Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 Ozark Blues Society Blues Challenge!
Solo/Duo Winner:
Jimmy Wayne Garrett
Arkansas born singer/songwriter and blues guitar player with a passion for blues music from the American Art form's beginning, to it's current evolutionary status. Always growing up with music as a staple of life either from the radio, old records and tapes, or church, Garrett was drawn in to the piano at a young age. Tinkering around on a family members keyboard caused a fire to be lit. The black and white of the piano made sense, and it sounded good. It felt good. But, it wasn't until he began playing a century-old folk guitar at 13 that his grandfather bought for him at an auction, that the flame really started to do more than just flicker. A short time later, after discovering the Pentatonic Scale, a musical seed of blues feeling was delivered into another young soul. It has not been an easily acceptable way to go in choosing the guitar over some other career, as family, friends, teachers, and mentors have advised throughout the years. Different jobs have came and went in all the meantime. Same with friends. Still, Garrett believes in remaining true to one's genuine self and living through artistic expressions to make the world a better place.
Band Winner:
Divas On Fire
Divas on Fire is a super-group unlike any other ---a unique collaboration of ten of the most successful women blues artists in their respective region who have come together to create a powerhouse sound. The group's live performances give audiences no relief as their show ignites and burns red hot from first to final note. Their collective history includes a Memphis Sun Studios recording artist, several Northwest Arkansas Music Awards winners, several Arkansas competition winners for the International Blues Competition, an Arkansas Blues Hall of Famer. And yet a few others have more recently started their musical journey while quickly collecting awards, accolades, and fan loyalty. The name Divas on Fire is more of a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that they have all been called musical divas, but in reality each puts the music and each other first.
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