles

Supportive of the Blues (Non-Performer): Rebecca Gullion Lindquist 

Blues Song: "Alcohol Blues" - Texas Red

Blues Recording: That's Alright - Big Smokey Smothers

Arts, Literature and Media: Paul Barry for "Blowin' Like Hell"

Blues Legend: Larry Hayes

Blues Legacy: Tom Burns

Keeping the Blues Alive: Brigid Martin

2025 at Jimmy's Event Center

Blues Performer: Charlie Parr

Blues Sideman: Marty Bryduck

Supportive of the Blues (Non-Performer): Spike Stephan

Blues Song: "Gift of Gab" - Steve Grosshans

Blues Recording: Soul Feet - Lynwood Slim

Arts, Literature and Media: Andrea Swensson for "Life of Cornbread"

Blues Legend: Maurice Jacox

Blues Legacy: Dave Lambert