Among nominees for blues song of the year: Bob Dylan

MEMPHIS —  Bob Dylan is among the artists nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for blues song of the year.

Dylan, better known for his folk and rock work, was nominated for his first Handy Award as songwriter of “Stepchild,” recorded by Solomon Burke on the album “Don’t Give Up on Me.”

The Blues Foundation, a nonprofit group that promotes the genre, announced the nominations in 25 categories Monday.

Shemekia Copeland and Magic Slim & the Teardrops led the list with five nominations each.

Copeland, daughter of late blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, was nominated for entertainer of the year and in two album categories for “Talking to Strangers.”

She also was nominated in the band and contemporary female artist categories.

Chicago artist Magic Slim was nominated for two album categories for the CD “Blue Magic,” as well as entertainer, male artist and guitarist of the year.

“There’s an exciting diversity in the scope of nominees, ranging from young indie newcomers just making their mark to seasoned legends making a return, which clearly reflects the future of the blues,” said Pat Mitchell of the Blues Foundation.

The awards, voted on by more than 30,000 international blues fans and professionals, will be presented May 22 at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis.

The awards are named after the composer of “St. Louis Blues,” who is known as “the father of the blues” for writing the first published blues song.