Musselwhite, Staples, King win Handys

Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite each won three awards at the 26th annual W.C. Handy Awards, and B.B. King was named entertainer of the year for the seventh time in a row.

Staples won best album for “Have a Little Faith,” which also won soul album, and she was named top female soul artist Thursday night. Musselwhite won for best contemporary male artist and best harmonica player, and his “Sanctuary” album won the award for contemporary album.

The Holmes Brothers were named top band, Staples’ “Have a Little Faith” won top song for writers Jim Tullio and Jim Weider, and John Lee Hooker Jr. won as best new artist. The awards, named for blues pioneer W.C. Handy and called “Handys,” are given out by the Blues Foundation of Memphis, Tenn.