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7 Rosebud Artists have been honored with 12-plus nominations for the 2012 Blues Music Awards. Tommy Castro, Ruthie Foster, Charlie Musselwhite, Marcia Ball, Jon Cleary, Bettye LaVette and Duke Robillard have all been nominated.

Tommy Castro is once again among the most-nominated artists this year. He garnered nominations for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Band of the Year and Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year (all awards which he has won previously). In addition, Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue - Live! (which features Tommy and his band on their own and alongside various other artists) is nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. He is also featured in the nominated DVD, All Jams on Deck (shot on the October 2010 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise). The "Jams" DVD also features fellow Rosebud Artists Marcia Ball and Coco Montoya among others. In a related nomination, longtime Tommy Castro Band saxophonist Keith Crossan is up for Best Instrumentalist - Horn.

Ruthie Foster is also among the most-nominated artists this year with 3 nominations: for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, the Koko Taylor Award for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year (an award she won last year) and DVD of the Year for her Live At Antone's DVD.

25-time BMA winner Charlie Musselwhite is nominated in 2 categories he won last year: Best Instrumentalist - Harmonica and Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. Bettye LaVette is nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, an award she has won previously. Duke Robillard is nominated for the Gibson Guitar Award, an honor he has won previously 4 times (when the category was known as Best Instrumentalist - Guitar). Both Jon Cleary and Marcia Ball are nominated for Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year. Marcia has been honored with 4 of her 8 previous Blues Music Award wins in this category. This is Jon's 3rd nomination in the category.

Congratulations to all the nominees! The 33rd Blues Music Awards will be held at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, TN, on May 10, 2012 and will be broadcast live in their entirety on Sirius XM's B.B. King's Bluesville. Catch all the nominees performing individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Bettye LaVette is contributing a previously unreleased track to the 4 CD set, Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, to be released January 24. Lavette recorded the song, "Most of The Time", during her 2005 I've Got My Own Hell to Raise sessions.

LaVette is featured among a stellar and diverse group of over 80 artists across the generational and musical spectrum including Adele, Joan Baez, Elvis Costello, Dave Matthews Band, Diana Krall, K'NAAN, Ke$ha, Diana Krall, Lenny Kravitz, Queens Of The Stone Age and Jeff Beck among others. Chimes of Freedom features 75 newly recorded Bob Dylan songs - plus a few previously unreleased recordings like Bettye's - with all proceeds benefiting Amnesty International.

A two-time Grammy nominee, most recently in 2011 for Interpretations - The British Rock Songbook (Best Contemporary Blues Album), LaVette was also recently featured with fellow Rosebud artist, Meshell Ndegeocello, on The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute, Live From the Beacon Theatre NYC, benefitting the Japanese Red Cross' earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Through Chimes of Freedom, Amnesty International seeks to enlist support for its fight against censorship and attacks on free speech. In addition to purchasing the album at amnestyusa.org/chimes, supporters will find actions they can take to help individuals whose freedom of expression is under threat.

Check out Bettye performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

NOVEMBER 2011: Rosebud Artists Score DownBeat Readers Poll Honors Once Again

Rosebud Artists once again were honored by fans in this year's DownBeat magazine Readers Poll (December issue), with Bill Frisell, Trombone Shorty (who's also featured in this issue's cover story), Allen Toussaint, Dr. John (who Rosebud represents for International booking outside the U.S. and Canada), Bettye LaVette, Charlie Musselwhite and Mavis Staples all placing high in a number of categories.

Bill Frisell scored high in three categories, placing in the top 10 Jazz Albums of the Year for Beautiful Dreamers, in the top 5 for Best Guitarist (a category he has won 3 times in the past) and among the Best Beyond Albums for his collaboration with Vinicius Cantuária, Lagrimas Mexicanas.

Dr. John, Bettye LaVette and Charlie Musselwhite were honored in two categories each. They were all voted among the top Best Blues Artists. In addition, Dr. John was among the Best Beyond Artists, Bettye's Interpretations - The British Rock Songbook was among the Best Beyond Albums and Charlie's The Well was voted among the Best Blues Albums.

Trombone Shorty moved into the top 5 Best Trombone players list and Allen Toussaint was honored among the Best Arrangers. Mavis Staples' You Are Not Alone was also named in the top 5 Best Beyond Albums.

Congratulations to all! Catch all of these artists individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

OCTOBER 2011: Duke Robillard and Bettye LaVette Nominated for B.B. King International Artist of the Year Award

The Toronto Blues Society has nominated both Duke Robillard and Bettye LaVette for their B.B. King International Artist of the Year Award for their 15th Annual Maple Blues Awards program. Honored with the award three years in a row (2001-2003), this also marks Duke's seventh nomination. This is Bettye's third nomination for the award (previously 2006 & 2007). The Maple Blues Awards is Canada's national blues awards program whose goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. Nominees were selected by a distinguished panel of some 50+ blues experts including radio hosts, journalists, festival organizers, and industry professionals regionally distributed across Canada.

Voting is open online at mapleblues.ca, until Saturday, December 10 at midnight (PST), to anyone who resides in Canada. The winners will be announced at the Annual Maple Blues Awards Gala in Toronto on January 16, 2012.

Duke is a two-time GRAMMY Award Nominee's latest album, Low Down and Tore Up, currently holds down the #1 spot on Roots Music Report's Top 50 Blues Chart. Duke's last album, Passport to the Blues, was nominated for the 2011 Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Album of the Year and Duke was also nominated again this year as Best Guitarist - a category he has already won an impressive 4 times in the past.

LaVette, also a two-time GRAMMY Award Nominee, was most recently nominated in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category for her 2010 release, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook. Bettye was the Living Blues Awards Nominee for Blues Artist of the Year - Female in 2011, an award she won in 2004 and 2007. She was also a nominee for a 2010 Blues Music Award (Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year), a category she won in 2008.

Check out Duke and Bettye performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Rosebud artists Bettye LaVette and Meshell Ndegeocello are among a select group featured on The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute, Live From the Beacon Theatre NYC, due out Nov. 15. Proceeds from the 15-track digital album will benefit the Japanese Red Cross' earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. The performances of Beatles and Lennon solo songs were recorded during the 30th annual Lennon tribute show, which took place Nov. 12, 2010. Ndegeocello, a 10 time Grammy nominee whose soon to be released Weather, produced by Grammy-winner Joe Henry (Aimee Mann, Solomon Burke, Ani DiFranco), sang "God," and LaVette delivered "The Word," which she covered on her Grammy Award-nominated 2010 release Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook. Patti Smith, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Aimee Mann, Shelby Lynne, Joan Osborne, Alejandro Escovedo, Keb' Mo', Martin Sexton and the Playing For Change Band also appear on the album which will be available via all major online retailers.

Concert creator and producer Joe Raiola added that, "John's music and message continue to be a great inspiration to people everywhere....We're so grateful to Yoko and to all of the artists for allowing us to share the great performances from that special night with John Lennon fans around the world." 

Watch for details coming soon on the 31st Annual John Lennon Tribute concert - scheduled for Dec. 10 at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village.

To catch Bettye and Meshell performing live on stage near you, please see Tour Dates >>

JULY 2011: Bill Frisell Honored With 10TH DownBeat Critics Poll Win For Guitarist of the Year - Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty, Bettye LaVette, Dr. John, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples Also Recognized

Bill Frisell has been honored for the tenth time in fourteen years as Guitarist of the Year in the DownBeat Critics Poll (August 2011 issue). This is Bill's third win in a row as Best Guitarist. Bill was also recognized in the Beyond Album category with Vinicius Cantuária for their duo album, Lagrimas Mexicanas. In addition, Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty, Bettye LaVette, Dr. John, Charlie Musselwhite and Mavis Staples were all also recognized in the Critics Poll.

Allen Toussaint was named in the Arranger category; Trombone Shorty was recognized in both the Trombone and Rising Star: Trombone categories. Bettye LaVette, Dr. John and Charlie Musselwhite were all named in the Blues Artist category. Charlie received an additional nod in the Blues Album category, while Dr. John was also named in the Beyond Artist category. Mavis Staples and Bettye LaVette were both recognized in the Beyond Album category. The late Muddy Waters (a Rosebud artist until his passing) was also named as one of the finalists for induction into the Hall of Fame.

As usual, many of Bill Frisell's frequent and recent collaborators were also honored: Jason Moran was awarded Jazz Artist Of The Year, Jazz Album Of The Year, and Piano of the Year, as well as being named in the Rising Star: Jazz Artist, Composer and Rising Star: Composer categories; Joe Lovano Us Five was awarded Jazz Group of the Year and Joe was also named in the Jazz Artist, Jazz Album, Soprano and Tenor Saxophone categories; Paul Motian was awarded Drummer of the Year and he was also named in the Hall of Fame and Jazz Artist categories; Dave Holland was awarded Acoustic Bass of the Year and was named in the Jazz Album, Composer, Arranger and Jazz Group categories; Jenny Scheinman was named in the Violin category; and Bill's Manager and Producer, Lee Townsend, was named in both the Producer and Rising Star: Producer categories.

Congratulations to all the artists! Catch all the Rosebud artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

JUNE 2011: Rosebud Artists Nominated For 7 Living Blues Awards: Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Bettye LaVette, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples All Get Nods - CAST YOUR VOTE

Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Bettye LaVette, Charlie Musselwhite and Mavis Staples have all been nominated for 2011 Living Blues Awards, with Marcia and Charlie nominated for two awards each.

The Rosebud Agency's 2011 Living Blues Awards Nominees: Blues Artist of the Year (Female):
- Marcia Ball 
- Ruthie Foster 
- Bettye LaVette 
Most Outstanding Blues Singer: Mavis Staples 
Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica): Charlie Musselwhite 
Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard): Marcia Ball 
Best Blues Album of 2010 (New Recordings): Charlie Musselwhite - The Well

Last year Charlie received his eighth Living Blues Award for Outstanding Musician (and his fourth in a row) and Ruthie was honored with Blues Artist of the Year (Female) in the Critics' Poll. Marcia was awarded in 2009 for both categories she's nominated in this year, adding to her wins in the Outstanding Musician category in 2007 and 2008. Bettye has previously been honored with two Reader's and three Critics' Awards, including Blues Artist of the Year (Female) and Most Outstanding Blues Singer. Mavis has also previously been honored with two Critics' Awards including Blues Artist of the Year (Female).

You can vote here for your choices, as well as write-in candidates: All ballots must be received by July 15, 2011. Congratulations to all the nominees!

Check out these artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

MAY 2011: Bettye LaVette's Café Carlyle Residency Met With Rave Reviews // Featured On Steve Cropper Project, Out July 5th

Bettye LaVette's nine-show residency at Café Carlyle in New York City began May 24th, to unanimous raves. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, "This is soul singing at its rawest and most persuasive." The evening featured songs from Bettye's GRAMMY nominated CDs, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook and The Scene Of The Crime, including her rendition of "Love Reign O'er Me", which she originally performed to a stunned audience at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors. K. Leander Williams of The Village Voice declared, "The Carlyle engagement also serves as another triumph for LaVette, who in the past eight years has made up for 40 years of lost time in the music business...The awe of cognition was palpable in the room many times last night." Bettye next appears in New York City on June 14th at the SummerStage Gala "Motown Meets NYC" with the New York Pops Orchestra.

Bettye LaVette is featured on the upcoming Steve Cropper project Dedicated, a tribute to guitarist Lowman "Pete" Pauling and his R&B group The 5 Royales, which will be released July 5, 2011. The album also highlights artists such as Lucinda Williams and BB King, among others. Says Bettye of the project, "It's wonderful to hear the songs of the 5 Royales, which I grew up on, played and interpreted by my contemporaries.  I've known Steve Cropper and I've met him...when you mention Steve Cropper you think of all of the great female stars who he worked with and now I am among them."

Bettye LaVette will be touring the US throughout the Summer, including a tour of Europe in July, Catch her live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

JANUARY 2011: Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice 2010 Pazz & Jop Poll and More Year End Praise for Bettye LaVette

Eleven albums and six singles released by Rosebud artists last year are recognized in the 2010 Village Voice Pazz & Jop Music Critics Poll, which calculated 712 critics' votes for the most important music of the year.

Listed among the year's top albums are:
Mavis Staples, You Are Not Alone (GRAMMY Nominated)
Bettye LaVette, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook (GRAMMY Nominated)
Dr. John and the Lower 911, Tribal (GRAMMY Nominated)
Trombone Shorty, Backatown (GRAMMY Nominated)
Charlie Musselwhite, The Well (GRAMMY Nominated)
Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamers
Jackson Browne & David Lindley, Love Is Strange (GRAMMY Nominated)
Carrie Rodriguez, Love and Circumstance
Jim Lauderdale, Patchwork River
Carrie Rodriguez, Live in Louisville
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Rise & Shine

Listed among the year's top singles are:
Mavis Staples, "You Are Not Alone" and "Last Train"
Bettye LaVette, "Salt of the Earth"
Trombone Shorty, "On Your Way Down," "Backatown" and "Something Beautiful"

Also recognized on the album list:
- Elvis Costello's National Ransom, which features Jim Lauderdale and for which Jim co-wrote the song "I Lost You."
- Cyndi Lauper's GRAMMY Nominated Memphis Blues which features Charlie Musselwhite and Allen Toussaint

In addition, Captain Beefheart's "Big Eyed Beans From Venus" reissue was recognized in the year's top singles list. The late Captain Beefheart was a Rosebud artist until his retirement in 1981.

There was more year end praise for Bettye LaVette from The Wall Street Journal's music critic Jim Fusilli, who chose Bettye's May show in New York City among his Five Best Concerts of 2010. He writes, "Ms. LaVette bores right to the emotional core of the lyrics and finds the universal truth in their sentiments. At one point during the show, as she unfurled her poignant, powerful reading of Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood's "No Time to Live," I looked around and noticed that several women were crying tears of recognition." (read the article >>)

Trombone Shorty also garnered additional accolades for his breakthrough Backatown CD scoring the #2 position on JazzWeek's Top 100 for 2010 - the annual survey of airplay on jazz radio stations in the U.S.

Check out all the artists live on a stage near you, please see Tour Dates >>

JANUARY 2011: GRAMMY Nominee Bettye LaVette on Tonight Show with Jay Leno January 12, at Carnegie Hall Tribute to Neil Young February 10, Song Featured in ABC's Detroit 1-8-7 January 4, BET Broadcast January 30 and NPR's World Café Online

Bettye LaVette just performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno January 12th - see her performance here. This is her second appearance on the show since releasing her latest album Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, which is nominated for the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album. This performance also follows Bettye's recent TV appearances on The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, Tavis Smiley, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Lopez Tonight. In addition, "Joy" from Bettye's album I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, is featured in the January 4th episode of ABC's Detroit 1-8-7 series.

Also on TV, is Bettye's collaboration with Herbie Hancock, in a recent performance at the United Negro College Fund's An Evening of Stars Tribute to Chaka Khan. It will be broadcast on BET January 30th, as well on as many local stations. Click here for listings and show times. Bettye sang Chaka's "Love Me Still" and "brought tears to the eyes of Chaka Khan and most of the rest of the audience" according to the UNCF press release.

On the concert front, on February 10th, Bettye will be featured performing at the tribute event, The Music of Neil Young at Carnegie Hall. This will be Bettye's third performance at the legendary Hall, having previously been featured in benefits in tribute to Joni Mitchell and The Who. Also performing at the Neil Young tribute will be Patti Smith, The Roots, Cowboy Junkies, Aimee Mann, Shawn Colvin, Joan Osborne, J Mascis and many more. 100% of the show's net proceeds will benefit music education programs for underprivileged youth through donations to 6 organizations, check out the beneficiaries here.

In the online realm, Bettye's recent performance on NPR's World Café is available to stream, click here to listen to it. She performed three songs from Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook live in the show's studio.

Catch Bettye live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

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