James Cotton is the second recipient of the B.B. King Award, created in 2014 for the 35th edition of the Festival to honour and recognize the exceptional talent of an artist who has left an indelible mark on the blues scene. A true blues giant, James Cotton won his stripes armed with the smallest of wind instruments: the harmonica. Over 70 years into his remarkable career, the man nicknamed “Superharp” built his reputation on a fiery stage presence, energetic musicianship and a powerhouse voice. After playing with Muddy Waters for 12 years, he took the plunge in 1966 and launched a career marked by national and international tours and some thirty albums including Deep in the Blues, named Best Traditional Blues Album at the Grammy Awards.