1997 Annual Maple Blues Award Nominees Here are the nominees for the First Annual MapleBlues Awards, honouring the finest in Canadian blues. Winners will be announced February 2, 1998, during ceremonies at the Montreal Bistro in Toronto. Recording of the Year: Rita Chiarelli, What A Night Live! Stony Plain; Downchild, Lucky 13 Downchild Music; Sue Foley, Walk In The Sun Antone's/Discovery/Warner; Colin James, National Steel WEA; Vann "Piano Man" Walls and The Stephen Barry Band, In The Evening Disques BROS Acoustic Act of the Year: Bill Bourne; Rick Fines; Ken Hamm ; Colin James; Whiteley Brothers Electric Act of the Year: Tony D; Downchild; Fathead; Morgan Davis; The Sidemen New Artist of the Year: Robin Bank$ Blues Band; Boppin' Blues Band; Chris Chown; Rockin' Highliners; The Twisters Producer of the Year: Rick Fenton; Colin Linden; Andreas Schuld; John Switzer; Ken Whiteley SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Award: Ray Bonneville; Rita Chiarelli; Don Walsh; Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne; Chris Whiteley Guitarist of the Year: Morgan Davis; Amos Garrett; Colin James; Teddy Leonard; Johnny V Harmonica Player of the Year: King Biscuit Boy; Jerome Godboo; Dave "Hurricane" Hoerl; Carlos del Junco; Al Lerman; Don Walsh Piano/Keyboard Player: Scott "Professor Piano" Cushnie; Will MacCalder; Doug Riley; Vann "Piano Man" Walls; Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne; Tyler Yarema Horn Player of the Year: Pat Carey; Johnny Ferriera; Al Lerman; Sarah McElcheran; Dave Woodward Drummer of the Year: Geoff Arsenault; Maureen Brown; Bohdan Hluszko; Don Johnson; Chris Norquist Bassist of the Year: Stephen Barry; Victor Bateman; Al Duffy; Gary Kendall; Terry Wilkins Male Vocalist of the Year: Long John Baldry; John Ellison; Colin James; Chuck Jackson; John Mays Female Vocalist of the Year: Maureen Brown; Rita Chiarelli; Georgette Fry; Theresa Malenfant; Suzie Vinnick Entertainer of the Year: Long John Baldry; Rita Chiarelli; Downchild; Fathead; Colin James; Johnny V International Artist of the Year: Robert Cray; Ronnie Earl; Etta James; B.B. King; Duke Robillard Media Person of the Year: Ian Angus; Storman Norman Casler; Andy Grigg; Big John Small; Holger Petersen; John Valenteyn Blues With A Feeling Award; Long John Baldry; Jack de Keyzer; Danny Marks; Brent Parkin; Vann "Piano Man" Walls.
	To read more about this year's nominees, see Dec 97 Maple Blues article "Honouring The Best".