IBMA AWARDS HONOR LEGENDS AND NEWCOMERS

The eighteenth annual International Bluegrass Music Awards paid tribute to both legends and new talent within the genre as the diversity within bluegrass was celebrated in ceremonies at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

The Grascals further solidified their credentials with their second consecutive Entertainer of the Year award.  Their honors are all the more remarkable since they leaped onto the national stage with the Emerging Artist trophy in 2005.

In an rare twist for any awards show, a tie in voting by the professional members of IBMA in the Album of the Year category made sure that a Hall of Fame member J.D. Crowe and his band The New South were recognized for their latest release (Lefty’s Old Guitar, Rounder Records) and was feted alongside wunderkinds The Infamous Stringdusters (Fork In The Road, Sugar Hill Records).   The Infamous Stringdusters also took home the Song of the Year (“Fork In The Road”; Chris Jones & John Pennell, songwriters) and the much sought Emerging Artist of the Year honors.

Tying the Stringdusters for the largest set of new crystal (3 trophies) was legendary banjo master Tony Trischka.  His album Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular (Rounder Records) features Earl Scruggs, Kenny Ingram, Tom Adams, Bela Fleck, Noam Pikelny, Alison Brown, Scott Vestal, Steve Martin and Bill Emerson and was lauded for both Instrumental Album and Recorded Event of the Year.  Tony also took home his first Banjo Player of the Year award.

The name “Bradley” proved good luck for first time recipients as longtime favorite Dale Ann Bradley was named Female Vocalist of the Year and new favorite Bradley Walker was handed his first Male Vocalist of the Year trophy. 

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock added to the list of firsts as this year’s Instrumental Group of the Year and Cleveland also took home his fifth Fiddle Player of the Year award.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver took home their seventh Vocal Group award and sixth for Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year (“He Lives In Me,” Horizon Music).

Sam Bush hosted the evening and was also honored as Mandolin Player of the Year (his fourth, but first since 1993) and the members of IBMA continued to show their much deserved respect for Tony Rice (Guitar Player of the Year, his sixth) and Missy Raines (Bass Player of the Year, her seventh).  Rob Ickes became the all-time most awarded musician among all IBMA Instrumental Performer categories with his ninth Dobro Player of the Year award.

Among the many highpoints of the evening which was punctuated with musical performances from nominees and recipients was the induction into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame of Carl Story and Howard Watts (“Cedric Rainwater”).  Watts’ career as a bass player was highlighted with his role in what many refer to as the “original bluegrass band,” the mid-1940’s version  of Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, while Story was honored for his contributions as the “Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music.” 

The show was broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio (“Bluegrass Junction” Channel 14) and is being syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks, thanks to the sponsorship of Martha White Foods, MerleFest, GAC-TV, GHS Strings, Bluegrass Unlimited magazine and Deering Banjos. 

The 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, which also includes the industry’s Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, slated for October 1 - 7, in Nashville, Tenn. 

(A complete recipient list follows)

THE 2007 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS

THE RECIPIENTS

BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Carl Story

Howard Watts (Cedric Rainwater)

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

The Grascals

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Bradley Walker

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Dale Ann Bradley

SONG OF THE YEAR

 “Fork In The Road,” The Infamous Stringdusters (artists), Chris Jones & John Pennell (songwriters)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (tie)

Lefty’s Old Guitar, J.D. Crowe & The New South (artists), Rounder Records, J.D. Crowe & The New South (producers)

Fork In The Road, The Infamous Stringdusters (artists), Sugar Hill Records, Tim Stafford & The Infamous Stringdusters (producers)

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular; Tony Trischka with Earl Scruggs, Kenny Ingram, Tom Adams, Bela Fleck, Noam Pikelny, Alison Brown, Scott Vestal, Steve Martin & Bill Emerson (artists); Rounder Records; Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck & Ronnie Freeland (producers)

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular; Tony Trischka (artist); Rounder Records; Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck & Ronnie Freeland (producers)

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

“He Lives In Me,” Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists), Horizon, Doyle Lawson (producer)

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

The Infamous Stringdusters

INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR

BANJO

Tony Trischka

BASS

Missy Raines

FIDDLE

Michael Cleveland

DOBRO

Rob Ickes

GUITAR

Tony Rice

MANDOLIN

Sam Bush

Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients

Mike Auldridge

The Bluegrass Breakdown

Marko Cermak

Warren Hellman

Happy & Jane Traum

Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year: 

Chris Jones, Sirius Satellite Radio

Print Media Person of the Year:

John Lawless & Brance Gillihan, The Bluegrass Blog

Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project:

Barry Poss & Jay Orr (writers); Sugar Hill Records, A Retrospective; Various Artists; Sugar Hill

Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project:

Don Bailey (designer), Hillbilly Hemingway, by The Mark Newton Band, Rebel Records

Bluegrass Event of the Year Award: 

33^rd Festival of the Bluegrass; Lexington, KY; June 2006

END OF RECIPIENT LIST