Slim Harpo Music Awards 2022

The 2022 Slim Harpo Music Awards will take place at 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill, 4848 Government St, Baton Rouge, La. 

Since 2003, the annual Harpo Awards have honored local, regional, national and international musicians. The awards are named in honor of James Moore, the blues star from Baton Rouge who performed as Slim Harpo. 

Four Baton Rouge musicians will receive Pioneer Awards this year: drummer Michael Jo Monk Caesar; bassists Doug Brousseau and Miguel D. Hernandez; and guitarist Johnny Rossetti. Bassist David Hyde, a Hammond native, will also receive a Pioneer Award. 

This year’s other Harpo Awards recipients are Shreveport singer, guitarist and songwriter Buddy Flett, Legend Award recipient, and Lafayette radio host Raoul Breaux, Ambassador Award recipient. 

Speaking of the award recipients from Baton Rouge and Hammond, Harpo Awards founder Johnny Palazzotto said: “We’re recognizing the guys who supported the local blues jams and the artists that the Slim Harpo Music Awards honored over the years. These guys have been there forever.” 

The Harpo Awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by a jam session at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $20 admission and includes jambalaya.

Raoul Breaux, Ambassador Award 
Raoul Breaux has hosted Lafayette public radio station KVRS-FM’s Blues Box program since 1986. Blues-loving British acts of the 1960s, including John Mayall and Cream, served as Breaux’s gateway to classic American blues artists.

Doug Brousseau, Pioneer Award
A professional musician since the 1970s, Doug Brousseau performed for many years with Tabby Thomas’ House Wreckers, New Orleans rhythm-and-blues bands and Baton Rouge blues singers Raful Neal and Chuck Mitchell. His current performances in Louisiana and Mississippi with the River City All-Stars include Friday nights at Teddy’s Juke Joint in Zachary. In 2020, Brousseau released his solo album, River City Blues.

Michael Jo Monk Caesar, Pioneer Award
A profession drummer for 45 years, Michael Jo Monk Caesar’s credits include national stars Joe Simon and Teddy Pendergrass. His local credits include Vince Hutchinson and the Heavy Storm Band, Henry Turner Jr., Patrick Henry and the Liberation Band and blues artists Sundanze, Henry Gray, Tabby Thomas and the Neal family. Caesar has also been house drummer for the Phil Brady’s blues jam for the past 20 years.

Buddy Flett, Legend Award  
In the 1980s, Shreveport singer, guitarist and songwriter Buddy Flett appeared with his brother, Bruce, in the popular A Train band. The Fletts later formed the Bluebirds. Buddy Flett later recorded and toured with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, an association that brought him a Grammy nomination for Shepherd’s 2010 album, Live! In Chicago.

Miguel D. Hernandez, Pioneer Award 
On his 21st  birthday, bassist Miguel D. Hernandez’s best friend brought him to Tabby’s Blues Box and Heritage Hall in Baton Rouge. Since that life-changing night, Hernandez has played blues bass and been a regular at blues jam, He also toured the world with singer-guitarist Larry Garner for five years and produced Slim Harpo band member James Johnson’s solo album, Stingin’ & Buzzin’.

David Hyde, Pioneer Award 
A lifelong musician from Hammond, Louisiana, David Hyde studied music at Juilliard and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His myriad recording sessions include singer-songwriter Bobby Charles’ final album, Timeless. In the 1990s, Hyde toured and recorded with Delbert McClinton. His other performance and/or recording credits include Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Dave Rowland and Sugar, Bo Diddley, the Boogie Kings and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. “I’m humbled to be even mentioned with the likes of Slim Harpo, one of my heroes,” Hyde said.

Johnny Rossetti, Pioneer Award 
Longtime stage manager for the Phil Brady’s blues jam, Rossetti has been making music in south Louisiana for more than 40 years. He’s played in traditional country and Cajun bands, swamp pop groups as well as blues with Slim Harpo band member Rudy Richard. More recently, Rossetti teamed with guitarist-composer Bruce Lamb in Baton Rouge’s premiere surf band, Ronda Hatton.

Legend: signifies one who has credits of historical blues music status
Ambassador: one who represents the blues genre’ to other music lovers
Pioneer: one who has endured and carried blues music forward

Proceeds from the Slim Harpo Music Awards benefit the Music in the Schools outreach program.

The Slim Harpo Music Awards Ceremony is named for James Moore, known as Slim Harpo, an internationally known Baton Rouge musician who became a significant influence on many musicians worldwide, including the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Van Morrison, and countless others.

Slim Harpo Music Award Recipients

2020 Recipients
Sam Hogan – Legend
Sam Guy and Susan Owens – Ambassadors
Ernest Scott and Troy Turner – Pioneers

2018 Recipients
Shannon Williford-  Legend
Mamie & Smokehouse Porter – Pioneers
Henry Turner Jr. Ambassador

2017
John Broven- Legend
Pat McBride- Ambassador
Sundanze Howie Dunston- Pioneer
Kenny Acosta- Pioneer

2016
Legends:  Lil Buck Sinegal
Pioneer: Paula Rangell
Ambassador: Scott Billington

2015
Legends:  Jimmie Vaughan & Lou Ann Barton
Pioneer: Kim Wilson
Ambassadors: Martin Hawkins & Bear Family Records

2014
Legend:   Van Morrison
Ambassador:   Ret. Col. David Couvillion
Pioneer: CC Adcock

2013
Legends:   Warren Storm. Guitar Gable Perrodin and Jockey Etienne
Ambassador:   David Kearns
Pioneers: Harvey Knox

2012
Legend — Carol Fran & JD Miller
Pioneer — Oscar “Harpo” Davis & Deacon John Moore
Ambassador — Keith Richards

2011
Legend — Lonesome Sundown
Pioneer — Ray Davies & Mighty Sam McClain
Ambassador — Kenny Wayne Shepherd

2010
Legend — Tony Joe White
Pioneer
— Sonny Landreth
Ambassador — Teddy Johnson and Rob Payer

2009
Legend — Dr. John and Jesse Kinchen
Pioneer — John Lisi
Ambassador — Alvin Batiste

2008
Legend — Silas Hogan
Pioneer — Marcia Ball and Lil’ Ray Neal
Ambassador — Dr. Nick Spitzer

2007
Legend — Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Pioneer — Luther Kent
Ambassador — Buddy Guy

2006
Legend — Lazy Lester
Pioneer — Tab Benoit
Ambassador — Zia Tammami

2005
Legend — Henry Gray
Pioneer — Chris Thomas King
Ambassador — Kenny Neal

2004
Legend — Tabby Thomas
Pioneer — Larry Garner
Ambassador — Kip Holden

2003
Legends — Raful Neal, James Johnson & Rudy Richard