The Memphis based Blues Foundation released the Blues Music Award nominations for 2010 and Australian Fiona Boyes was named in the final five nominees for Traditional Female Blues Artist of the Year.
This marks Fiona’s fourth straight nomination and the first time any artist has been nominated consecutively in four distinct categories – Contemporary Blues Album (2007), Contemporary Female Blues Artist (2008), Acoustic Blues Album (2009), and Traditional Female Artist (2010).
The Blues Music Awards, now in their 31st year, are the highest and most prestigious international accolades for blues artists. Chosen by an international panel of critics, reviewers, and industry leaders, Fiona joins previous nominees such as Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Ruth Brown, Big Mama Thornton, Alberta Hunter, and Sippie Wallace in a rare place of recognition and honour.
Following a successful performing and recording career in Australia, Fiona made her debut appearance on the international blues scene in 2003 when she became the first woman, and the first Australian, to win the International Blues Challenge, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Boyes released her first US album,
Lucky 13, in 2006. It was also nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year in the 2007 Blues Music Awards, again marking another milestone for Fiona, as the first Australian blues album ever to be nominated in the history of the Awards.
Fiona was based in the US in 2008-09 was nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2008, as Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year. The 2008 release
Live From Bluesville, won the 2009 US Blues Critics Award for Best Live Album, and received a third consecutive Blues Music Award nomination, this time for Acoustic Blues Album of the Year.
In August 2009 Boyes released her 3rd US album,
Blues Woman, which sat in the top of the major blues charts for more than 4 months.
Fans can vote in the public round of voting, which is open until March 1.
To be eligible to vote, blues fans need to join the Blues Foundation. Their website can be found at
www.blues.org
Simply follow the instructions on that page and cast your vote for Fiona.
The winners will be announced on Thursday May 6th at a Gala Awards Ceremony held at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Fiona will be among the stellar line-up of artists performing at the Awards.