It Don’t Matter if You’re Dead … as Long as You’re Keepin’ the Blues Alive!

IT’S A HOT NIGHT in Memphis, the humidity thick enough for similes about wading neck-deep through steamy water, but inside the grand old Orpheum Theatre the air-conditioning is humming and a who’s who of the blues world – musicians, managers, label execs, press reps and a few well-heeled fans – have turned up for the 21st annual W.C. Handy Awards.