Two Albums from Yellow Dog Records Nominated for W.C. Handy Awards

The Royal Sessions, the debut album by Memphis retro-soul powerhouse The Bo-Keys, has been nominated for a W.C. Handy Award in the Best New Artist Debut category, while Cincinnati blues legend Big Joe Duskins Big Joe Jumps Again! has been nominated for a W.C. Handy Award in the Comeback Album of the Year category.

December 17, 2004 -- The Royal Sessions, the debut album by Memphis retro-soul powerhouse The Bo-Keys, has been nominated for a W.C. Handy Award in the Best New Artist Debut category, while Cincinnati blues legend Big Joe Duskins Big Joe Jumps Again! has been nominated for a W.C. Handy Award in the Comeback Album of the Year category.

Often referred to as the Blues GRAMMY, the Handy Awards are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. The Handys have been presented in ceremonies since 1980 to celebrate excellence in recording and performance during the previous year.

Were thrilled that these two artists are being nationally recognized by the Handy Awards, said Michael Powers, president of Yellow Dog Records. Each of them is an utterly authentic personification of a great American music tradition.

The Royal Sessions was nationally released by Yellow Dog Records in May 2004 to international acclaim from major media outlets including NPRs All Things Considered (which deemed the album a Memphis tour-de-force), NPRs Fresh Air, USA Today, The London Times, New Yorker, and House of Blues Radio Hour. The Bo-Keys, made up of a mix of veteran Stax session musicians and young Memphis up-and-comers, recently recorded music for the soundtrack to Hustle and Flow, a movie by Memphis independent filmmaker Craig Brewer. The film, which is executive produced by director John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood) will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

The city of Cincinnati celebrated the release of Big Joe Jumps Again! by proclaiming Big Joe Duskin Day and awarding Duskin with a Key to the City in July 2004. The album, only the second release for a U.S. label by the 83 year-old boogie pianist (he turns 84 in February), is a tribute to the Cincinnati blues scene with backing from King Records veterans Philip Paul and Ed Conley. Rocker Peter Frampton, who recently moved to Cincinnati, lends solo work on a pair of tracks. The album has been enthusiastically received by national blues radio, charting #2 for November and #7 for October on the Living Blues Radio Chart.

About Yellow Dog Records
Based in Memphis, TN, Yellow Dog Records was founded in 2002 with the goal of cultivating the American musical heritage. The label features artists who emphasize innovative approaches to authentic American musical roots traditions Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Americana styles. By providing support for recording, production, promotion and distribution, Yellow Dog Records brings this vital music to new and wider audiences. Upcoming projects scheduled for the first half of 2005 include new releases by California Music nominee Chris Cotton, Memphis Jazz legend Calvin Newborn, perennial Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award winner Terry Robb, and Mark Lemhouse, whose 2003 debut album earned two Handy nominations. For more information and to hear sound samples, please visit www.yellowdogrecords.com.

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