On the Monterey Bay Blues Festival’s Main Stage, local blues legend John “Broadway” Tucker lets loose on his last number, a spirited version of Louis Jordan’s “Caldonia.” The 62-year-old jogs in place and pumps the microphone in his right hand up and down like a barbell as Polish guitarist Leszek Cichonski lays into an impressive solo.

Once Cichonski is done, Tucker does a little soloing himself. The bluesman—who is wearing his typical get-up of black jacket, black hat and black pants—catalogues the impressive appetite of the woman in the song. He sings about how she lays waste to six pounds of hamburger meat, 16 donuts, two dozen hot dogs, two cases of Budweiser and a fifth of gin.

Then, Tucker freestyles some lines about alcohol and its effects. “Drink some gin, that’s when the fun begin,” he says. “Drink some whiskey, get frisky.”

It’s a moment onstage that Tucker is clearly relishing. This is partly because the bluesman is on the big stage—he has played all but three Monterey Bay Blues Festival shows since the three-day event started back in 1986, but this is only his second time on the Main Stage. Another reason is that Tucker knows that after the song he will be presented with the prestigious Mobay Award, a decoration previously bestowed on blues greats like Etta James and Bobby “Blue” Bland.

Following the number, Tucker exits the stage for only a few moments before AM talk radio host Ray Taliaferro drags him back out in front of the crowd. After a wave of applause, Julie Paisant, one of the festival’s six directors, introduces the audience to the impeccably dressed staff and board members of the Monterey Bay Blues Festival for the presentation of the award.

“If anyone knows what we are about to do,” Paisant says. “John knows what we are about to do.”

Festival president Billy F. DeBerry tells the audience that this award for Tucker has been a long time coming. “We want you to know we love you,” he says to the bluesman.

After presenting him with a trophy and unveiling a painting of Tucker, which will be displayed at future festivals, the longtime Monterey musician seems humbled by all the hubbub. “I’m kind of at a loss for words,” he says.