Some of the most influential names in blues music will take the stage at Varsity Theatre on Thursday for the 2016 Slim Harpo Music Awards.
The annual event honors three award recipients each year in the categories of Legend, Pioneer and Ambassador.
The Legend award honors a musician who has been historically significant to the genre for many years. This year’s Legend is renowned guitar player and Lafayette native Lil’ Buck Sinegal, who began his career in blues during the era of Slim Harpo himself.
“He’s been one of those Louisiana guitar players that everybody loves and respects,” executive director Johnny Palazzotto said. “He did a lot of recording in the same studio that Slim did years ago.”
Over the course of his career, Lil’ Buck Sinegal recorded with a number of highly influential artists, ranging from
eminent Zydeco performer Clifton Chenier to Paul Simon. The Pioneer award signifies a musician who has worked to carry the blues genre forward into the new generation of music, and the Ambassador award honors one who represents blues to lovers of other genres.
The recipient of this year’s Pioneer accolade will be Paula Rangell, a multi-talented blues performer with more than 30 years of discography under her belt – mostly as the frontwoman of her band, Paula and the Pontiacs.
Lastly, two-time Grammy winner Scott Billington will be named 2016’s Ambassador.
Billington has produced more than 70 records during his career, with the majority of those records featuring native Louisiana artists.
“Each one of these recipients epitomizes the title of Legend, Pioneer and Ambassador,” Palazzotto said.
The evening will be kicked off by Lightning Tommy and Curly Bee, a Baton Rouge duo that hearkens back to the early days of jazz and R&B while maintaining elements of modern rock and roll guitar playing.
Following the opening act and the presentation of the awards, the honored guests will take to the stage for a jam session.
The ticket proceeds will directly benefit Music in the
Schools, an outreach program that encourages students across Louisiana to learn about their state’s unique musical heritage.
“From a standpoint of attendance, we’d love to see some college students become aware of some of the great musical history of the state of Louisiana,” Palazzotto said.
Each year, the award recipients are chosen by a nine-member board that includes members of Slim Harpo’s family, most notably his stepson William Gambler.
This year marks the first time the ceremony has been held at Varsity Theatre since the first event in 2002.
When: Thursday, June 23 at 7 p.m.
Where: Varsity Theatre, 3353 Highland Rd.
Tickets: $25