Bobby Rush receives the “Lifetime Music Achievement Award” from Ruby Wilson (left), the “Queen of Beale Street” and Elaine Turner, producer of the Handy awards.

The names of some Beale Street musicians may not strike a familiar chord. But they are the songbirds whose talents brought the soulful melodies to life.

Some of them have achieved measurable success while others continue to ply their craft on the street that W.C. Handy made famous.

This week, these dedicated craftsmen stepped into the spotlight at the W.C. Handy Heritage Awards.

On Nov. 16, “Authentic Beale Street Musicians” were applauded at an awards ceremony named for Handy. It is the 12th year for the awards, which were presented on the date Handy was born 135 years ago.

Presented by Heritage Tours and the W.C. Handy Memphis Museum Preservation, the awards program was held at the Holiday Inn Select Memphis Airport. It was dedicated to the late crooner Isaac Hayes, who died in August.

During the grand finale of the W.C. Handy Heritage Awards, the honorees celebrate their awards. From left, Charles “Skip” Pitts, Eddie Harrison, Robert Wrightsil, Josephine “Jo” Bridges, Bobby Rush, Di Anne Price, and Elaine Turner. (Photos by Earl Stanback)

The Masqueraders, who signed a contract with Isaac Hayes’ Hot Buttered Soul Label in 1974, accepted the “Authentic Beale Street Musicians” award from The Mad Lads, another soul-stirring group. From left are Mad Lads Freddie Williams and Richard Williams, Masqueraders Robert Wrightsil, Sam Hutchins, Harold Thomas, Lee Hatim, David Sanders, and Mad Lad Solomon Young.

Josephine “Jo” Bridges, who received the “Music Business Award,” is welcomed to the stage by the Temprees, a soul group she’d once managed. From left, Jerry Calvin, Deljuan Calvin, Bridges, and Harold “Scottie” Scott.

“I saw the correlation of (W.C.) Handy and (Isaac) Hayes and the impact they made in music,” said Elaine Turner, the awards program producer. “In dedicating the program to Isaac Hayes and reflecting on his music and the people who were honorees, he touched their lives and careers in some way or another.”

Hayes was tapped for the “Master Entertainer Award,” which was presented posthumously to his daughters, Veronica and Melanie Hayes. Afterward, poet Mary Madiku and percussionist Ekpe Abioto paid tribute to the entertainer on African drums.

Bobby Rush, an R & B legend, captivated the audience with his acoustic blues harmonica. He was given the “Lifetime Music Achievement Award.”

Entrepreneur and music pioneer Josephine “Jo” Bridges also received an award from a singing group she’d managed. The Temprees, who recorded at Stax Recording Studio, presented Bridges with the “Music Business Award.” They also sang their classic hit, “Dedicated to the One I Love.”

Other award recipients were Stax guitarist Charles “Skip” Pitts, musician and record producer Cato T. Walker III, blues singer and pianist Diane Price, jazz musician Lewis Keel, The Masqueraders, and gospel singer Janice McMahan.

“This is the first time that some of these musicians were honored, like Charles Pitts, who was Isaac Hayes’ guitarist. He played the wah wah sound on ‘Shaft,’” said Turner.

After receiving an award, R & B singer Eddie Harrison, who joined Hayes’ first band at Manassas High School, sang Hayes’ familiar ballad “Walk On By.”

Anna Coday accepted an award for her late husband, William “Bill” Coday Chew, from blues recording artist Denise LaSalle. The families of gospel recording artist and songwriter Cassietta Baker George and saxophonist Ronald Echols also accepted posthumous awards in their honor.

“The awards program this year was the best we’ve ever had,” said Turner. “We’re letting these people know how much we appreciate them. They are keeping the mantra of ‘Home of the Blues’ alive in Memphis.”