Paul Miles receives six Detroit Music Awards nominations

Paul Miles

Paul “The Blues Man” Miles has received so many Detroit Music Awards nominations that he’s lost count.

“Oh man, it must be in the 20s,” he said during a telephone interview from Scottsdale, Arizona, where he is spending the winter.  The winner of six previous Detroit Music Awards, Miles is nominated in six categories in the 2011 competition (see below).

 “I’m totally blessed, absolutely,” Miles said. “You roll the dice and do the best you can, but life can be topsy turvy, with  twists and turns and all that. One of the things I consistently call on is my music, to keep pushing me ahead.

“Everybody would like to win, but just to be acknowledged as a finalist, you’ve already won, because there are so many talented people in Detroit.”

Miles, who can often be found busking during the warmer weather in Detroit, is enjoying his time in the Arizona sun.

 “I’m having a ball, getting healthier and working my new musical, ‘Motown – Still Our Town,’ which is based on the video that won (a DMA) last year. I’m also writing songs for my new album and my technique is getting much better.”

Miles is returning to the Motor City soon and has a showcase performance scheduled at 9 p.m. March 23 at AJ’s Music Café in Ferndale. He’ll be performing some of his new music, including a tribute to Aretha Franklin titled “The Queen of Soul.”

To see a video of Miles performing the song “Sister to the Blues,” click here.

The Detroit Music Awards will be presented April 15 by the Detroit Music Awards Foundation at The Fillmore Detroit.

Nominations in the Outstanding Blues Artist/Group category include: Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents, Motor City Josh & The Big 3, Howard Glazer & the EL 34’s, The Sun Messengers, Eliza Neals and Paul Miles.

Nominees in the Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist category include guitarists Motor City Josh, Johnnie Bassett, Paul Miles, Howard Glazer, and Al Carmichael; guitarist/bassist Pete Peltier; trombonist-flutist bugs Beddow; and drummer RJ Spangler.

The Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording category features these nominated recordings: Motor City Josh & The Big 3 ("It's a Good Life"), The Alligators (“Down at Big Kadies”), Planet D Nonet ("Blowin' Away The Blues"), Eliza Neals ("Misery"), Luther “Badman” Keith (“Blues Nation”) and Tracy Kash Thomas ("Sound Truth").

Nominated as Outstanding Blues/R&B Songwriter are Tracy Kash Thomas, Howard Glazer, John Latini, Luther “Badman” Keith, Motor City Josh and Paul Miles.

Outstanding Blues/R&B Vocalist nominees include: Thornetta Davis, Kathleen Murray, Eliza Neals, Motor City Josh, Paul Miles and Detroit’s “Queen of the Blues” Alberta Adams.

In addition, Miles received nominations in the Outstanding Acoustic Artist/Group and Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Instrumentalist categories.

John Latini is nominated in the Outstanding Folk Artist/Group and Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Instrumentalist categories and also received a nomination in the Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Recording category for “Lake Of My Dreams,” a re-issue with bonus tracks.

Mike Boulan’s No Cover blues label is among the nominees for Outstanding Local Record Label. The Muggs received a nomination in the Outstanding Video/Independent Budget (Under $10,000) category for "Slow Curve."

 Only current (or newly registered) Detroit Music Awards voters are allowed to participate in the final voting phase. Tickets are still available for the show. For information, click www.detroitmusicawards.com.

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