James Cotton has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Mississippi Arts Commission. The blues icon, who was born in Tunica, Mississippi, will be one of five individuals who’ll be presented with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts at a ceremony at Belhaven University Center for the Arts in Clarion, Mississippi on February 20, 2014. The Governor’s Arts Awards "are presented annually to outstanding writers, artists, performers, craftsmen and educators who have made significant and lasting contributions through their work, as well as to corporations or organizations on the basis of their dedication to arts advancement." Award recipients "do not have to reside in Mississippi, but they must have significant ties to the state through some years of residency." Recipients are chosen by a group of industry peers who select candidates from a pool of nominees put forward by the general public. Cotton now joins an elite list of Mississippi musicians who have also been recipients of the arts award in the past including B.B. King, Little Milton Campbell, and Bo Diddley. For more information about the recipients of the 2014 Governor’s Awards, see here.

Cotton’s latest milestone furthers what has already been an outstanding year for the legendary harpist since the release of his newest CD, Cotton Mouth Man. The CD featured special guests Gregg Allman, Rosebud artist and 2013 GRAMMY-nominee Ruthie Foster, Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa, Delbert McClinton, and Keb’ Mo’. The record drew raves from all corners including the Chicago Tribune who declared "Listen to Cotton’s harmonica playing on the album – gritty, gutsy, ferociously uninhibited – and you’re hearing what great blues harp work is all about. No wonder they call him ‘Superharp.’" The CD entered Billboard’s Blues chart in the top five, hit Billboard’s Heatseekers Album chart’s top ten and spent seven consecutive weeks topping the Roots Music Report’s Blues Radio Chart, among other chart successes.

Congratulations to James Cotton for the recognition with the 2014 Governor’s Arts Award. To catch Cotton performing live, see Tour Dates >>