The Mississippi Music Awards began with a “red bang!”  The mission of this event is to bring all generations and genres of Mississippi musicians together to maintain the strong tradition of what’s made us the birthplace of music.  The red carpet began the evening of excellence as artists and event goers donned their best attire. The outside pre-show set the stage for the awards show.

This year’s show was hosted by 7 time Emmy Award and 2 time Grammy Award Winning recording star and comedian, David L. Cook. Cook was born in Pascagoula, MS and is most well known as one of the funniest comedians to take to the stage. However, many will also remember that he was the baby of the legendary Southern Gospel singing group, The Cook Family Singers. David grew up on stage since the age of five and even called the Grand Ole Opry his second home as a child. 

The awards show did itself justice by putting seasoned artists like Blind Mississippi Morris, Davis Coen and Leo “Bud”Welch in between up and coming acts such as Sam Mooney, Southern Halo and Flirting with Sincerity.  The crowd was able to hear bands from throughout the state as they mixed traditional genres with some new school twists and turns.

We gave out 7 awards during the show highlighted by our Life Time Achievement Award presented to B.B. King and our Mississippi Marvel Award presented to David L. Cook. The other awards were given based upon artists being voted the best band or artistin state. 

Bonfire Orchestra (Tupelo) won Best Alternative Song, Tony Mac and the Blues Connection (Lucedale) won Best Blues Song, and Haywood Drive (Southaven) won Best Country Song. The Aaron Coker Band (Florence) finished out the awards by taking home Best Band and Best Song.

Winners of the Mississippi Music Awards 2018

Best Mississippi Blues - Rust Bucket Roadies
Best Mississippi Country - J.T Norman

Best Mississippi Band  - Aaron Coker Band 
Best Mississippi Rock - Shutdown Tactic
Best Mississippi Artist - Jeff Fagan Jr.
Song of the Year - Randy Reiter- I Saw a Blue Bird

Lifetime Achievement Award - Blind Mississippi Morris
Congratulations to all ..............
See you next year ....................................
Mississippi Music Awards - April 27th 2019

Mississippi Music Awards 2017

Best Mississippi Blues - Blues King
Best Mississippi Country - Randy Reiter
Best Mississippi Rock - Trilogy
Best Mississippi Artist - Aaron Coker
Best Mississippi ALT - Wilson Harris
Best Mississippi Roots - Mississippi Stomp
Song of the Year - Danny Ray - I am your Man

Lifetime Achievement Award - Jerry Lee Lewis
Congratulations to all ..............
See you next year ....................................
Mississippi Music Awards - May 5th 2018

Winners 2016 Mississippi Music Awards

Wilson Harris -  Best Folk         

Kristen Brassel -  Best Country

Tony Mac -  Best Blues

P.Lo Jetson -  Best Christian

Mississippi Stomp -  Best Rock

Aaron Coker Band  -  Best  Artist/Band

Kristen Brassel -  Best Original Song ( Love and Lightning) 

Life Time Achievement Award - Leo Bud Welsh

Marvel Award - Cedric Burnside

An awards show isn’t complete without winners. 

We were blessed to have D.D. Sharp present our Lifetime Achievement Award.

She is known for such classic R&B hits as Mash Potato Time and the Slow Twist duo with Chubby Checker.   

She helped the crowd to better know a personal friend whose music has touched the world. Our Lifetime Achievement Award went to B.B. King, the man that took the blues out of the Delta. His music in some way has inspired everyone. We will make sure his music and legacy never dies.

We were honored to not only present this award to David L. Cook, but to have him host our ceremony as well. He has survived the blues that so many of our artist write about to exemplify excellence. Winning seven Emmy Awards and two Grammy’s to go along with the numerous other award wins and nominations.  David demonstrates the fortitude that must accompany talent to keep our artists in the business. As he continues to have the career that leads to Life Time Achievement awards, this is our way to say "thank you" for holding the torch and motivating future generations.

In creating the Mississippi Marvel Award, we wanted the award to be prestigious and all things Mississippi. 

The Mississippi Music Foundation’s mission is to provide education through seminars, internet, and conferences thus enabling individuals to become conversant with multiple genres,music technology, musical instruments and Mississippi Music History. 

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My name is Peter Whitham and I am the Founder and President of the Mississippi Music Foundation.

During the last 14 years we have seen the Foundation grow to include and serve individuals and groups from all across the great state of Mississippi. We would like to thank those that have supported our mission and welcome those that will join us in strengthening the arts through performance and education throughout Mississippi. Thank you from all of us.