In fitting tribute, an elite slew of artists contributed performances of Pop Stoneman-popularized songs: Cowboy Jack Clement delivered "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues," Jim Lauderdale, along with help from the Jordanaires, sang "Are You Washed in the Blood," Old Crow Medicine Show provided "Tell Mother I Will Meet Her" and a group featuring Clement and Stoneman's three surviving daughters Donna Stoneman, Patsy Stoneman Murphy and Roni Stoneman performed Stoneman's influential classic, "The Titanic."

Former BMI President & CEO and Country Music Hall of Fame member Frances Preston presented Stoneman's Hall of Fame medallion to his family. Before draping the award around the neck of his eldest daughter Patsy, Preston said, "Ernest Stoneman had a lifelong motto, 'Don't quit.' And he didn't. Tonight, Pop Stoneman's perseverance is being rewarded."

From his earliest days as a roaring 20's crossover sensation to his leadership of the award-winning Stoneman Family ensemble, Ernest "Pop" Stoneman embodies the term "pioneer." In the early 1920s, his performance of self-penned "The Titanic" charted at No. 3 on both the Billboard and Variety charts and remained there for 10 weeks. One of the first country records to sell more than one million copies, the song became one of the biggest hits of the decade. Stoneman's keen eye for talent in Bristol, Tennessee, led to the landmark Bristol recording sessions. Considered one of the most seminal events in country music by many historians, the Bristol recording sessions introduced artists including Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family to the nation. Throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s, Pop Stoneman focused on the popular bluegrass, bucolic musical concoction of The Stoneman Family band. Made up of his wife Hattie and many of their 13 adult children, the group debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in 1962, and in 1967, The Stoneman Family earned the first ever CMA Vocal Group of the Year award. Ernest "Pop" Stoneman recorded, composed and performed well into his mid 70s.

For more on Pop Stoneman's remarkable life, click here.

Photo Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame ® & Museum

Pictured at the nomination announcement at BMI Nashville are BMI's Mark Mason, Allison Moorer, Buddy Miller and the Americana Music Association's J.D. May.

With three mentions each, BMI writer/artists Loretta Lynn and Mindy Smith are the leading finalists. Lynn was nominated as Artist of the Year and was cited in the album category for Van Lear Rose and the song category for "Portland, Oregon."

Loretta Lynn	Mindy Smith	Slaid Cleaves

Smith joined Lynn on the album list with One Moment More and on the song list with "Come To Jesus." She is also nominated in the newly-created New/Emerging Artist category.

BMI affiliate Slaid Cleaves earned two mentions: for the album Wishbones and the title song.

Allison Moorer	Adrienne Young	Jerry Douglas

Other BMI nominees announced at the reception were Allison Moorer, Adrienne Young, the Greencards, Old Crow Medicine Show, and instrumentalists Jerry Douglas, Kenny Vaughan, Sam Bush and Will Kimbrough.

Old Crow Medicine Show	Greencards

BMI's 2004 Americana Honors and Awards Nominees

Album of the Year
One Moment More
Mindy Smith
Van Lear Rose
Loretta Lynn
Wishbones
Slaid Cleaves

Artist of the Year
Loretta Lynn
Allison Moorer

Kenny Vaughan	Sam Bush	Will Kimbrough

Song of the Year
"Come to Jesus"
Mindy Smith
"Portland, Oregon"
Loretta Lynn
"Wishbones"
Slaid Cleaves

Instrumentalist
Sam Bush
Jerry Douglas
Will Kimbrough
Kenny Vaughan

New/Emerging Artist
Greencards
Old Crow Medicine Show
Mindy Smith
Adrienne Young]]> 2004-07-27T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233295 Artists, Blind Boys of Alabama, The, Junior Brown, Keen, Robert Earl, Lynn, Loretta, Old Crow Medicine Show, Parton, Dolly, Stuart, Marty, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Country, Dance, Jazz The Old Crow Medicine Show recently visited BMI's Nashville office to become affiliated with the organization. The band plays songs from some of the earliest traditions of American music: tunes from jug bands and traveling shows, back porches and dance halls, southern Appalachian string music and Memphis blues.

(front) Old Crow Medicine Show's Ketch Secor, Morgan Jahnig and Critter Fuqua, (back) BMI's David Preston, Old Crow Medicine Show's Kevin Hayes and Willie Watson photo: Brian Tipton

Lead vocals are covered by Ketch Secor and Willie Watson, with Willie on guitar and Ketch on fiddle and harmonica. Critter Fuqua joins in on vocals and plays five-string banjo, accordion, and slide guitar. Kevin Hayes plays the guitjo, a six string banjo that plays like a guitar, once popular in jazz and swing music of the 20's, and Morgan Jahnig beats the doghouse bass.

Two years ago the band relocated from North Carolina to Nashville to perform weekly at the Opry Plaza and for the Grand Ole Opry’s 75th Birthday celebration. OCMS made their Grand Ole Opry debut on the Ryman Auditorium stage on January 13, 2001, where they received a standing ovation from an enthusiastic audience and went on to perform five Opry shows in 2001.

The Old Crow Medicine Show has opened for some of America’s finest musical talent including Del McCoury, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Robert Earl Keen, Junior Brown, Doc Watson and the Blind Boys of Alabama. The Crows have appeared in several documentaries including PBS’s "American Roots Music" series; "In the Valley Where Time Stands Still," a film about the history of the Renfro Valley Barndance; and an upcoming documentary produced by Marty Stuart for the Country Music Hall of Fame.

OCMS is currently recording a new album in in Nashville's RCA Studio B with David Rawlings producing.