The Blues Foundation has announced the 2011 inductees for the Blues Hall of Fame, including singer/songwriter/guitarist Robert Cray; acoustic blues artist, singer, guitarist, and harpist John Hammond; singer/songwriter Denise LaSalle; 1950s R&B singer Big Maybelle; singer/songwriter Alberta Hunter; and singer/songwriter J.B. Lenoir.
Inductees John Hammond and Denise LaSalle are scheduled to perform on Thursday, May 5, at the 32nd Blues Music Awards at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis. That night performers, industry representatives, and fans from around the world celebrate the best in Blues recording, songwriting and performance from the previous year.
The induction ceremony will be held the night before at the Memphis Marriott Downtown in Memphis. Plans are underway now to individually honor each of the inductees that night. 
 Among the other individuals being recognized by The Blues Foundation this year are Vivian Carter and Jimmy Bracken, the “Vee” and “Jay” in Vee-Jay Records, at one time the largest black-owned record company in the world; African American educator John W. Work, III; Samuel Charters who led much of the 1960s blues revival in America through his writings and field recordings; and Bruce Bromberg who has produced more than one hundred and fifty recordings for artists like Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, and Phillip Walker in addition to the Testament reissues.
The book Walking to New Orleans: The Story of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues by John Broven will also be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
The following singles or album tracks will be inducted during the ceremony: “Ain’t Nobody’s Business” (Supreme, 1947) by Jimmy Witherspoon; “Five Long Years” (J.O.B., 1952) by Eddie Boyd; “Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues” (Paramount, 1931) by Skip James; and “Love in Vain” (Vocalion, 1937) by Robert Johnson. These albums are also being honored: Night Beat by Sam Cooke, False Accusations by Robert Cray, and The Real Folk Blues by Howlin’ Wolf.