The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival has announced the inaugural Buddy Flett Emerging Musician Award, honoring the life and legacy of local musician and songwriter Buddy Flett.

The new award will recognize an outstanding student guitarist from Caddo, Bossier or DeSoto Parish who demonstrates the passion, dedication and soulful artistry Flett brought to his music.

Flett enjoyed a career as a professional musician and songwriter. He was an original member of A-Train and later founded The Bluebirds with his brother, Bruce. He also pursued a solo career, releasing two albums, “Mississippi Sea” and “Rough Edges.”

Flett played slide guitar on Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s first album, “Ledbetter Heights,” as well as the Grammy-nominated “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads” documentary album and the Grammy-nominated “Live in Chicago” album with Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Bryan Lee, Willie Big Eyes and others.

His songs were recorded by Percy Sledge, Etta James, Irma Thomas, Marcia Ball and Johnny Adams, among others.

The award is open to student musicians in grades six through 12. Applicants are asked to share their musical journey, including how long they have played, the styles of music that influence them, how they have developed their skills and the instruments they use. Applications also require a letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor.

“This award isn’t just a recognition — it’s a continuation of Buddy Flett’s legacy, ensuring his influence lives on in the young musicians who pick up a guitar and dare to make it sing.”

The winner will be announced at the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday, Sept. 19, immediately following the Tribute to Buddy Flett performance. The winner will receive a new guitar donated by Shreveport Music Co.

Applications are available through Wednesday, Sept. 2. Questions can be directed to HighlandJazzandBlues@gmail.com.

The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival launched in 2003 and has grown from a gathering of a handful of bands and 500 to 1,000 attendees to an event featuring three stages, 15 bands, more than 60 vendors and 10,000 music fans at Columbia Park in the Highland area.

The annual festival is a gift to the community from the Highland Area Partnership, a 501(c)(3) arts and culture nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating and connecting the community through music, food and the arts. Proceeds from posters, T-shirts, beverage sales, donations and sponsorships help bring the festival back each year.