Grady Champion wins 26th Annual International Blues Challenge

Grady Champion from Canton, MS thrilled a packed Orpheum at the IBC Band Finals Saturday night in Memphis.  There were 11 bands competing in the finals.  Grady’s band members are from left to right – Marquis Champion (bass-Grady’s son), Grady (vocals and harp), Xavres Good (drums), and Kaleb Armstrong (lead guitar).  The band winner receives a cash prize, numerous festival bookings for the next year, and performs on the Legendary Blues Cruise.  More about this story can be found:  www.blues.org and www.bluescruise.com 

Grady’s website:  www.gradychampion.com

Thanks to Dusty Scott for the use of these photos from the finals.  www.dustyblues.com

Champion joins a talented list of blues artists sent by the Indianola blues society that have done well at IBC.  The Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola’s first IBC was in 2005 at the 21^st Annual International Blues Challenge.  In 2006 – 22^nd Annual IBC, the society’s solo/duo artist, Eden Brent from Greenville, won.  In 2007 – 23^rd Annual IBC, Homemade Jamz Blues Band from Tupelo placed 2^nd in the band finals.  In 2009 – 25^th Annual IBC, L.C. Ulmer and Chase Holifield from Laurel made it to the solo/duo finals.  

 

At this year’s IBC, Rosedale’s Crossroads Blues Society placed 2^nd in the solo/duo finals competition with Dr. Alphonso Sanders & Bill “Howl-n-Madd” Perry.  And, Jackson’s Central Mississippi Blues Society’s solo artist, Sherman Lee Dillon, made it to the finals.