OffBeat's annual Best of the Beat issue includes our Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients: Charlie Gabriel (Music); Steve Masakowski (Music Education); Shirani Rea (Music Business); and Positive Vibrations HeartBeat Award recipients, Margie Perez and Clarence "Delco" Delcour; plus nominees for Best of the Beat Music Awards; the best music of 2019; information on the upcoming Folk Alliance (and an interview with keynote speaker Rhiannon Giddens); a history of the banjo in New Orleans music; obituaries on sax player Jerry Jumonville and club owner Earl Bernhardt; accordion maker Randy Falcon; reviews, music event listings and a review of True Food Kitchen.