Blues Hall of Fame Names 38th Class of Inductees

The Blues Foundation will induct its 38th class into the Blues Hall of Fame on May 10 at Memphis’ Halloran Centre for the Performing Arts and Education. Fourteen inductees representing five categories: Performers, Non-Performing Individuals, Classic of Blues Literature, Classic of Blues Recording (Song) and Classic of Blues Recording (Album) will be inducted this year.

The six artists chosen for induction into the Performers category are Mavis Staples; Latimore; guitarists Magic Slim and Johnny Copeland; and Howlin’ Wolf sidemen guitarist Willie Johnson and piano-man Henry Gray.  The year’s non-performer category inductee is Living Blues Magazine co-founder/radio show host Amy van Singel, who passed away in Sept. 2016. The Classic of Blues Literature pick is Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy’s 1941 autobiography. John Lee Hooker’s 1966 Chess album Real Folk Blues is the Classic of Blues Recording Album category induction pick.

The Classic of Blues Recording songs going into the Hall of Fame include Bo Diddley’s signature tune “Bo Diddley,” Tommy Tucker’s classic “Hi Heel Sneakers,” the Albert King hit “I’ll Play the Blues For You,” Son House’s “Preachin’ the Blues” and “I Ain’t Superstitious,” which features 2017 inductee Henry Gray playing on Howlin’ Wolf’s well-known 1961 recording. 

Tickets for the ceremony, which is open to the public, are $100 per seat and can be purchased online here.