LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Buddy Guy and Etta James were the big winners at the W.C. Handy Blues Awards, presented Thursday by the Blues Foundation in Memphis.

Singer/guitarist Guy was named contemporary blues male artist of the year, while his Silvertone release "Blues Singer" was selected blues album and acoustic blues album of the year.

Vocalist James was honored as soul blues female artist of the year; her Private Music release "Let's Roll" scored as soul blues album of the year.

Roomful Of Blues took blues band of the year accolades, and the group's horn section won in the instrumentalist category. B.B. King was dubbed blues entertainer of the year. "Doctor Velvet" by Texas singer/guitarist Nick Curran received the best new artist debut award.

Other longtime Handys favorites collecting honors included pianist Pinetop Perkins (traditional blues male artist of the year) and singer Koko Taylor (traditional blues female artist of the year).

The Handy Awards, presented at the Cannon Center Ballroom in Memphis, are based on a poll of blues fans and national blues society members.