From the 1997 W.C. Handy Awards . . .

. . . in Memphis, Tennessee, comes the work of Chicago blues chronicler Niles Frantz. Niles enjoyed a full weekend with this year's performers and has brought his work here to The Blue Highway for all to see. Please browse and enjoy his two pages of first-rate photos. You can click the smaller image to see the full-color jpeg. The jpegs range from 8k to 18k in size.

Left: Bobby Rush steals a lick from Little Milton.
Right: Ann Peebles shares the spotlight at the Orpheum.

Johnny Copeland returns to center stage.

Left: Luther Allison -- he's the Blues Entertainer of the Year.
Right: Rory Block -- Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year.