Blues On Grand and friends traveled to Memphis, TN in February 2002 to receive the prestigious "Keeping The Blues Alive" award from the Blues Foundation for Best Blues Club of the year! 

The KBA award ceremony was just part of the BluesFirst convention that weekend. It also included the International Blues Challenge. Iowa Blues Challenge winners, Elixir featuring Claudie Smith, represented Iowa proudly with their funkified R&B-style Blues reaching the semi-final round!  Part of the International Blues Challenge prize package is performance slots at various Festivals and notable Blues clubs throughout the nation, including Blues On Grand!  Check out the link below for a look at our trip to Memphis…

PHOTOS - KBA's & International Blues Challenge 2002

Memphis, TN - Eighteen dedicated Blues enthusiasts will receive The Blues Foundation's 2002 Keeping The Blues Alive (KBA) Award. The Awards will be presented to each of the recipients during a recognition banquet held on Sunday February 10, 2002 as part of the BluesFirst convention. The ceremony will take place at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Memphis at 12 noon. Bob Porter, host of the syndicated Blues radio program, "Portrait in Blue" will host the awards.

The KBA Awards are given each year to individuals and organizations that have contributed greatly to the growth and vitality of Blues music. Recipients range from Blues societies and clubs to corporate sponsors and radio personalities, as well as writers and educators. Like the Handy Awards, which are bestowed on America’s best Blues artists, musicians and recordings, the KBA Awards recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of non-performers in the Blues world. The KBA Award recipients are chosen annually through an intense selection process by a committee of professional Blues industry representatives.

This year's Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipients:

Record Label - Alligator (Celebrating 30 year anniversary)

Blues Organization - Bucks County (2^nd KBA for them!)

Blues Club - Blues on Grand

Promoter - Paul Benjamin

Manager/Agent - Jim English, Intrepid Artists

Education - Bob Santelli

Internet - Liz Smith, NY Blues Society

Journalism - Bill Ellis, Commercial Appeal, Memphis

Literature - Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey

Producer - Scott Billington

Special Award - Revenant Records and John Fahey (posthumously) for historical work

Retailer - Roots and Rhythm, El Cerrito, California

Sponsor - Sound Advice

Public Radio - Larry Monroe, Austin, TX

Commercial Radio - Rick Ballou, WRFX, NC

Historic Preservation - Blues Heaven Studios

Advertising - Viagra, Pfeiser, "I’m Ready"

Art/Photography - Joe Rosen, NYC

BluesFirst is sponsored by Northwest Airlines, Gibson Musical Instruments, BMI, Budweiser, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Blues Music Association. Media sponsors are Living Blues and ABC24 WPTY.

The Blues Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation Blues Music. It is the umbrella organization for a worldwide network of 109 affiliated Blues Societies and has individual memberships in twenty-four countries. In addition to the W.C. Handy Blues Awards, the Foundation produces the Lifetime Achievement Award, Blues Hall of Fame Induction and the International Blues Challenge.

Blues on Grand is thrilled to receive the Blues Foundation's KBA award for blues club of the year.  I really feel it's an award for the entire community.  Without everyone's help this would not be possible.  From the fans, to the media, to my staff, to the Central Iowa Blues Society... these are the people who make it possible.  We have a rich blues history in Des Moines.  Starting with Center Street and continuing through So's Your Mothers, Baggs, Mel's, Connie's and others, the blues has been kept alive and going in Des Moines.  Special thanks go to Kim McNeely and Jerry Glenn for having the vision that a little blues club in downtown Des Moines could make it.  A very special thanks to Lynette Webster for her help, advice, and guidance...
 
Jeff Wagner
Blues on Grand

Pictured above, Blues On Grand Owners - Ron Boone, Tim Johnson & Jeff Wagner