Bill Emerson and Sweet DIvie at Laurel Highlands

Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie will be appearing Saturday June 20, at the Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival. A bio of Bill and rhe band follows.

Special Note - Bill Emerson and Tom Adams will jointly conduct a banjo workshop, Saturday afternoon.

Beginning in 1957, Bill Emerson established himself as a banjo virtuoso and history maker alike! A founding member of the famed bluegrass ensemble "The Country Gentlemen", billed as a featured artist while with "Jimmy Martin" during the height of that bluegrass legend's career, the man who introduced the classic "Fox on the Run" to bluegrass, founder and shaper of "Country Current" the world renowned bluegrass ensemble of the United States Navy Band. Called "a banjo legend" by the "Washington Post", twice awarded "Banjo player of the Year" by the Muleskinner News Bluegrass Magazine, credited with giving start to the careers of both dobro legends Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas, credited by Ricky Skaggs as being responsible for his post Ralph Stanley musical career, Bill Emerson was also inducted into the "Virginia Folk Music Association" Hall of Fame in 1984 and June 10th was proclaimed "Bill Emerson Day" by the governor.
In 2000 Bill was inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats during ceremonies at the 26th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards Show in Nashville Tennessee. In 2006 he was inducted into The Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies) Hall of Fame.
Here’s a sampling of the past two decades: along with songwriting master Pete Goble; Bill released two extremely well received hit albums as "Emerson & Goble" on "WEBCO Records of Virginia" in 1985 and 1988 compilation of these and was re-released on the CD format as WEBCO Classics Volume One in 1995. Along with guitar master Tony Rice, Bill has released two very highly acclaimed instrumental albums on "REBEL Records" in 1988 and 1991. Bill has also recorded extensively on projects with Tony Rice and the Rice brothers over the last few years as well as producing recordings for artists such as Larry Stephenson, Jimmy Gaudreau, and Bill's latest protégé, Wayne Taylor. Paying homage to Bill's tremendous banjo prowess, "Stelling Banjo Works, Ltd." issued a signature series of the "Bill Emerson Red Fox" model in 1990, as well as a "Bill Emerson" Line of banjo gear. In August 1992, "WEBCO Records of Virginia" released Bill Emerson's "Reunion" album. "Reunion" is a collection of new recordings featuring some of the legendary lead-singers and guitar players Bill has worked with over the years, including Jimmy Martin, Charlie Waller, Red Allen, and Tony Rice, among others. "Reunion" has garnered best album final nominee awards from both the "International Bluegrass Music Association" and the "National Association of Independent Record Distributors". At the 2007 IBMA annual awards show in Nashville Tennessee Bill was awarded for his part in the recorded event of the year and instrumental album of the year. --->
Bill’s latest project and first as a band leader was released by Rebel Records on October 9, 2007. The CD "Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band" includes Wayne Taylor, Con Burch, Joe Wheatley, Pat White, and ten all star guests.
Awards
2009 Nominee for induction into the IBMA Hall of Fame

2008 Honorary life member of the IBMA Museum and included in IBMA's Pioneers of Bluegrass group.
2007 final Grammy nominee – double banjo bluegrass spectacular
2007 Winner IBMA "Recorded Event of the Year" - Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular

2006 - Inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame2000 - Inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats in Nashville Tennessee

1995 Final Nominee IBMA "Album of the Year" - "Emerson & Taylor"

1995 Final Nominee IBMA "Song of the Year" - "Appaloosa"

1993 - Awarded the Navy Commendation medal for 20 years of service as leaderof the US Navy Band Country Current

1993 Final Nominee IBMA "Recorded Event of the Year" - "Reunion"
1993 Final Nominee IBMA "Bluegrass Album of the Year" - "Reunion"

1991 Final Nominee IBMA "Banjo Player of the Year"

1990 Final Nominee IBMA "Instrumental Recording of the Year" - "Gold Plated Banjo"

1984 - Special achievement award from the Virginia Folk Music Association

1984 - Inducted into to the Virginia Folk Music Association's Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame

1984 - June 10 officially declared as Bill Emerson Day by the Governor of Virginia

1972 and 73 Awarded best banjo player at the 2 nd and 3 rd Annual Muleskinner News Awards, Camp springs North Carolina

1959 - National champion banjo player awarded at the National Championship Country Contest in Warrenton Virginia

Tom Adams - Tom was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and started singing and playing the guitar at age nine. A year later he picked up the banjo and performed with his family's band for more than a decade. Tom first gained national recognition in the mid 1980s as a member of Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain boys. Perhaps best known for his solo recordings and two Grammy nominated albums with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Tom has received eight awards from the IBMA including three for banjo player of the year. He makes his return on the guitar as a member of the Sweet Dixie Band.

Wayne Lanham - Wayne is originally from Manassas, Virginia and lives in the Shenandoah Valley. He started singing and playing mandolin as a teen and has since developed his own clean, fluid style of picking. He is also a fine fiddle player. An outstanding singer, writer and arranger, Wayne is able to sing all the harmony and lead vocal parts equally well. He performed and recorded with several top bluegrass artists before joining the Sweet Dixie Band.

Teri Chism - Teri was born in Morocco while her father was stationed there with the U.S. Navy. She now lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She started singing and playing guitar at an early age and came to bluegrass music in the 70s. Teri performed and recorded with several top bluegrass groups before coming to the Sweet Dixie Band. She is a superior bassist and exceptional lead and harmony vocalist