IBMA Awards Show, in place of Traditional Ties, 10/24/10

WYEP  and Traditional Ties will present the 21st annual IBMA Awards Show,this Sunday in place of regular programming.

You may know the winners by now, but don't miss the great music in the show, with several 'once in a lifetime' artist combinations.

91.3 Pittsburgh PA - Streaming http://wyep.org/  - 10pm EST.

Traditional Ties will return to it's regular format on 10/31.

Dailey & Vincent Honored With Five International Bluegrass Music Awards

Dailey & Vincent, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Adam Steffey, The Gibson Brothers and Russell Moore Receive Multiple Awards

(For a complete list of awards see previous post)

NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwire - October 1, 2010) - The 21st Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, hosted by Sharon and Cheryl White and Jerry Douglas, was broadcast live on Sirius XM from Nashville, Tennessee's historic Ryman Auditorium on September 30, 2010. Dailey & Vincent took home top honors with their third consecutive award for Entertainer of the Year.



Dailey & Vincent were also recipients of their third straight Vocal Group of the Year award, their second award for Album of the Year for Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers, Recorded Event of the Year with Larry Stephenson for "Give This Message to Your Heart" and Best Graphic Design for Recorded Project (Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers), awarded to Cracker Barrel's Julie Craig in an earlier ceremony.



Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper received three awards, including Instrumental Group of the Year, Cleveland's eighth Fiddle Player of the Year award and Marshall Wilborn's second consecutive award for Bass Player of the Year.



Adam Steffey accepted two awards, including his seventh Mandolin Player of the Year award and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for "Durang's Hornpipe." The Gibson Brothers were recognized with two honors, their first since 1998, with "Ring the Bell" for Song of the Year and Gospel Performance of the Year. Receiving two awards tonight, The Josh Williams Band won Emerging Artist of the Year and Guitar Player of the Year (Josh Williams).



Other instrumentalist awards included Rob Ickes with his twelfth award for Dobro Player of the Year and The Grascals' Kristin Scott Benson for her third consecutive honor for Banjo Player of the Year.



Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out accepted his third award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Claire Lynch received her second award for Female Vocalist of the Year.



Louise Scruggs and John Hartford were posthumously inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The IBMA's Distinguished Achievement Award honorees were Benjamin F. "Tex" Logan, Sherry Boyd, Lynn Morris, Richard Weize and Pete "Dr. Banjo" Wernick.



It was an evening of heartfelt and humorous moments, surprise guests and honors for a diverse mix of new artists and longtime favorites.

2010 IBMA Award Winners

THE RECIPIENTS



of the 2010 INTERNATIONAL


BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS



BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES



John Hartford

Louise Scruggs


ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Dailey & Vincent



VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR



Dailey & Vincent



INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR



Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper




MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR



Russell Moore



FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Claire Lynch




SONG OF THE YEAR



"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter)



ALBUM OF THE YEAR



Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Dailey & Vincent (artists & producers); Cracker Barrel/Rounder





RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR



"Give This Message To Your Heart", Larry Stephenson featuring Dailey & Vincent (artists), Ben Surratt & Larry Stephenson (producers), Whysper Dream



INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR



"Durang's Hornpipe" by Adam Steffey (artist), Barry Bales & Gary Paczosa (producers)



GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR



"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists & producers), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter), Compass Records



EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR



Josh Williams Band





INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR


BANJO - Kristin Scott Benson



BASS - Marshall Wilborn



FIDDLE - Michael Cleveland



DOBRO - Rob Ickes



GUITAR - Josh Williams



MANDOLIN - Adam Steffey





Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients



Benjamin "Tex" Logan

Sherry Boyd

Lynn Morris

Richard Weize

Pete Wernick



Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year:



Kyle Cantrell; Sirius XM Satellite Radio



Print Media Person of the Year:



Eddie Dean & Dr. Ralph Stanley, authors of Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times (Gotham Books)




Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project:



Dr. Ted Olson (writer), Appalachia Music from Home, Various Artists, Lonesome Records (label)



Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project:



Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel (designer); Dailey & Vincent; Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Cracker Barrel/Rounder (label)




Bluegrass Event of the Year Award:



14th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival; East Hartford, CT

International Bluegrass Music Awards to Feature Stellar Cast

International Bluegrass Music Awards

Nashville, Tenn. - The bluegrass world is set to gather on September 30 for the 2010 International Bluegrass Music Awards, recognizing the year's most outstanding accomplishments in 17 categories and honoring two pioneers for their groundbreaking influence. The star-studded evening will feature a stellar cast of performers and exciting collaborations to delight audiences and celebrate bluegrass worldwide.



Fans can look forward to a dozen performances including reigning Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent; the father of newgrass Sam Bush; bluegrass songbird Claire Lynch; powerhouse vocalist Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out; the legendary Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; and nine-time Entertainers of the Year, The Del McCoury Band.



That alone could satisfy the appetite of even the hungriest of fans, but the IBMA Awards are known for delivering some special collaborations. Two gentlemen who between them hold eight Guitar Player of the Year trophies, Josh Williams and Tony Rice, will perform together. Awards show hosts, Grand Ole Opry stars Sharon & Cheryl White and genre-bending Dobro stylist Jerry Douglas, will team up with four-time Female and Male Vocalists of the Year Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski. The man who has dominated the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart all summer, Dierks Bentley, will perform with a band of nominees and past recipients, while Blue Highway will include guest Darrell Scott in their part of the show.



The evening will also feature musical tributes to Hall of Fame inductees John Hartford and Louise Scruggs, including a performance by Earl Scruggs with his sons, Gary and Randy.



Whether enjoying the show live at the historic Ryman Auditorium or tuning in via radio, fans will also enjoy award presentations by their favorite stars and the anticipation of hearing who walks away with the most coveted awards in bluegrass music.

The 21st International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Central on September 30, will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction, Channel 14) and syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks thanks to the sponsorship of Martha White, GHS Strings, Sugar Hill Records, Deering Banjos, Compass Records and the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Program directors and station managers may sign up to be affiliates online at http://www.ibma.org/.



Tickets are available at the Ryman Auditorium box office at (615) 889-3060.



The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Awards Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass week, including the industry's Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, which will take place September 27 - October 3 in Nashville.



Additional information:

http://ibma.org/



---------------------------

Cracker Barrel Shares Behind-the-Scenes Insights

Exclusive CD nominated for "Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project"

LEBANON, Tenn., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store ® -- There's more to planning the packaging of a new CD than you might imagine, and that's why the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) gives an award for "Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project" each year. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is pleased and proud to be one of three nominees for this year's packaging award. Cracker Barrel was nominated for its exclusive offering, Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard magazine Top Bluegrass Chart in February 2010, and then spent nine weeks in the top position. The CD itself is nominated for "Album of the Year," and artists Dailey & Vincent, the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association two-time Entertainers of the Year, are also the lead 2010 IBMA award nominees, receiving ten nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year.
"When we first started planning the design of this album cover, we were not thinking about awards," said Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager Julie Craig, who managed all aspects of the packaging. "We wanted to focus on what the design elements were that would make people see how special this CD is," she added, pointing out that since the CD would be available only at Cracker Barrel locations, it had to fit in with the look and feel of an old country store while also complementing the authentic sounds of artists Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent. "I worked closely with the talented team at The Buntin Group to make sure that the art design would be as authentic, genuine and real as the music on the disc is," said Craig.
That attention to detail is what made the difference, according to Buntin Group Creative Director Tom Cocke, who said, "The challenge for any designer in Nashville is to come up with something original. Lots of CDs are designed in Nashville, so part of the process is to make sure it doesn't look like a cover that's been done before." Cocke says this project shows that good design supports the overall integrity of the artist and music.
Graphic Designer Devan Todd said that he wanted to keep the album art simple without too many flourishes or embellishments. "I've always liked the LPs from the 50s and the 60s and wanted to go with some monochromatic and muted colors because I thought that would work well with the style of the music and for Cracker Barrel," said Todd.
And, of course, the design has to communicate, according to Account Supervisor Becky Hensley. "With this project, we knew we had to quickly appeal to anyone looking at the packaging and its relationship with Cracker Barrel and with authentic bluegrass music. Cracker Barrel is known for its good country cookin', of course, but its exclusive music program is becoming more and more popular, in part because all the details point to authenticity," she said.
"We don't know whether we will win Best Graphic Design," said Cracker Barrel's Julie Craig, "but you know what? It may be a cliche, but it really is an honor to be nominated. Our team is thrilled!"
The International Bluegrass Music Association awards are September 30, 2010. Best of luck to artists Dailey & Vincent with their ten nominations!
About Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 595 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit: CrackerBarrel.com

2110 IBMA Awards Nominees

THE NOMINEES for the 2010 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS  MUSIC AWARDS


ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR



v Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper



v Dailey & Vincent



v The Grascals



v The Del McCoury Band



v Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out







VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR



v Blue Highway



v Dailey & Vincent



v The Gibson Brothers



v Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver



v Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out







INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR



v Blue Highway



v Sam Bush Band



v Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper



v The Infamous Stringdusters



v Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder







MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR



v Jamie Dailey



v Russell Moore



v Tim O’Brien



v Junior Sisk



v Dan Tyminski







FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR



v Dale Ann Bradley



v Sonya Isaacs



v Alison Krauss



v Patty Loveless



v Claire Lynch







ALBUM OF THE YEAR



Recording Title, Artist(s), Producer(s), Label







v Circles Around Me, Sam Bush (artist & producer), Sugar Hill



v Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers, Dailey & Vincent (artists), Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers), Cracker Barrel/Rounder



v Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (artists & producers), Rural Rhythm



v Ring the Bell, The Gibson Brothers (artists and producers), Compass



v The Famous Lefty Flynn’s, The Grascals (artists & producers), Rounder







SONG OF THE YEAR



Song Title, Artist(s), Songwriter(s)







v “Elizabeth,” Dailey & Vincent (artists), Lester James Fortune (songwriter)



v “Hard Rock Mountain Prison (‘Till I Die);” Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (artists); Ray Edwards, Larry Cox & Terry Foust (songwriters)



v “My Florida Sunshine,” Claire Lynch (artist), Bill Monroe (songwriter)



v “Ring the Bell,” The Gibson Brothers (artists), Chet O’Keefe (songwriter)



v “The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle;” Sam Bush (artist); Guy Clark, Verlon Thompson & Sam Bush (songwriters)







RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR



Song Title, Featured Artists, Producer(s), Label





v “Bleeding for a Little Peace of Mind,” Blue Highway featuring Darrell Scott (artists), Blue Highway (producers), Rounder



v “Give This Message to Your Heart,” Larry Stephenson featuring Dailey & Vincent (artists), Ben Surratt & Larry Stephenson (producers), Whysper Dream



v “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome;” The Grascals with Hank Williams, Jr.; The Grascals (producers); Rounder



v “Talk to Me Lonesome Heart,” Larry Stephenson featuring Connie Smith & Marty Stuart (artists), Ben Surratt & Larry Stephenson (producers), Whysper Dream



v “That’s What Makes You Strong,” Claire Lynch with Jesse Winchester (artists), Claire Lynch (producer), Rounder







GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR



Song Title, Artist(s), Songwriter(s), Producer, Label







v “Don’t You Wanna Go to Heaven,” Dailey & Vincent (artists), David Marshall (songwriter), Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers), Rounder Records



v “I Just Want to Thank You Lord,” Larry Sparks (artist, producer), Judy Marshall (songwriter), Rural Rhythm



v “Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly;” Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists); Corey Hensley (songwriter); Doyle Lawson (producer); Horizon



v “Ring the Bell,” The Gibson Brothers (artists), Chet O’Keefe (songwriter), The Gibson Brothers (producers), Compass



v “The Eastern Gate;” Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (artists, producers); Isaiah G. Martin (songwriter); Rural Rhythm







INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR



Tune Title, Artist(s), Songwriter, Producer(s), Label







v “Blue Mountain,” Sam Bush (artist, songwriter, producer), Sugar Hill



v “Blue Rock Slide;” The Grascals (artists, producers); Danny Roberts, Kristin Scott Benson & Jeremy Abshire (songwriters); Rounder



v “Cherokee Shuffle,” Josh Williams (artist, producer), Tommy Jackson (songwriter), Pinecastle



v “Durang’s Hornpipe,” Adam Steffey (artist), Public Domain (songwriter), Barry Bales & Gary Paczosa (producers), Sugar Hill



v “Mourning Dove,” Steep Canyon Rangers (artists), Nicholas Sanders (songwriter), Ronnie Bowman (producer), Rebel







EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR



v Balsam Range



v Sierra Hull & Highway 111



v Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass



v Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice



v Josh Williams Band







INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR



BANJO



v Terry Baucom



v Kristin Scott Benson



v J.D. Crowe



v Sammy Shelor



v Ron Stewart







BASS



v Barry Bales



v Mike Bub



v Missy Raines



v Darrin Vincent



v Marshall Wilborn







FIDDLE



v Jason Carter



v Michael Cleveland



v Stuart Duncan



v Andy Leftwich



v Ron Stewart







DOBRO



v Mike Auldridge



v Jerry Douglas



v Andy Hall



v Rob Ickes



v Randy Kohrs







GUITAR



v Cody Kilby



v Tony Rice



v Kenny Smith



v Bryan Sutton



v Josh Williams







MANDOLIN



v Jesse Brock



v Sam Bush



v Sierra Hull



v Ronnie McCoury



v Adam Steffey







BLUEGRASS EVENT OF THE YEAR



v Pass It On: The 30th Anniversary Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival; St. Cloud, Minnesota



v The 14th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival; East Hartford, Connecticut



v The Red, White & Bluegrass Festival; Morganton, North Carolina





BLUEGRASS BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR:



v Kyle Cantrell; Sirius XM Satellite Radio; Nashville, Tenn.



v Katy Daley; WAMU’s BluegrassCountry.org; Washington, D.C.



v Chris Jones; Sirius XM Satellite Radio; Nashville, Tenn.







PRINT MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR



v Eddie Dean & Dr. Ralph Stanley, authors of Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times (Gotham)



v Derek Halsey, freelance writer for The Herald Dispatch, Gritz magazine and Bluegrass Unlimited



v Larry Nager, freelance writer for Bluegrass Unlimited







LINER NOTES FOR RECORDED PROJECT



v Fred Bartenstein (writer), Singing from the Heart, Dailey & Vincent (artists), Rounder (label)



v Benji Flaming (writer), solo banjo, Benji Flaming (artist), solobanjo.com (label)



v Dr. Ted Olson (writer); Appalachia Music from Home; Ralph Stanley, Jean Ritchie, Dock Boggs, Darrell Scott, Robin & Linda Williams, Blue Highway & More (artists); Lonesome Records (label)







BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR RECORDED PROJECT



v Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel (designer); Dailey & Vincent; Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers; Cracker Barrel/Rounder (label)



v Benji Flaming (designer, artist), solo banjo, solobanjo.com (label)



v Bill Womack, Hellos Inc. (designer); Appalachia Music from Home; Ralph Stanley, Jean Ritchie, Dock Boggs, Darrell Scott, Robin & Linda Williams, Blue Highway & More (artists); Lonesome Records (label)







--End of Nominee List—











HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: John Hartford, Louise Scruggs







DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS: Sherry Boyd, Benjamin F. “Tex” Logan, Lynn Morris, Richard Weize, Pete Wernick

Jerry Douglas and Sharon & Cheryl White to Host 21st International Bluegrass Music Awards

Press Info: Kissy Black, kissyblack@lotosnile.com,
(615) 298-1144

General Info: Nancy Cardwell, nancyc@ibma.org
(615) 256-3222




Nashville, Tenn….Award-winning artists Jerry Douglas and Cheryl & Sharon White of The Whites will co-host the 21th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, September 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.



Jerry Douglas and The Whites make some of the best music in the world when they perform separately. But dating back to 1979 when Douglas moved to Nashville to join The Whites, they’ve also had a special on-stage chemistry that is rarely matched by any acoustic ensemble. There’s just something uniquely exciting about the combination of those seamless White vocal harmonies laid on top of the instrumental foundation of Cheryl’s acoustic bass, Sharon’s rhythm guitar and Buck’s tasty mandolin and piano licks, with those exquisite, otherworldly “Flux” resophonic guitar riffs weaving in and out of the aural tapestry.





The world's most renowned Dobro player, Jerry Douglas undoubtedly ranks amongst the top contemporary stylists in American music. Douglas has garnered 12 GRAMMY® Awards, more than 20 IBMA awards, and he holds the distinction of being named "Musician of the Year" by The Country Music Association three times (2002, 2005, 2007), the Academy of Country Music 11 times and twice by the Americana Music Association (2002, 2003). He was honored as the 2008 Artist in Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, and in 2004 the National Endowment for The Arts presented Douglas with a National Heritage Fellowship, acknowledging his artistic excellence and contribution to the nation's traditional arts.



As a child growing up in Warren, Ohio, Douglas listened to his father's bluegrass band, a collection of West Virginia coalfield refugees who'd come to work in the steel mills of the Midwest. At eight Jerry's dad took him to a 1963 Flatt & Scruggs concert, where he heard both of the men who put Dobro on the bluegrass map: Brother Oswald Kirby and Uncle Josh Graves. This concert shifted Jerry’s attention from the guitar to the Dobro.



By 1973 Douglas was playing with The Country Gentlemen, and two years later he joined J.D. Crowe and the New South—which also included future stars Ricky Skaggs and Tony Rice. In 1976, Douglas and Skaggs co-founded the now-legendary bluegrass combo, Boone Creek. Douglas launched his solo career in 1979 with his LP Fluxology and became a full-time member of The Whites through 1985. By the mid-‘80s Jerry was Nashville's busiest session Dobro player, while continuing his solo recording career. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s he also recorded critically acclaimed albums with Strength in Numbers, in a trio with Russ Barenberg and Edgar Meyer, and he co-produced and performed on the multi-artist project The Great Dobro Sessions—winning a GRAMMY® for Best Bluegrass Album.



In 1998 Jerry decided to leave session work and Alison Krauss asked him to fill in on a Union Station tour—which led to a full-time spot with the group, touring extensively and playing on a series of platinum-selling albums. Between tours and in recent years while Krauss was on the road with rocker Robert Plant, Jerry has fronted his own band. He’s also spent some time behind the soundboard, producing artists like Krauss, The Del McCoury Band, Maura O’Connell, Jesse Winchester and the Nashville Bluegrass Band, among others, and Jerry is also the Music Co-Director of the popular BBC television series, Transatlantic Sessions.



In addition to his groundbreaking work with the bands mentioned above, Douglas's musical brilliance has graced over 2,000 recordings by such distinguished artists as James Taylor, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, Lyle Lovett, Garth Brooks, Charlie Haden, Earl Scruggs, Phish, Bill Frisell, The Chieftains, and the eight million-plus selling soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?. In recent months, his collaborations with renowned artist Elvis Costello have taken him on tours across North America and Europe, and last month (July 13) saw the release of the Douglas-produced album Southern Filibuster: A Tribute to Tut Taylor (E1 Music), featuring an all-star cast of Dobro players including Douglas himself, Rob Ickes, Mike Auldridge and others. His latest gig is musical director and score composer of the new movie, Get Low, starring Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall, Golden Globe winner Bill Murray, Academy Award winner Sissy Spacek and Lucas Black—including a new soundtrack CD on the Rounder/Zanuck/SONY Pictures Classics label.



Cheryl and Sharon White’s music story begins in Texas, when their dad, Buck White started his musical career shortly after the end of World War II, working the dance halls and radio shows in a succession of bands. In 1961, looking for a more wholesome environment, The Whites moved to Arkansas. Within weeks Buck and his wife, Pat formed the first version of The Down Home Folks with another local couple, and as Sharon and Cheryl grew up, they joined the band too.



After a positive experience performing at Bill Monroe’s festival in Bean Blossom, Indiana in 1971, The Whites decided it was time to move to Nashville and pursue their music more seriously. The Down Home Folks recorded five albums and toured steadily on the bluegrass festival circuit, and then they were invited to back up Emmylou Harris on her Blue Kentucky Girl album in 1979, also going on the road with her as an opening act. The early 1980s brought The Whites national attention with a succession of top 20 hits including: “You Put the Blue in Me,” “Hangin’ Around,” “Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling” and “Pins and Needles”—the latter produced by Sharon’s husband, Ricky Skaggs. They were invited to become members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1984.



Their contributions to the O, Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack brought The Whites a second round of world-wide media attention, including Album of the Year awards from IBMA and the CMA in 2001 and an Album of the Year GRAMMY® and the Academy of Country Music award in 2002. Live performances and television appearances followed, including the popular “Down from the Mountain” multiple-city tours in 2002 and the “Great High Mountain” package tour the summer of 2004. The Whites received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2006.



In 2007 after blending their voices on the stage of the Opry and in their living rooms for years, The Whites teamed up in the studio for the first time with Ricky Skaggs on Salt of the Earth, which won a GRAMMY® for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album and a Dove Award for Bluegrass Recorded Album of the Year. In 2008 Buck, Sharon and Cheryl White were inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.



For more information on World of Bluegrass events, go to www.ibma.org, join us on Facebook, or call 888-GET-IBMA. IBMA Award Show tickets are on sale now at the website, and also at the Ryman Auditorium box office in Nashville.

IBMA Awards Show Photos

Photos by Dan Lofton.

2009, IBMA Awards, and the Winner Is....

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR - Dailey & Vincent.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Wheels, Dan Tyminski, Rounder

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR - Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE - The Dillards.

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Marshall Wilborn.

SONG OF THE YEAR - "Don't Throw Mama's Flowers Away," Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass, Chris Stuart and Ivan Rosemberg, writers.

MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Jesse Brock

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR - The SteelDrivers

DOBRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Rob Ickes

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Dale Ann Bradley

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Josh Williams.

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR - "Proud to Be a Daughter of Bluegrass," Daughters of Bluegrass.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE - Lonesome Pine Fiddlers

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Kristin Scott Benson.

INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMENCE OF THE YEAR - "Jerusalem Ridge," Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, writer Bill Monroe.

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Michael Cleveland

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - "On the Other Side," Dailey and Vincent.

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR - Dailey and Vincent

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Dan Tyminski

IBMA Special Awards Luncheon

At today's Special Awards Luncheon at the IBMA conference, Distinguished Achievement Awards were presented. The recipients were, Hylo Brown, Pati Crooker, Jody Rainwater, Dick Spottswood and Joe Wilson.

Several awards were presented that are the result of committee action, and were not part of the general membership voting.

The awards and winners are:

Bluegrass Event of the Year - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year - Katy Daly, WAMU DD and BluegrassCountry.org

Print Media Person of the Year - Roger Siminoff, Siminoff's Luthiers Glossary, Banjo Newsletter, and Bluegrass Breakdown.

Liner Notes for a Recorded Project - Steve Martin, writer and artist, The Crow.

Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project - G Carr and Sally Ratts, designers, and Steve Martin, artist, The Crow.

The Dillards to be Inducted into International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) September 11, 2009 --

Influential bluegrass group The Dillards will be inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame on Thursday October 1, 2009. The ceremony will be held as part of the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Dillards have been playing together for over 50 years. Rodney Dillard (guitar) and his brother Doug Dillard (banjo) grew up playing music with their family and friends in and around Salem, Missouri. In 1958 the pair began regularly recording and distributing their music and soon completed their group by recruiting Dean Webb (mandolin) and Mitch Jayne (string bass)."We were literally playing back porch bluegrass every night, perfecting our technique and writing songs at Mitch's house," Rodney Dillard said as he described piercing the quiet country air with twang-filled licks of true American bluegrass.
"But we wanted something more," said Rodney, "and I knew that California held the key to our musical future. I knew we had to get out there."
In 1962, the four "Dillards" played their first show at Washington University in St. Louis and then hit the road for Los Angeles. Their first night in town they stopped by a club called The Ash Grove. They were invited to jam on stage, impressed an Elektra Records rep in the crowd, and were signed to Elektra Records by the next evening.
A producer with The Andy Griffith Show heard about the Elektra signing and asked The Dillards to audition for the newly created role of The Darlings, a bluegrass-playing family whose patriarch was to be played by actor Denver Pyle. "We were playing through our audition song and Andy (Griffith) watched for just a few seconds, said 'That's it' and then walked out," recalled Rodney as he described one of the most important moments of his life. "Based on Andy's comment I honestly thought we weren't getting the job but what he really meant is that we were ideal for the show."
Mr. Griffith and the producers loved the authentic sound and felt the group was perfect. Rodney, Doug, Dean, and Mitch were cast immediately and to this day The Dillards are the most often seen bluegrass artists in the world (thanks to the still enormous popularity of The Andy Griffith Show re-runs).
The Dillards used the opportunity to bring original songs such as "Ebo Walker" and "There is a Time" to the producers. The result is that Bluegrass Music gained a national audience on a television show that is consistently voted one of the best ever. Outside the show, the group's popularity increased each year as they wrote and performed songs that have become bluegrass standards like "Dooley," "Doug's Tune," and "Banjo in the Holler."
The Dillards also gained acclaim for modernizing and re-imagining the sound of bluegrass. They were among the first bluegrass musicians to "electrify" their instruments and quickly crossed over into mainstream pop culture awareness. The Dillards are credited with preparing the music scene for the country rock movement and the band's songwriting and producing talents affected a broad range of important future musicians in the bluegrass and pop music world.
The band has experienced roster changes over the past 50 years but has reunited periodically in concert and television appearances, and members continue to perform regularly across the country. Rodney, who runs the website http://www.thedillards.tv/, noted, "The Dillards are supremely honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and we are proud of our contribution to American music history. Thank you to our friends, family, and the loyal fans who have supported us on this journey from our back porch in Salem, Missouri to the world stage."

Twentieth IBMA Awards Show

September 11, 2009
Info: Nancy Cardwell, nancyc@ibma.org (615) 256-3222
20th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS SHOW PROMISES AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT OF MUSIC AND MEMORIES

Performers Include Hot Rize, Kathy Mattea, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Del McCoury, The Grascals, Dailey & Vincent, Dan Tyminski, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Nashville, Tenn.--The 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards show, to be held on Thursday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Ryman Auditorium, promises an evening of stellar musical performances and many opportunities to recall highlights from past awards shows. The "can't miss" program includes the presentation of 17 industry awards that recognize outstanding achievement in the bluegrass genre during the past year, and the induction of The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers and The Dillards to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

The audience will be treated to performances by this year's hosts, Grammy®-winning country artist Kathy Mattea and the legendary bluegrass band, Hot Rize, as well as the following artists: Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Del McCoury, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, The Dan Tyminski Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, G2 Bluegrass Band, The Gibson Brothers, Danny Paisley and Junior Sisk, and Sierra Hull & Highway 111. The show is also known for surprise guests and special collaborations.

Twenty years is an important milestone for any event, and the International Bluegrass Music Awards show is no exception. Take a moment to recall these special moments in the history of the show:

Ronnie McCoury received the Mandolin Player award in 1995 and instead of simply dedicating the award to his idol, he walked out into the crowd and presented the trophy to the Father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe, seated in one of the first few rows. Monroe smiled broadly and waved the crystal award in the air above his head, to the delight of the entire audience.
Opening awards envelopes can be a catastrophe on any awards show. To resolve a problem with an uncooperative one at the very first IBMA Awards Show, Mitch Jayne of The Dillards reached into his boot for a large bowie knife to open the envelope that announced the 1990 Entertainer of the Year. Mitch then flipped the knife into the wooden podium, anchoring the tip of his blade in place while he announced Hot Rize as the award recipients.
Capturing the heartfelt emotions of the world just a few weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. in 2001, the show opened in complete darkness and a moment of silent tribute. The darkness was replaced and every heart filled with the sounds of "America the Beautiful" being played on banjo in a solo spotlight by Hall of Fame member Sonny Osborne.
Hall of Fame member Jimmy Martin yodeled from the balcony for show host Marty Stuart during the 2000 awards show, demonstrating the sound Marty often heard on the telephone when Jimmy would call him in the middle of the night to report on a particularly good jam session or invite him to go coon hunting the following morning.
Awards shows are always under time constraints, which usually prevent encores. But the crowd simply wouldn't let The Bluegrass Album Band offstage in 1990, which resulted in the only encore--ever--in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Awards.
Pete "Dr. Banjo" Wernick introduced an unknown group of pre-teen Bluegrass Youth All Stars onstage at the 1993 awards show and launched a youth movement in bluegrass. The same youngsters returned ten years later--most of them stars by then--to welcome a new group of gifted, young musicians. The band of 12-year-olds in '93 included Chris Thile, Michael Cleveland, Josh Williams, Cody Kilby and Brady Stogdill. The band in '03 featured Sierra Hull, Cory Walker, Sarah Jarosz, Will Jones, Mary Beth Estes and Ryan Holladay.
With flags representing IBMA's members from over 25 countries proudly unfurled across the top of the stage in 1994, a group of talented musicians from around the world paid a tribute to the widespread influence of The Osborne Brothers with a soul-stirring version of "Rocky Top."
Stuart Duncan accepted the award for Fiddle Player of the Year in 1992 and thanked--literally--everyone from A to Z, listing his influences alphabetically...on live radio!
Del McCoury took the stage to accept the Entertainer of the Year award with his grandchildren in tow--for several of the nine times he won. He passed the microphone to each band member and to then-toddler grandson Jacob McCoury to help him say thanks.
Sonny Osborne and Ricky Skaggs surprised Del McCoury, who was accepting an award at the 2003 show in Louisville, with a coveted invitation for Del to become the newest member of The Grand Ole Opry. He, naturally, accepted!
Almost everyone who received an award in 1995 kept their acceptance remarks brief in order to "give more time to Jimmy Martin," who was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jimmy used all the time, giving a record-setting, 23-minute acceptance speech, every second of which kept the audience riveted.
Cherryholmes was the first act nominated in the same year, 2005, for both Emerging Artist and Entertainer of the Year. While they did not receive the Emerging Artist of the Year award, they instead leaped straight to the top of the bluegrass world when they were announced at the end of the show as Entertainers of the Year.
Dailey & Vincent repeated the Cherryholmes' feat of being nominated for both Emerging Artist and Entertainer awards in 2008. They would be honored with both in the same year (a first) during an evening that saw them receive an unprecedented seven awards. The band played their first gig less than one year earlier.
Showing the versatility of bluegrass, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder collaborated with The Nashville String Machine on "Crossing the Briney" in 2006. It was the first time a 23- piece orchestra appeared on the show.
Hall of Fame member Eddie Adcock and well-known Japanese artist Takeharu Kunimoto broke into "Earl's Breakdown" on the five-string banjo and the shamisen, before announcing the recipient of an award in 2003.
Awards have a way of drawing emotions to the surface; for example, Jamie Dailey cried half a dozen times at the awards show podium in 2008. He was so shook up, he even brought his duo partner Darrin Vincent onstage with him to accept Male Vocalist of the Year, because he wasn't sure he could get any words out.

The 20th annual IBMA Awards show will undoubtedly add a few more magical moments to this list, for the folks lucky enough to be in the audience October 1. Tickets are available through the Ryman box office by calling 615-889-3060, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards are determined by the professional membership of the association and recognize outstanding achievement in the bluegrass genre. The show is syndicated to more than 300 radio stations across the country and around the world and will be broadcast live on Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction (Sirius channel 65, XM channel 14). National sponsors for the show include Martha White, GHS Strings, Sugar Hill Records, Deering Banjos, Bluegrass Music Profiles and the International Bluegrass Music Museum. For information on becoming a radio affiliate for the International Bluegrass Music Awards, go to http://e2ma.net/go/2382437528/2165348/81261655/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/ibma.awards/broadcast.affiliation.asp, email Jill Crabtree at jill@ibma.org or call 888-438-4262.


INTERESTING AWARDS SHOW TRIVIA

- THE TROPHY - a crystal obelisk with the IBMA logo engraved on a solid maple wood base. It stands eight inches tall and weighs 1.2 pounds. There have been over 1,000 named recipients.

- THEME MUSIC -Jerry Douglas and Mark Schatz penned the familiar instrumental theme music for the show first used in 1991. Titled "Shoulder to Shoulder," the song features a cast of IBMA Awards recipients including Douglas, Schatz, Alan O'Bryant, Stuart Duncan, Russ Barenberg and Sam Bush. The song also appeared on Jerry's album Slide Rule (Sugar Hill), which received the awards in 1992 for Instrumental Album and Recorded Event of the Year.

- HOST SITES - There have been six host venues for the show in three cities: The Executive Inn Showroom Lounge and RiverPark Center in Owensboro, Kentucky; Kentucky Center for the Arts and The Palace Theater in Louisville; and The Grand Ole Opry House and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Ryman boasts a historic plaque (dedicated at the 2006 IBMA Awards) from the Tennessee Historical Commission honoring it as the location of the "The Birth of Bluegrass," based on the first on-air performance by the classic version of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in December 1945.

- SHOW HOSTS: Ricky Skaggs has hosted or co-hosted the show seven times, followed closely by Alison Krauss' five times in the role. For the first time in 2009, the awards show will be co-hosted by an entire band.

2009 - Kathy Mattea & Hot Rize
2008 - Del McCoury
2007 - Sam Bush
2006 - Marty Stuart
2005 - Alison Krauss & Ricky Skaggs
2004 - Alison Krauss & Dan Tyminski
2003 - Alison Krauss & Dan Tyminski
2002 - Patty Loveless & Ricky Skaggs
2001 - Steve Wariner
2000 - Marty Stuart
1999 - John McEuen, Mac Wiseman, Tom T. Hall, Tim O'Brien, Joe Diffie, Laurie Lewis, John Hartford, Ricky Skaggs & Rhonda Vincent
1998 - Ricky Skaggs & Rhonda Vincent
1997 - Ricky Skaggs
1996 - Ricky Skaggs
1995 - Ricky Skaggs
1994 - Laurie Lewis & John Hartford
1993 - Alison Krauss & Joe Diffie
1992 - Alison Krauss, Tom T. Hall & Tim O'Brien
1991 - Mac Wiseman, Marty Stuart & Chris Hillman
1990 - Vince Gill & John McEuen

IBMA Announces International Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees‏

Dan Tyminski Band, Dailey & Vincent, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, The Grascals and Newcomer Steve Martin Lead the Pack with Nominations

Nashville, TN....IBMA is proud to announce the nominees for the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, hosted by Grammy®-winning country artist Kathy Mattea and the legendary bluegrass band, Hot Rize, on Thursday, October 1, 2009, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Two decades after the very first IBMA Award Show--an intimate industry gathering at the Executive Inn's Showroom Lounge in Owensboro, Kentucky, hosted by Vince Gill and the Dirt Band's John McEuen--bluegrass music's premier night continues to be the most anticipated evening of the year. Now a generation away from that first show, the bluegrass tradition of passing the music on from one generation to the next also continues, evidenced by the six bands nominated for Entertainer of the Year in 2009. All have gained valuable experience as journeymen musicians with established artists in the past, and have now become the band leaders and musical stylists who will inspire future generations.

Reigning Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent apprenticed with legendary stars Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs. Key members of The Grascals were members of the Osborne Brothers band. Doyle Lawson himself is a former member of The Country Gentlemen and Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys. Del McCoury is a former guitarist and lead singer with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. Members of Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out were former sidemen in Lawson's band, Quicksilver. And Dan Tyminski has been one of Alison Krauss's right-hand men in Union Station for a number of years.

Dan Tyminski and two Union Station alumni, Adam Steffey and Barry Bales, have taken the opportunity to make a name for their own group the past two years, while Alison Krauss focused on a critically acclaimed recording and tour dates with Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant. On the strength of Tyminski's chart-topping album Wheels, the band leads with nine nominations. In addition to Entertainer of the Year, Instrumental Group, Album of the Year, Song of the Year for the title cut, and Male Vocalist nods, band members Ron Stewart, Bales and Steffey are nominated for their individual instrumental skills, with Stewart earning nods in both the Banjo and Fiddle Player categories.

Dailey & Vincent, whose popularity has only continued to grow since they received seven awards in 2008, including Entertainer of the Year, have a new album out on Rounder Records entitled Brothers from Different Mothers and seven new IBMA nominations. Along with nominations for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist--an award Dailey took home last year--the band is up for Vocal Group; Album of the Year; Bass Player (Vincent); Gospel Recorded Performance for "On the Other Side," a song written by Jimmy Fortune, Kevin Denney & Tom Botkin; and "After the Fire is Gone," a song Vincent recorded with his award-winning sister Rhonda Vincent and the legendary Bobby Osborne.

Multiple Emmy®- and Grammy® winning actor, musician and best-selling author, Steve Martin, burst onto the bluegrass scene this year, trusty banjo in hand, to receive nominations in six IBMA award categories: Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for "The Crow," Recorded Event of the year for both "Daddy Played the Banjo" and "The Crow," Banjo Player, Best Liner Notes and Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project. After charity appearances in Los Angeles and New York and an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in May, Martin has recently announced a cross-country series of tour dates in support of his album, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. The Crow currently sits at the top of the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart, and Steve has brought mainstream media attention to bluegrass music with a number of appearances on television and radio programs this year, including A Prairie Home Companion, American Idol's season finale, Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, CBS Early Show, Tavis Smiley and Late Show with David Letterman. Martin, whose fans will remember his impressive banjo chops from his early days as a stand-up comedian, wrote all the songs on The Crow.

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper have been recognized with six nominations, including Instrumental Group, Bass (Marshall Wilborn), Fiddle (Cleveland), Mandolin (Jesse Brock), Print Media Person (guitarist & lead singer, Tom Adams), and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for the Bill Monroe classic tune, "Jerusalem Ridge."

The Grascals, who were named Entertainers of the Year in 2006 and 2007, have nominations in
five categories. Along with nods for Entertainer and Album of the Year for Keep on Walkin', current Banjo Player of the Year Kristin Scott Benson is nominated for Instrumental Recorded Performance for her original composition "Don't Tread on Me," and she receives a new Banjo Player nomination. The entire band is recognized in the Recorded Event of the Year category for their collaboration with Vince Gill, "Sad Wind Sighs."

The following groups received four nominations each for their outstanding contributions during the current eligibility period: Blue Highway, The Isaacs, Danny Paisley, The Del McCoury Band, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice and Rhonda Vincent & the Rage.

The bluegrass industry's highest honors of the year go to the new members of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. This year's inductees are The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, the legendary string band formed in 1937 by Ezra, Ray and Ned Cline in West Virginia; and The Dillards, the influential band from Salem, Missouri, known for their popular appearances on The Andy Griffith Show who blazed a trail on the West Coast in the 1960s for progressive bluegrass bands and were instrumental in laying the foundation for the "country rock" music genre. (For complete information on this year's inductees, please visit http://e2ma.net/go/2297631879/2086402/77843941/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/ibma.awards/currentpress/HOFPress.asp.)

IBMA's Distinguished Achievement Award is an honor which recognizes individuals, groups and businesses for ground-breaking work and fostering the music's image and accessibility. This year's recipients are early bluegrass pioneer Hylo Brown; long-time event producer from Maine, Pati Crooker; veteran performer and radio announcer Jody Rainwater; author, musicology and radio broadcaster Dick Spottswood; and the National Council for the Traditional Art's Joe Wilson.. (For complete information on this year's recipients, please visit http://e2ma.net/go/2297631879/2086402/77843940/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/ibma.awards/currentpress/distachieve.asp.)

Tickets for the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, bluegrass music's biggest night of the year, are available at 888-438-4262, (615) 256-3222 and http://e2ma.net/go/2297631879/2086402/77843939/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/. Tickets go on sale at the Ryman Auditorium box office on August 15.

The award show will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio ("Bluegrass Junction" Channel 14) and syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks, thanks to the sponsorship of Martha White, GHS Strings, Sugar Hill Records, Deering Banjos, Bluegrass Music Profiles and the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Program directors and station managers may sign up to be affiliates online at http://e2ma.net/go/2297631879/2086402/77843938/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Award Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass week, including the industry's Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, slated for September 28 - October 4 in Nashville.

Interesting Facts from the 2009 Slate of Nominees:

Ron Stewart continues his role this year of being the only person ever named as a final nominee on two instruments the same year: banjo and fiddle.

Leading nominee Dan Tyminski was the singing voice of George Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou? the popular film directed by the Coen Brothers that brought bluegrass and acoustic music to the forefront of mass media attention in 2000. In addition to being a nearly professional-level golfer, Dan was also the high school foosball champion in his home state of Vermont.

Steve Martin's high school jamming buddy, multi-instrumentalist John McEuen, of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, returns this year with three nominations for production related to Martin's album, The Crow. As noted above, McEuen was the first co-host of the International Bluegrass Music Awards in 1990.
John's co-host at the 1st Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, Vince Gill, is also nominated for an award this year: Recorded Event of the Year for "Sad Wind Sighs," with The Grascals.
The members of Hot Rize, co-hosts for the International Bluegrass Music Awards this year, were the first recipients of the IBMA Entertainer of the Year Award in 1990.
Michael Cleveland, one of the most highly-awarded bluegrass musicians still in his 20s, has received the Fiddle Player of the Year six times in the past eight years. If he wins in 2009, he'll be closing in on Stuart Duncan, who currently has eight IBMA fiddle trophies on his mantel at home.

Band leader Alecia Nugent, originally from Louisiana, is a first-time nominee this year for Female Vocalist of the Year. Jesse Brock, a member of Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, is nominated for the first time in the Mandolin Player of the Year category.

Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice and Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass, both who are nominated in the Emerging Artist category this year, are competing head-to-head in three more categories this year: Male Vocalist, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. .

Voting is close this year, as evidenced by ties in two categories, leading to six finalists for Entertainer and Dobro Player of the Year, instead of the customary five.

THE NOMINEES for the
2009 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent
The Grascals
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Del McCoury Band
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Dan Tyminski Band

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Blue Highway
Dailey & Vincent
The Isaacs
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Blue Highway
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The Infamous Stringdusters
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Dan Tyminski Band

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jamie Dailey
Russell Moore
Danny Paisley
Junior Sisk
Dan Tyminski

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dale Ann Bradley
Sonya Isaacs
Claire Lynch
Alecia Nugent
Rhonda Vincent

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Recording Title, Artist(s), Producer(s), Label

Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice (artist), Ronnie Bowman (producer), Rebel Records
Brothers From Different Mothers, Dailey & Vincent (artist), Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers), Rounder Records
Keep On Walkin', The Grascals (artist/producers), Rounder Records
The Room Over Mine, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass (artist), Ken Irwin & Danny Paisley (producers), Rounder Records
Wheels, Dan Tyminski, (artist/producer), Rounder Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
Song Title, Artist(s), Songwriter(s)

"Don't Throw Mama's Flowers Away," Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass (artist), Chris Stuart & Ivan Rosenberg (writers)
"Iron & Diamonds," The Gibson Brothers (artist), Leigh & Eric Gibson (writers)
"Leaving Baker County," Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice (artist), Tom T. & Dixie Hall (writers)
"Moneyland," Del McCoury Band (artist), John Herald (writer)
"Wheels," Dan Tyminski (artist), Patrick McDougal (writer)

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
Song Title, Featured Artists, Producer(s), Label

"After The Fire Is Gone;" Bobby Osborne, Rhonda Vincent & Darrin Vincent (artists); Glen Duncan & Bobby Osborne (producers); Rounder Records
"The Crow," Steve Martin with Tony Trischka (artists), John McEuen (producer), 40 Share Productions
"Daddy Played The Banjo;" Steve Martin with Tim O'Brien & Earl Scruggs (artists), John McEuen (producer), 40 Share Productions
"Proud To Be A Daughter of Bluegrass;" Daughters of Bluegrass featuring Dale Ann Bradley, Heather Berry, Lisa Martin, Gloria Belle, Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, Lisa Ray, Linda Lay, Sally Jones, Jeanie Stanley, Carol Lee Cooper, Sonya Isaacs, Becky Isaacs Bowman, Michelle Nixon, Jeanette Williams, Sophie Haislip, Louise Tomberlain, Mindy Rakestraw, Lizzy Long, Frances Mooney, Lorraine Jordan, Annette Kelley, Lily Lieux, Dixie Hall, Judi Marshall, Melissa Lawrence, Beth Lawrence, Rebecca Frazier, Donica Christensen, Lisa Manning & Jenni Lyn Gardner (artists); Dixie Hall, Paula Wolak & Frances Mooney (producers); Blue Circle Records
"Sad Wind Sighs," The Grascals with Vince Gill (artists), The Grascals (producers), Rounder Records

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Song Title, Artist(s), Songwriter(s), Producer, Label

"Darkness Wept," Lonesome River Band (artist/producers), Dee Gaskin & Rebecca Bowman (writers), Rural Rhythm Records
"On The Other Side;" Dailey & Vincent (artist); Jimmy Fortune, Kevin Denney & Tom Botkin (writers); Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers); Rounder Records
"What A Journey," Paul Williams & The Victory Trio (artist), Bret Bronson & Louise Gorman (writers), Paul Williams (producer), Rebel Records
"When The Last Of Our Days Shall Come," Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artist), Chris Stuart (writer), Doyle Lawson (producer), Rounder Records
"Who'll Sing for Me?" Audie Blaylock & Redline (artist), Thomas J. Farris (writer), Audie Blaylock (producer), Rural Rhythm Records

INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Tune Title, Artist(s), Songwriter, Producer(s), Label

"Angeline The Baker," Rob Ickes & Andy Leftwich (artists), public domain, Rob Haines (producer), Mel Bay Music
"The Crow," Steve Martin (artist/writer), John McEuen (producer), 40 Share Productions
"Don't Tread On Me," Kristin Scott Benson (artist/writer/producer), Pinecastle Records
"Jerusalem Ridge," Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (artist), Bill Monroe (writer), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producers), Rounder Records
"Struttin' To Ferrum," Lonesome River Band (artist/producer), arrangement by Gene Parker, Rural Rhythm Records

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sierra Hull & Highway 111
Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass
Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice
The SteelDrivers
Josh Williams Band


INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR
BANJO
Kristin Scott Benson
J.D. Crowe
Steve Martin
Sammy Shelor
Ron Stewart

BASS
Barry Bales
Mike Bub
Missy Raines
Darrin Vincent
Marshall Wilborn

FIDDLE
Hunter Berry
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Ron Stewart

DOBRO
Mike Auldridge
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Randy Kohrs
Phil Leadbetter

GUITAR
Jim Hurst
Tony Rice
Kenny Smith
Bryan Sutton
Josh Williams

MANDOLIN
Jesse Brock
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Ronnie McCoury
Adam Steffey

BLUEGRASS EVENT OF THE YEAR
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival; Oak Hill, New York; July 2008
33rd Annual Tri-State Bluegrass Festival; Kendallville, Indiana; May 2008
2008 World Cultural Fusion Festival; Kawaguchi City, Japan; July 2008

BLUEGRASS BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR
Kyle Cantrell; Sirius XM Satellite Radio; Nashville, Tennessee
Katy Daly; HD Radio WAMU 88.5 Channel 2, 105.5 FM & www.bluegrasscountry.org; Washington, D.C.
Ned Luberecki; Sirius XM Satellite Radio; Nashville, Tennessee

PRINT MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR
Tom Adams, Banjo Newsletter
Dan Miller, Flatpicking Guitar
Roger Siminoff; Siminoff's Luthiers Glossary, Banjo Newsletter and Bluegrass Breakdown

LINER NOTES FOR RECORDED PROJECT
Writers, Album, Artists, Label

Charlie Cushman, Marty Stuart, Eddie Stubbs & Johnny Warren (writers); A Tribute to Fiddlin' Paul Warren; Johnny Warren & Charlie Cushman (artists); no label
Eddie Dean (writer); Old-Time Pickin': A Clawhammer Banjo Collection, Ralph Stanley (artist), Rebel Records
Steve Martin (writer), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist), 40 Share Productions

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR RECORDED PROJECT
Designer, Album, Artists, Label

G. Carr & Salli Ratts (designers), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist), 40 Share Productions
Stumptown Printers (designer), Uncle Charlie Osborne: The June Appal Recordings, Uncle Charlie Osborne (artist), June Appal Recordings
Loren Witcher (designer), Inside Out, Missy Raines & the New Hip (artist), Compass Records

---End of Nominee List---
HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES: The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, The Dillards


DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS: Hylo Brown, Pati Crooker, Jody Rainwater, Dick Spottswood, Joe Wilson

Kathy Mattea and Hot Rize to Host IBMA Awards

Kathy Mattea and Hot Rize to Host 20th International Bluegrass Music Awards

Nashville, TN...Grammy®-winning country artist Kathy Mattea and the legendary bluegrass band, Hot Rize will co-host the 20th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

According to show co-producer Cindy Baucom, "Kathy Mattea and Hot Rize are a perfect fit as our hosts. With their long musical history, the chemistry between them gives us the elements for a fun show."

The members of Hot Rize have a long association with IBMA. In fact, they took home the Entertainer of the Year trophy at the very first International Bluegrass Music Awards in 1990. Pete "Dr. Banjo" Wernick served as president of IBMA from 1986-2001. Tim O'Brien, who followed as president from 2001-2004, was also named Male Vocalist of the Year in 1993 and 2006. Bryan Sutton received the IBMA award for Guitar Player of the Year in 2000, and then every year from 2003-2006. The entire group, including bass player/ renowned public radio etown host Nick Forster, took top honors for Song of the Year in 1991, for their performance of "Colleen Malone."
Kathy Mattea, the beloved singer of classics like "Eighteen Wheels and A Dozen Roses" and "Where've You Been," says her current album, Coal, with its streamlined acoustic format and focus on coal mining stories from Appalachia, was "a re-education in singing" for her, as she studied legendary female vocalists like Hazel Dickens in preparation for recording. "It's an album that re-shaped the way I think about music, reminding me of why I love it so much in the first place," she said. The album remained on Billboard's Bluegrass Album chart for 26 weeks in 2008-2009, including 2 weeks at #1.
Like Mattea, O'Brien--a Grammy-winning artist in his own right--is originally from West Virginia. They have recorded together a number of times over the years, and Tim went on the road with Kathy's band in 1990, the same year their duet, "The Battle Hymn of Love," peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Mattea studied voice in school, taking up the guitar in junior high when she discovered folk music. She joined the Pennsboro bluegrass band while she was a student at West Virginia University, but ended up leaving college to move to Nashville. Kathy worked odd jobs and waited tables in Music City while honing her musical skills, and in 1983 she landed a deal with Mercury Records. Her self-titled debut was released in 1984, and the follow-up From My Heart appeared the following year. In 1986 her third album on the Mercury Records label, Walk the Way the Wind Blows (with the title cut written by O'Brien), proved to be her critical and commercial breakthrough.
A string of hits followed, including a cover of Nanci Griffith's "Love at the Five and Dime," "Train of Memories," "Goin' Gone," "Burnin' Old Memories" and the Larry Cordle-penned "Lonesome Standard Time," among others. Kathy won the CMA Award for Single of the Year in 1988 for "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" and took home a Grammy for "Where've You Been" in 1990. She was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989 and 1990.
Hot Rize, one of the most uniquely entertaining and influential contemporary bands in the history of bluegrass, was formed in Colorado in 1978 and named after the secret ingredient of Martha White Self-Rising Flour--the product Flatt & Scruggs promoted early in the '50s and '60s. The original band included Tim O'Brien, Pete Wernick and Charles Sawtelle. Mike Scap, the group's first guitarist, departed after three months and was replaced by Nick Forster on bass, with Sawtelle switching from bass to guitar.

The group recorded a series of critically acclaimed albums from 1979-2002, and they appeared frequently on national radio and television programs in the '80s. Performing in nearly every state as well as in Europe, Japan and Australia, their stage show became as popular as their music--which combined soulful bluegrass with their wacky but musically slick alter-ego country swing band, "Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers." Several of their songs went to #1 on Bluegrass Unlimited's National Bluegrass Survey chart--"Walk the Way the Wind Blows," "Colleen Malone" and "Just Like You."

After 12 years of full-time touring and recording, the group disbanded amicably in 1990, but they reunited several times for selected dates and short tours during the 1990s due to popular demand. Sadly, guitarist Charles Sawtelle was diagnosed with leukemia in 1994 and passed away in 1999. The classic group's span with the same four musicians lasted 21 years, and the remaining shows they played in 1999 were dedicated to Sawtelle's memory, with Peter Rowan or Jeff White filling in on guitar. The live album So Long of a Journey was released in 2002, and the band started performing together occasionally with Bryan Sutton, one of Nashville's leading session players, on guitar.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards are determined by the professional membership of the association and recognize outstanding achievement in the bluegrass genre. The show is syndicated to more than 300 radio stations across the country and around the world, and will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. National Sponsors for the show include Martha White, GHS Strings, Bluegrass Music Profiles, Sugar Hill Records and Deering Banjos. Tickets may be purchased from IBMA at 888-438-4262 or online at http://e2ma.net/go/2226232367/2026114/75864120/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/. For information on becoming a radio affiliate for the International Bluegrass Music Awards, email Jill Crabtree at jill@ibma.org, visit http://e2ma.net/go/2226232367/2026114/75864119/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/ibma.awards/broadcast.affiliation.asp or call 615-256-3222.

Plans Underway for World of Bluegrass

Plans Underway for IBMA World of Bluegrass: September 28 - October 4, 2009
20th Anniversary of International Bluegrass Music Awards Highlights Week

NASHVILLE, TN - Twenty thousand fans and music industry professionals from all around the globe will converge on the Nashville Convention Center from September 28 to October 4 for the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) World of Bluegrass. The week is equal parts homecoming, family reunion, expo, business conference, celebration, and music festival, highlighted by the International Bluegrass Music Awards which honor the year's most outstanding talent.

To view a brief video about the unique World of Bluegrass experience, click here:
http://e2ma.net/go/2059573656/1883925/70043906/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/events.programs/wob/index.asp

The 20th anniversary of the International Bluegrass Music Awards is the centerpiece of the week, when the music comes home to the historical Ryman Auditorium on Thursday evening, Oct. 1. While the best seats are among the celebrities in the hallowed pews of the Ryman for the all-star lineup, the show is also broadcast live on Sirius/XM and around the world via a syndicated radio network. According to show co-producer Cindy Baucom, "The milestone 20th Anniversary IBMA Awards Show will truly be a night to remember as we bring together the biggest award winners of the past with the newest nominees, topped off with dynamic performances."

Bookending the Awards Show are the association's Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest.

The Business Conference (Monday, September 28-Thursday, October 1), sponsored by Bluegrass Unlimited and D'Addario Strings, is the only convention focusing on the business of this unique genre. And while bluegrass may be perceived by some as an old-fashioned niche, in reality its professionals are engaged and tapping into new resources helping them to spur significant audience growth. According to recent data from Simmons Research, the number of bluegrass fans has increased 16% during the past two years, totaling 20,000,000 in the U.S. alone.

The event offers benefits to industry reps from all professions who create relationships that foster growth--with thought-provoking seminars and interactive discussions about the direction of the industry, as well as the showcasing of talent and products that spur bookings and increase sales. The theme for the 2009 Business Conference is simply "Finding Answers in Today's Music Market," and a new "Open Forum" will kick off the convention on Monday, Sept. 28.

"Music" remains the first word in "music business" during the conference, with more than 300 showcase performances planned. It's the best place to introduce new acts, new songs and new recordings, and connect with key decision makers for bookings, media, broadcast and distribution. Showcases from Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Audie Blaylock & Redline, The Bankester Family, The Crowe Brothers, The Davidson Brothers, G2 Bluegrass Band, Gold Heart, Donna Hughes, The Martins, The Quebe Sisters Band, Billy Smith and Spring Creek will be featured during the week, in addition to scores of privately-hosted shows.

Over 20 seminars will provide a spirited forum on topics ranging from key legislative issues to market research, broadcasting, event production and much more. Special events include a Gig Fair (described by participants as "speed dating between event producers and talent reps"), a DJ Taping Session, Songwriter Circles, Mentor Sessions and a Health Fair. New to the program for 2009, IBMA has added Educational Labs - an opportunity to get hands-on experience using skills discussed in seminars and to demonstrate new tools and technology.

The weekend (Oct. 2-4) arrives on a "high lonesome" note with the uniquely exciting Bluegrass Fan Fest, sponsored in part by Martha White Foods, Martin Guitars and Knee Deep in Bluegrass. Inside the comfortable setting of the Nashville Convention Center, fans will enjoy music from more than 60 acts on three stages, including the Main Stage, the Masters Workshop Stage and the Grand Master Fiddler Championship. A 100-booth expo center is the place to browse and buy the latest music gear, publications, recordings and merchandise - while also getting to meet the artists at their booths in between performances.

Featured acts confirmed at press time include the award-winning talents of Dailey & Vincent, The Del McCoury Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Cherryholmes, Steep Canyon Rangers, The SteelDrivers, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Johnny Warren & Charlie Cushman, Grasstowne, Audie Blaylock & Redline, The Church Sisters and a Carter Family Tribute featuring special guests. Additional acts will be announced throughout the summer.

Returning to the festival is the popular Fan Feast breakfast on Friday morning, Oct. 2. For only $20, fans can enjoy breakfast served by the biggest stars in bluegrass.
Proceeds from Fan Fest ticket sales benefit the Bluegrass Trust Fund, established to help bluegrass professionals during times of emergency need, as well as support IBMA's marketing and educational events to promote the music year-round. All artists appearing at the event donate their time and talents for the cause.
Tickets for all events are available beginning June 1st at http://e2ma.net/go/2059573656/1883925/70043905/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/ or by calling 1-888-GET-IBMA. For discount rates on accommodations, call the event housing bureau at 1-877-259-4716. A full schedule of events is available at http://e2ma.net/go/2059573656/1883925/70043904/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/events.programs/wob/schedule.asp.
http://e2ma.net/go/2059573656/1883925/70043903/5785/goto:http://www.ibma.org/http://e2ma.net/go/2059573656/1883925/70043902/5785/goto:http://www.myspace.com/internationalbluegrassmusicassociation, http://e2ma.net/go/2059573656/1883925/70043901/5785/goto:http://www.facebook.com/home.php%23/pages/International-Bluegrass-Music-Association/9031163758?ref=ts

FROM PAST EXPERIENCE...

"The workshops and seminars are the meat and potatoes of the week, providing all of us with great food for thought, and the showcases are surely the tasty dessert. The more who go, the more we'll grow!"
Sam Passamano, Jr., Rural Rhythm Records

"Attending the World of Bluegrass events allows us to build relationships in a relaxed atmosphere with artists, fans and sponsors. In fact, we were able to partner with four new sponsors in 2009 that we met at the 2008 convention."
Ted Hagaman, MerleFest

"World of Bluegrass week offers an annual chance to show new products to our core customers. The large number of pickers in one location the events offer can't be found in any other single event. So if you're in the business of 'bluegrass,' you simply can't afford to not only go to WOB, but to be involved. Last year's sales were the best of any event we have ever attended."
Steve Simmons, Colorado Case Company

"Last year we broadcast interviews and live music sets from 50 artists during World of Bluegrass. It's the place to be if you want to connect with the music and news from established and up-and-coming musicians. Look for us there again this year."
Katy Daly, WAMU's Bluegrass Country

IBMA Award Winners, Question

A Friend, who follows Bluegrass closely asked me the following question:



John
"I'm curious.I've always thought that Kristen Scott Benson was a solid banjo player, but what happened during the past year for her to be voted Banjo Player of the Year?"



My response, without disrespect to Kristin or any other winner past or present winner follows:



"I have no idea. she had no new release, until now, and playing with Larry Stephenson was a good gig, but not high profile. It seems to me that the diverse IBMA membership seems to "decide" to shake things up from time to time. This seems to be the case with Dale Ann Bradley also.
Both are great talents, but not "out there," at least until they win. The same applies to Phil Leadbetter, I believe.


I think their is an unspoken and maybe unrecognised sense of fairness in the collective membership. How else can you explain Del, Cherryholmes and Rhonda, being shut out?


Remember the voting process.

Round one - A blank ballot, where you who must vote for five per category.

Round two - All candidates who reach a predetermined threshold are listed, again vote for five.

Round three - The top five are nominated. At this point, I believe many vote using two criteria. Who has won enough, and who's turn is it?



Your thoughts on this, or any post are welcome. Please comment.

IBMA Awards Broadcast, 11/09

At long last WYEP and "Traditional Ties" will broadcast the

2008 IBMA Awards Show. You may know the winners, but if

you haven't heard the music yet, this may be your last chance.



Sunday 11/09 at 10:00pm, eastern time, USA, In the Pittsburgh PA area 91.3 FM.

http://wyep.org/, streaming audio all over the world.



The time remaining at the conclusion the of awards will be used to salute our veterans.

No playlist will be published for 11/09.