For Immediate Release                        For More Information:
February 10, 2002                        Pat Mitchell         
                                        Phone: 901-527-2583
BLUES FOUNDATION PRESS RELEASE                                        Email: queenb@blues.org

WINDSOR, CANADA AND LONG ISLAND ACTS PREVAIL AT THE 18TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE

Memphis, TN.– After three days of stiff competition at the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge (IBC), Detroit’s Chef Chris & His Nairobi Trio captured the victory Sunday as best Blues band. On Friday Long Island’s Little Toby Walker took the best Solo act honors.

53 Blues acts from around the world competed in this year’s Challenge in the clubs along the Beale Street Historic District, the historic home of the Blues. Thousands of Blues fans witnessed as the competitors battled for more than $20,000 in cash and prizes, including studio recording time, CD reproduction and engagements at some of the nation's major Blues venues and festivals.

Each act in the contest represented one of the Blues Foundation’s more than 100 affiliated Blues societies. Chef Chris & his Nairobi Trio represented the Canada South Blues Society and Little Toby Walker hailed from the Long Island Blues Society. Second place in the Band category went to the Baton Rouge Blues Society’s Tyree Neal Band. The Boston Blues Society’s Nicole Nelson Band took home third place. Other competing in the finals included Smokehouse Dave and the BBQ Kings (Crossroads Blues Society), the Handy 3 (Beale Street Blues Society), and the Fat Daddy Band (Charlotte Blues Society). Tyree Neal also won the coveted Albert King Award for the most promising guitar player.

Prizes from the International Blues Challenge were donated by Gibson Guitars, Ardent Studios, Discmakers, Intrepid Artists, Piedmont Talent, Baker Northrop Group public relations, and internet developer 305 Spin.

Chef Chris and his Nairobi Trio will open the 23rd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards on May 23 in Memphis. As part of the group’s prize, they will also such famous Blues clubs as Blind Willie’s, Skippers Smokehouse, Chattanooga Billiard Club King Biscuit Blues Festival, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Grand Emporium, The Grand, Blues Café, Double Door, Antone’s, Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar and the Springin’ in the Blues Festival.

Little Toby Walker won performance slots at the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards, the Handy Awards Festival, Blind Willie’s, Kalamazoo Zoo Blues Festival, Skippers Smokehouse, Chattanooga Billiard Club, and the New York State Rhythm and Blues Festival.

The International Blues Challenge is part of the BluesFirst Weekend, an annual event organized by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee. The four-day convention provides a platform for affiliated Blues Societies to network and attend educational panels and workshops. The weekend also includes the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards for non-performers who have contributed to the Blues industry. BluesFirst Weekend was sponsored by Gibson Guitars, Northwest Airlines, BMI, Budweiser and Discmakers. Media Sponsors were WPTY ABC 24, WLMT UPN 30, and WJKT UPN 16.

The Blues Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation dedicated celebrating blues excellence, preserving blues history and supporting Blues education. It is the umbrella organization for an international network of over 100 affiliated organizations with members in 27 countries.

For more information check out the Blues Foundation web site at www.blues.org.