Annual SPAH Awards
Bernie Bray Player of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to an individual for excellence in playing the harmonica.
1981 – Bernie Bray
1982 – Richard Smith
1983 – Pete Pedersen
1984 – Gordon Mitchell
1985 – Judy Simpson Smith
1986 – Danny Wilson
1987 – Alex Fogel
1988 – Norm Dobson
1989 – Jim Prushankin
1990 – Richard Harris
1991 – Don Les
1992 – Al Fiore
1993 – Cham-ber Huang
1994 – Al Smith
1995 – Jerry Murad
1996 – Stagg McMann
1997 – Peter Madcat Ruth
1998 – Lou Delin
1999 – Blackie Schackner
2000 – Jack Ely
2001 – Joe Filisko
2002 – Marvin Monroe
2003 – Buddy Wakefield
2004 – Bud Boblink
2005 – Douglas Tate
2006 – Frank Warner
2007 – Herb Eck
2008 – Gene Hansen
2009 – Rob Paparozzi
2010 – Howard Levy
2011 – Brendan Power
2012 – Phil Caltabellotta
2013 – Jean Toots Thielemans
2014 – Buddy Greene
2015 – Robert Bonfiglio
2016 – Stevie Wonder
2017 – Jason Ricci
2018 – Hermine Deurloo
2019 – Dennis Gruenling
2020 – Antonio Serrano
2021 – William Galison
2022 – Charlie Musselwhite
2023 – Filip Jers
2024 – Mark Hummel
2025 – Rick Estrin
Pete Pedersen Lifetime Achievement Award
Not only do these outstanding harmonica players have a record of achievement over a long period of time, they also preserve and advance the harmonica and share their talents and knowledge with the harmonica community.
2001 – Pete Pedersen
2002 – Blackie Schackner
2003 – Sandy German
2004 – Dominic and Tony Sgro
2005 – Buzz Krantz and Charlie McCoy
2006 – Stan Harper, Bob McFarlane and Ray Tankersly
2007 – Jerry Adler and Danny Wilson
2008 – Anneliese “Sissi” Jones and Charlie Musselwhite
2009 – Manji Suzuki
2010 – Dick Gardner
2011 – Al Smith
2012 – James Cotton
2013 – Tom Stryker
2014 – Peter Madcat Ruth
2015 – Mo Vint
2016 – Winslow Yerxa
2017 – Michael Burton
2018 – Kirk “Jellyroll” Johnson
2019 – Steve Baker and Will Scarlett
2020 – Jerry Devillier
2021 – PT Gazell
2022 – Phil Wiggins
2023 – Jerry Fierro
2024 – Chris Bauer
2025 – Dave Moore
Stan Harper Award of Special Merit
This award recognizes and honors harmonica players, non-players and organizations that have made special contributions to the harmonica community.
2003 – Frank Halovanic
2004 – Joe Fey
2005 – Jack Hopkins
2006 – Joe and Fey Martin
2007 – Bob Herndon
2008 – Rudy and Doris Michelin
2009 – Phil Duncan
2010 – Michael Anderson, Dick Lawrence and Terry Lewis
2011 – Michael Polesky
2012 – Roger Bale and Eugene Hansen
2013 – Martin Haeffner
2014 – Mike Caldwell, Harp-l and SlideMeister
The SPAH Award of Special Merit was renamed the Stan Harper Award of Special Merit in 2015.
2015 – Charles Spranklin
2016 – Paul Davies
2017 – Phil and Tony Sardo and Jerl Welch
2018 – Frank Davis and Manfred Wewers
2019 – David Barrett
2020 – George Miklas, Steve Watne
2021 – Phil Franklin, Vern Smith
2022 – Michael Rubin, Bill Dulin
2023 – Ernie Roberts
2024 – Mike Runyan
2025 – Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Greg Heumann
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
This award is presented at the discretion of the SPAH President to deserving recipients.
2011 – Paul Metris
2013 – Frank Davis, Norm Dobson and Danny Wilson
2015 – Joe Leone and the Gateway Harmonica Club
2016 – Paul Oscher and Vern Smith
2017 – Johnny Long
2019 – Dottie Pispecky and The Route 66 Harmonica Club (Tulsa)
2021 – Jessie Hirsch, Jim Hughes
2022 – Buddy Greene, JP Pagán
2023 – Buzz Krantz
2024 – Jon Gindick, Joe Filisko (Spirit of Buzz Krantz Award)
2025 – Jerry Portnoy, Dan Ruppa (Spirit of Buzz Krantz Award)
SPECIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
2001 – Larry Adler, Tommy Morgan and Alan Pogson
2002 – Tommy Reilly
2003 – Charlie Leighton
AWARD OF APPRECIATION
2001 – Bob Williams
2012 – Tom Stryker
2024 – Michael D’Eath