FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2004

CONTACT:
Press -  Marc Lipkin/Chris Moncada at publicity@allig.com
Radio - Tim Kolleth at radio@allig.com
Retail - Josh Lindner at josh@allig.com

The Blues Foundation today announced the nominees for the 25th Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards. Eight Alligator recording artists received a total of 15 nominations. Austin-based singer/songwriter/pianist Marcia Ball (who was recently nominated for a Grammy© Award) received four nominations, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Michael Burks followed with three nominations.  Singing sensation Shemekia Copeland and Roomful of Blues (who also received a Grammy© nomination) followed with two nominations apiece, while Little Charlie and the Nightcats, W.C. Clark, Andra Faye (of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women) and Koko Taylor each received one nomination. The Handy Awards ceremony and concert will be held April 29, 2004 at the Cook Convention Center on Main Street in downtown Memphis. Alligator artists and nominations are as follows:

MARCIA BALL
Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year – Keyboards Blues Song Of The Year – “Foreclose On The House Of Love” (John Lee Sanders) from “So Many Rivers”
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year – “So Many Rivers”

MICHAEL BURKS
Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year - Guitar
Blues Song Of The Year – “I Smell Smoke” (Jon Tiven, Sally Tiven and Roger
Reale) from “I Smell Smoke”
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year – “I Smell Smoke”