A native of France, Jacques Garcia is a lifelong blues enthusiast whose transformative encounter with Muddy Waters ignited a deep passion for the genre that continues to burn just as brightly today as it ever has. Beginning in the early 1980s, Garcia, alongside his wife Anne-Marie, became a driving force behind numerous endeavors that have helped foster a thriving blues community in France. The creation and artistic direction of the Salaise Blues Festival between 1983 and 1991 stands as one of Garcia's most notable contributions. Additionally, Garcia co-created Rhésus Blues Productions (1986-1989), which organized European tours for renowned blues musicians such as Otis Grand, Joe Louis Walker, and R.L Burnside. In 2009, Garcia founded the Black Jack Blues Association, and between 2009 and 2011, he created and managed a blues club and festival in Ampuis, France that provided a stage for both local and international musicians.

Garcia’s role organizing the Robert Johnson 100th Anniversary Celebration in Ste Colombe, France, and his co-creation of a conference on blues history and culture in 2012 are two other notable achievements. In 2017, Garcia and his wife founded La Maison du Blues, a blues club and café in Châtres-sur-Cher. There, they have curated and presented over 264 concerts featuring international blues musicians.  La Maison du Blues subsequently came to encompass the Blues Preservation Association and the European Blues Museum, whose grand opening featured a performance from Bobby Rush. In 2023, La Maison du Blues collaborated with the France Blues Hall of Fame to expand the European Blues Museum, adding a documentary film center with a focus on blues and civil rights. Currently, La Maison du Blues is actively involved in creating a Blues music education center called "Crossroads," modeled after Clarksdale’s “Crossroads Arts and Cultural Center.”  Garcia’s La Maison du Blues has unquestionably left an indelible mark on the genre's promotion and preservation in France, and for these reasons, is a most deserving recipient of The Blues Foundation’s 2024 KBA Award.

Known in her native Turkey as the "Turkish Xena of the Blues" and the "Turkish Queen of the Blues," Goksenin Tuncali has been a prominent figure in the country's music community for the past twenty-five years. Her multifaceted role as a songwriter, performer, and music producer reflects her deep commitment to the genre. As the Founding President of Turkey's first and only blues society, the Blues Association of Turkey, established in 1995, Tuncali has played a pivotal role in shaping the blues landscape in her country. The Association has a strong youth component, conducting international art camps supported by the European Cultural Foundation of the European Union. Recently, young Turkish musicians were sent to perform at RRXP22, Roots & Routes in Cologne, in collaboration with arts organizations from France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Austria. Tuncali has made significant strides in increasing the visibility of female musicians through special events like "Blues Loving Women! Raise Your Hands!" Her latest CD, "Women’s Blues," creatively reinterprets traditional Anatolian folk music through the lens of the blues. The Association also introduces Turkish audiences to traditional American blues through various platforms, including social media, Spotify, and the promotion of historic CDs. In recognition of the Blues Association of Turkey’s outstanding contributions, The Blues Foundation is thrilled to present the Association with a 2024 Keeping the Blues Alive Award. This award highlights the Association's dedication to fostering a vibrant Blues community, promoting diverse musical expressions, and empowering musicians across generations and genders.

Larry Chambers has enjoyed a remarkably diverse and enduring career in the music industry, having showcased his talents as a songwriter, engineer, promoter, and influential figure in the soul blues genre. After beginning his journey in the mid-sixties in Memphis, Chambers went on to make his mark as a songwriter for Fame Records in Muscle Shoals. His compositions graced the repertoire of notable artists such as Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, and Candi Staton. Chambers also collaborated with Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and contributed co-written songs for artists on Malaco Records, including Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, and Shirley Brown. In the 1970s, Chambers shifted gears into engineering, lending his expertise to several studios in Memphis. By 1978, he had entered the realm of promotions, working for Soul-Out Records before going on to carve his niche in independent promotion through the 1980s.

The 1990s marked yet another evolution in his career when he received a call from John Ward to join the newly established Ecko Records. There, Chambers took on the role of Promotions Director; he also co-wrote songs for artists under the Ecko label. Notably, his collaboration with Ollie Nightingale on "I'll Drink Your Bathwater, Baby" became a soul blues classic. Today, Chambers remains an integral part of Ecko Records, where he continues to make substantial contributions as a promoter for an impressive roster of artists. His ongoing dedication to the soul blues genre and his role in promoting and shaping the careers of many talented blues artists underscore his enduring impact on the music industry. Likewise, The Blues Foundation is thrilled to present Chambers with a 2024 KBA Award.