The 5th Annual Ameripolitan Awards concluded on Tuesday evening here at The Guest House at Graceland.
This weekend I made some new friends for life, met people whose music I have been playing for years, and I have woken up on the floor of a Beale Street bar (which may become the title of my autobiography).
| Sophia Johnson |
Congratulations to the very talented Sophia Johnson who much to her surprise walked away with the Award for Best Female Artiste in the Western Swing category; making her the first British woman and only the second ever Brit to win at these Awards – Charlie Thompson won in the Honky-tonk Male category two years ago.
Awards nights can be lengthy affairs and this one lasted four hours, but during those four hours as well as finding out all the winners in a plethora of categories we were entertained by James Hand, Asleep at the Wheel, Nikki Lane, Sleepy LaBeef and many, many more.
On this first Ameripolitan to be held in Memphis we also had a fascinating musical and anecdotal tribute to Sam Phillips and Sun Studio – Sam was honoured with the Legends Award this year.
The only disappointment for me was not getting to interview Ray Benson. As you have to do with these stars, my people contacted Ray’s people to ask if he would spare me ten minutes at any time while he was here; not to be interviewed about himself or Asleep at the Wheel, but to give me his thoughts on his pal Dale Watson’s Ameripolitan initiative.
I was told he would do this but that a time would have to be fixed at short notice – fair enough, Ray and the band had driven overnight from deepest Florida to be here. Elizabeth,the event’s charming and helpful PR person told me Ray would see me in the Interval. All good so far.
Half way through the first section of the show I was asked to come backstage as Ray would be talking to a television crew on the same subject and I could sit in out of camera and scribble down a couple of quotes from that. Good enough.
Thirty minutes later we were all told Ray had changed his mind – which I guess answers my question. The television people were pretty miffed as well but we chatted while we waited and that may just have opened a very interesting door.
I will list other winners on my return to the UK, but tonight the glory goes to Sophia Johnson – as it says on the reverse of her business card “not bad for a girl”.
