Rhonda Vincent

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage secured an impressive 11 individual IBMA award nominations, including nods for Entertainer, Vocal Group, Female Vocalist, Song of the Year for "All American Bluegrass Girl" and Album of the Year for the project by the same name.  Band member Hunter Berry received a nomination for Fiddle Player of the Year; and his solo debut Wow Baby is nominated for both Instrumental Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year.  Mickey Harris was nominated for Bass Player of the Year, and both Vincent and Kenny Ingram are in the running for Recorded Event of the Year for their work on New Songs, Old Friends and BMI affiliate Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, respectively. 

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Six-time recipients of IBMA's Vocal Group of the Year, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver are nominated for this award again, along with Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year for "Sadie's Got Her New Dress On" written by BMI songwriter Connie Leigh, Album of the Year for More Behind the Picture than the Wall, two nominations for Gospel Recorded Event (for songs "We Shall Inherit" and "He Lives in Me") and Mandolin Player of the Year (Lawson). Guitarist/vocalist Jamie Dailey and Lawson will vie separately for Recorded Event of the Year, for their contributions to New Songs, Old Friends and Hunter Berry's Wow Baby respectively--bringing the band's collective tally to nine nominations.

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Longtime BMI affiliates Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas and The Del McCoury Band each received seven nominations.

The Del McCoury Band

In addition to Entertainer, Instrumental Group and Gospel Recorded Event of the Year, individual members of The Del McCoury Band earned nods for Mandolin Performer (Ronnie McCoury) and Recorded Event of the Year. The McCoury Music label also garnered an Album of the Year nomination for legendary artist Larry Sparks' new project, The Last Suit You Wear, co-produced by Sparks.

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas picked up nominations for Entertainer, Vocal Group, Female Vocalist and Instrumental Group of the Year.  The prolific Jerry Douglas is nominated for Dobro Player of the Year, and vocalist/guitarist Dan Tyminski was also included in the Recorded Event of the Year category for his contributions to Wow Baby.

Kentucky Thunder is nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year--an award they have taken home eight times since 1998, while their album Instrumentals is up for Instrumental Recording of the Year.  Band member Darrin Vincent earned two individual nods: he contributed to Recorded Event of the Year nominee Wow Baby and produced Album of the Year contender All American Bluegrass Girl.  Smilin' Jim Mills received a nod for Banjo Performer of the Year - an award he has walked away with six times since 1999.

Additional nominees include Ronnie Bowman for Male Vocalist of the Year; The Infamous Stringdusters for Song, Album and Emerging Artist of the Year; Tony Trischka for the year's top Recorded Event, Instrumental Album and Banjo Player; Russell Moore for Male Vocalist of the Year; J.D. Crowe & The New South for Album and Song of the Year; fiddler extraordinaire Michael Cleveland & his band Flamekeeper for Instrumental Group honors; Blue Highway and The Isaacs for Vocal Group of the Year; Jim VanCleve for Instrumental Album and Fiddle Player of the year; Mark Johnson & Emory Lester for Instrumental Album of the Year; newcomers Cadillac Sky for Emerging Artist honors; Cia Cherryholmes for top Banjo picker and Mickey Harris for Bass Performer of the Year.

The late Carl Story will enter the Bluegrass Hall of Fame this year. Affectionately dubbed the "Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music," Story pioneered the genre alongside bluegrass royalty like Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley.

Guitar stylist Mike Auldridge and Homespun Tapes' Happy Traum will both receive Distinguished Achievement Awards. IBMA's Distinguished Achievement Award, an honor which recognizes individuals in the bluegrass music industry who have fostered the music's image with developments that broaden the genre's recognition and accessibility.

Hosted by Sam Bush, the 2007 IBMA Awards will take place during World of Bluegrass week, slated for October 1-7 in Nashville. Tickets for the IBMA award ceremony are available through the Grand Ole Opry House box office (1-800-733-6779) and all Ticketmaster outlets. The show will also be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio's "Bluegrass Junction" Channel 14. For more information, please visit www.ibma.org.

2007 BMI IBMA Nominees

Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductee

Carl Story

Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients

Mike Auldridge

Happy Traum

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Cherryholmes

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

The Del McCoury Band

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Blue Highway

The Isaacs

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Blue Highway

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

The Del McCoury Band

Paul Brewster and Darrin Vincent of Kentucky Thunder

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Ronnie Bowman

Russell Moore

Larry Sparks

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Dale Ann Bradley

Sonya Isaacs

Alison Krauss

Claire Lynch

Rhonda Vincent

SONG OF THE YEAR

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

"All American Bluegrass Girl"

Rhonda Vincent (artist & songwriter)

"Fork In The Road"

The Infamous Stringdusters (artists),

Co-written by Chris Jones & John Pennell

"Lefty's Old Guitar"

J.D. Crowe & The New South (artists)

Co-written by Dave Maggard & Jack Spencer

"Sadie's Got Her New Dress On"

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Written by Connie Leigh

"The Last Suit You Wear"

Larry Sparks (artist)

Co-written by Larry Shell & Larry Williams

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

All American Bluegrass Girl

Rhonda Vincent (artist)

Produced by Darrin Vincent & Rhonda Vincent

Fork In The Road

The Infamous Stringdusters (artists)

Produced by Tim Stafford & The Infamous Stringdusters

Lefty's Old Guitar

J.D. Crowe & The New South (artists)

Produced by J.D. Crowe & The New South

More Behind The Picture Than The Wall

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Produced by Doyle Lawson

The Last Suit You Wear

Larry Sparks (artist)

Produced by Larry Sparks

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR

Vassar Clements, Tony Rice & The Low Country All Star Band

Featuring Tony Rice & The Low Country All-Star Band (artists)

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)

Produced by Tony Trischka & Bela Fleck

New Songs, Old Friends

Featuring Vince Gill, Doyle Lawson, Oak Ridge Boys, Rob Ickes, Del McCoury, Sonya Isaacs, Rhonda Vincent, Stuart Duncan, Larry Cordle, Keith Sewell, Ben Isaacs (artists)

Wow Baby

Hunter Berry with Tony Rice, Doyle Lawson, Dan Tyminski, Marty Stuart, Bobby Osborne, Sonya Isaacs, Rhonda Vincent, Buddy Spicher, Ronnie Stewart, Darrin Vincent, Bob Moore (artists);

Produced by Darrin Vincent

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Acoustic Rising

Mark Johnson & Emory Lester (artists)

Produced by Mark Johnson & Emory Lester

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular

Tony Trischka (artist)

Produced by Tony Trischka & Bela Fleck

No Apologies

Jim VanCleve (artist),

Rural Rhythm Records

Produced by Jim VanCleve

Wow Baby

Hunter Berry (artist),

Produced by Darrin Vincent

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

"He Lives In Me"

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Produced by Doyle Lawson

"The Promised Land"

The Del McCoury Band (artist)

Produced by Del McCoury & Ronnie McCoury

"We Shall Inherit"

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Produced by Doyle Lawson

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Cadillac Sky

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

The Infamous Stringdusters

Williams & Clark Expedition

INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR

BANJO

Cia Cherryholmes

J.D. Crowe

Jim Mills

Tony Trischka

BASS

Mickey Harris

Missy Raines

Marshall Wilborn

FIDDLE

Hunter Berry

Michael Cleveland

Stuart Duncan

Ron Stewart

DOBRO

Mike Auldridge

Jerry Douglas

Rob Ickes

Randy Kohrs

GUITAR

Jim Hurst

Tony Rice

Larry Sparks

MANDOLIN

Sam Bush

Doyle Lawson

Ronnie McCoury

2005 Entertainers of the Year Cherryholmes rounded up their family for a photo before the ceremony. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's David Preston, Cherryholmes band members B.J., Molly, Jere, Sandy Lee, Skip and Cia Cherryholmes, along with BMI's Mark Mason. Photo by K. Clary

BMI's IBMA pre-party in Stage 8 one hour prior to the actual awards ceremony attracted iconic bluegrass aficionados Tom T. Hall and Bill Gaither, while nominees and the genre's luminaries mingled. Cherryholmes, Larry Sparks, Ronnie Bowman, Rob Ickes and Del McCoury numbered among the several hundred guests enjoying cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a stellar house band.

Bluegrass luminary Del McCoury (center) attended BMI's pre-party and performed during the awards ceremony. He is pictured with BMI's Jody Williams and Mark Mason. Photo by K. Clary

This year's ceremony featured two Hall of Honor inductions: bluegrass gospel pioneers the Lewis Family and King Records founder Syd Nathan. The Lewis Family's contributions to bluegrass began with the group's formation in 1951; the family's rich sound and constant touring significantly augmented the audience for bluegrass gospel. Record store owner Syd Nathan sought to preserve bluegrass's invaluable history through his creation of the King Records label, emerging as one of the top repositories and distributors of classical bluegrass recordings.

Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Mark Mason, three-time IBMA winner Michael and BMI's David Preston. Photo by K. Clary

Other BMI winners included Jim Mills' second consecutive win for Banjo Player of the Year, Dobro Player of the Year Rob Ickes of Blue Highway and Three Ring Circle, and Claire Lynch band member Missy Raines for Bass Player of the Year. Distinguished Achievement Awards were presented to BMI affiliates the Boys from Indiana, Bill Grant and Ronnie Reno.

Legendary bluegrass figure Larry Sparks (center) performed later in the evening with fellow legend Curly Seckler and is seen here with BMI's Elisabeth Dawson and Kay Clary. Photo by D. Preston

BMI's 2006 IBMA Award winners:

HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES
The Lewis Family
Syd Nathan

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Rhonda Vincent

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

BMI songwriting icon and bluegrass aficionado Tom T. Hall mingled at the pre-party and attended the awards ceremony that followed. Pictured are (l to r): BMI�s Bradley Collins, Tom T. Hall, legendary bluegrass producer and songwriter Carl Jackson, Tom T. Hall�s wife Dixie Hall and BMI�s Jody Williams. Photo by K. Clary

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer
Lonesome River Band, Seldom Scene, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Cherryholmes, J.D. Crowe & The New South, BlueRidge, IIIrd Tyme Out, James King Band, Larry Cordle, Wayne Benson, Clay Hess, Greg Luck, Aubrey Haynie, Tony Rice, Ronnie Bowman & The Committee, Larry Stephenson Band, Blue Highway, Gena Britt, Randy Kohrs & The Lites, Steve Thomas, Scott Vestal, David Parmley & Continental Divide, Karl Shiflett & the Big Country Show, Wildfire, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Lost & Found, Dan Tyminski, Bela Fleck, Joe Mullins and Jim VanCleve

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"He Lives In Me"
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
produced by Doyle Lawson

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Let 'Er Go Boys
Michael Cleveland
produced by Jeff White & Michael Cleveland

Premier bluegrass vocalist and hit BMI songwriter Ronnie Bowman showed up for bluegrass� biggest night with his wife and harmony singer, Garnet. Pictured are (l to r): BMI�s Bradley Collins, IBMA Executive Director Dan Hays, Ronnie Bowman and BMI�s Perry Howard. Photo by K. Clary

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
Back to the Well
The Daughters of Bluegrass featuring: Gena Britt, Julie Elkins, Becky Buller, Mindy Rakestraw, Beth Lawrence, Angela Oudean, Michelle Nixon, Dale Ann Bradley, Valerie Smith, Louisa Branscomb & Dixie Hall

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jim Mills

DOBRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rob Ickes

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Missy Raines

Rhonda Vincent was greeted by her friends and fans as she entered the IBMA Awards pre-party, sponsored by BMI. Pictured are (l to r): BMI�s Mark Mason & Jody Williams, Rhonda Vincent, Executive Director of the IBMA Dan Hays, and BMI�s David Preston & Perry Howard. Photo by K. Clary

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Michael Cleveland

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
The Boys From Indiana
Bill Grant
Ronnie Reno

BEST LINER NOTES FOR RECORDED PROJECT
Tom Adams (writer)
Let 'Er Go Boys by Michael Cleveland

BMI's Mark Mason (left) congratulates Dobro Player of the Year and Blue Highway member Rob Ickes.  Photo by K. Clary

Attendees were happy to see gospel legend Bill Gaither (center) at both the pre-party and the awards ceremony. He is pictured here with BMI's David Preston and Bradley Collins.  Photo by K. Clary

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver scored Vocal Group of the Year honors, along with Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year for "He Lives in Me," which Doyle also produced. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Mark Mason, Doyle Lawson and BMI's Jody Williams.  Photo by K. Clary

]]> 2006-10-09T19:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334953 Artists, Blue Highway, Bowman, Ronnie, Bradley, Dale Ann, Bush, Sam, Cherryholmes, Cordle, Larry, Del McCoury Band, The, Douglas, Jerry, Isaacs, Sonya, Kohrs, Randy, Krauss, Alison, Lawson, Doyle, Linde, Dennis, Lynch, Claire, Moore, Russell, Mountain Heart, Pomeroy, Dave, Scruggs, Earl, Sparks, Larry, Tyminski, Dan, Vincent, Rhonda, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Regions, Nashville 2006 International Bluegrass Music Awards. The elite list was announced Aug. 15 at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville by BMI bluegrass icons Doyle Lawson and Rhonda Vincent. BMI members swept several categories, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Instrumental Album of the Year, and Fiddle Player of the Year.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver	Rhonda Vincent	Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss and Union Station lead the BMI pack with a staggering 11 nominations for the group and individual members. The band received nods for Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year, while individual honors include a Female Vocalist nomination for Krauss and a Dobro Player of the Year nod for Jerry Douglas. Douglas also garnered mentions for work outside of Union Station, namely for two separate Instrumental Album of the Year projects (including his solo album The Best Kept Secret) and a Recorded Event of the Year album. Union Station band member Ron Block also received a nomination for Banjo Player of the Year.

Jerry Douglas	Blue Highway	Del McCoury Band

Blue Highway closely follows with 10 nominations for its members, including Vocal Group, Song, and Instrumental Group of the Year. Band member Rob Ickes secured Instrumental Album and Recorded Event of the Year nods for 3 Ring Circle-his collaboration with Dave Pomeroy and Andy Leftwich. Ickes himself is nominated for Dobro Player of the Year as well.

Ronnie Bowman	Cherryholmes

Bluegrass mainstays Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver received a grand total of seven nominations, including their ninth nod for Entertainer of the Year. BMI's Rhonda Vincent and the Rage cemented six nominations, including a Female Vocalist nod to Vincent. 2005's surprise Entertainers of the Year the Cherryholmes are up for the honor again this year, cementing the group's position as one of the most popular new bluegrass artists, while nine-time Entertainers of the Year the The Del McCoury Band received numerous nominations as a group and individually.

BMI hit songwriter and top bluegrass vocalist Ronnie Bowman garnered a Male Vocalist of the Year nomination, while BMI artists Blue Moon Rising and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper received Emerging Artist of the Year nods.

The 2006 International Bluegrass Music Awards will be broadcast live on XM radio Thursday, Sept. 28. The ceremony takes place at the legendary Ryman Auditorium during the International Bluegrass Music Association's week-long conference held in Nashville. Tickets are available now at the Grand Ole Opry House and all Ticketmaster outlets.

BMI's 2006 IBMA Nominees:

Entertainer of the Year
Cherryholmes
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Del McCoury Band
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Vocal Group of the Year
Blue Highway
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Instrumental Group of the Year
Blue Highway
Alison Krauss Union Station
The Del McCoury Band
Mountain Heart

Male Vocalist of the Year
Ronnie Bowman
Russell Moore
Larry Sparks
Dan Tyminski

Female Vocalist of the Year
Dale Ann Bradley
Sonya Isaacs
Alison Krauss
Claire Lynch
Rhonda Vincent

Song of the Year
"Brand New Heartache," Cherryholmes (artists), Cia Leigh Cherryholmes (writer)
"He Lives In Me," Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artist), Frances P. Simpson (writer)
"Train Long Gone," Claire Lynch (artist), Dennis Linde (writer)

Album of the Year
Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, featuring 3 Fox Drive, Lonesome River Band, Seldom Scene, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Cherryholmes, J.D. Crowe & The New South, BlueRidge, IIIrd Tyme Out, James King Band, Larry Cordle, Wayne Benson, Clay Hess, Greg Luck, Aubrey Haynie, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Tony Rice, Ronnie Bowman & The Committee, Larry Stephenson Band, Blue Highway, Gena Britt, Randy Kohrs & The Lites, Steve Thomas, Scott Vestal, David Parmley & Continental Divide, Karl Shiflett & the Big Country Show, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Wildfire, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Lost & Found, The Grascals, Alecia Nugent, Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Bradley Walker, Dan Tyminski, Bela Fleck, Barry Bales, Joe Mullins, Bryan Sutton, Jim Van Cleve, Clay Jones & Keith Garrett (artists), Skaggs Family Records (label), Bob Kelley (producer)

Cherryholmes, Cherryholmes (artists), Skaggs Family Records (label), Ben Isaacs (producer)

Let 'Er Go, Boys, Michael Cleveland (artist), Rounder Records (label), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producers)

Marbletown, Blue Highway (artists), Rounder Records (label), Scott Rouse (producer)

Instrumental Album of the Year
The Best Kept Secret, Jerry Douglas (artist/producer), Koch Records (label)

Hide Head Blues, Jim Mills (artist/producer), Sugar Hill Records (label)

Let 'Er Go, Boys, Michael Cleveland (artist), Rounder Records (label), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producer)

Not Too Far From the Tree: A Collection of Guitar Duets with Heroes & Friends, Bryan Sutton with Russ Barenberg, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, Jerry Douglas, David Grier, Jack Lawrence, Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, George Shuffler, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Sutton & Doc Watson (artists), Sugar Hill Records (label), Bryan Sutton (producer)

Three Ring Circle, Rob Ickes, Andy Leftwich & Dave Pomeroy (artists/producers), Earwave Records (label)

Recorded Event of the Year
Back to the Well, The Daughters of Bluegrass featuring: Lorraine Jordan, Gena Britt, Julie Elkins, Becky Buller, Vickie Simmons, Frances Mooney, Mindy Rakestraw, Jeanette Williams, Beth Lawrence, Angela Oudean, Michelle Nixon, Donica Christensen, Dale Ann Bradley, Heather Berry, Megan McCormick, Valerie Smith, Louisa Branscomb & Dixie Hall (artists), Blue Circle Records (label), Lorraine Jordan & Dale Perry (producers)

Down In Caroline, Curly Seckler with Kent Blanton, George Buckner, John Carter Cash, Laura Weber Cash, Dudley Connell, Rob Ickes, Josh McMurray, Russell Moore, Larry Perkins, Andrea Roberts, Chris Sharp, Herschel Sizemore, Kevin Sluder, Larry Sparks, Tater Tate, LeRoy Troy & Doc Watson (artists), Copper Creek Records (label), Larry Perkins & Penny Parsons (producers)

Not Too Far From the Tree: A Collection Of Guitar Duets with Heroes & Friends, Bryan Sutton with Russ Barenberg, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, Jerry Douglas, David Grier, Jack Lawrence, Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, George Shuffler, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Sutton & Doc Watson (artists), Sugar Hill Records (label), Bryan Sutton (producer)

Stomp, Mike Compton & David Long (artists), Acoustic Disc (label), David Grisman (producer)

Three Ring Circle, Rob Ickes, Andy Leftwich & Dave Pomeroy (artists/producers), Earwave Records (label)

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year
Gettin' Ready, BlueRidge (artists), Pinecastle Records (label), BlueRidge & Wes Easter (producers) "He Goes To Church," Cherryholmes (artists), Skaggs Family Records (label), Ben Isaacs (producer) He Lives In Me, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists), Crossroads (label), Doyle Lawson (producer) "Lazarus," Blue Highway (artists), Rounder Records (label), Scott Rouse (producer) When The Morning Comes, Paul Williams & the Victory Trio (artists), Rebel Records (label), Paul Williams (producer)

Emerging Artist of the Year
Blue Moon Rising
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Instrumental Performers of the Year
BANJO
Ron Block
J.D. Crowe
Jim Mills

BASS
Missy Raines
Marshall Wilborn

FIDDLE
Hunter Berry
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Ron Stewart

DOBRO
Mike Auldridge
Jerry Douglas
Rob Ickes
Randy Kohrs

GUITAR
Jim Hurst
Tony Rice
Josh Williams


MANDOLIN
Sam Bush
Doyle Lawson
Ronnie McCoury

Pictured following the performance are BMI's Mark Mason, Rhonda Vincent and BMI's Jody Williams.

A BMI songwriter for more than 20 years, Vincent was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2000 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards, the first of an unprecedented six consecutive wins in that category, bringing her career total to 11. The Missouri native also boasts 30 SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America) Awards, including her 1974 win for Best Single Recording for "Muleskinner Blues" at the age of eight. An accomplished mandolin, guitar and fiddle player, Vincent and her band the Rage are currently on the road in support of All American Bluegrass Girl.

Mariah Carey	Kanye West	John Legend

Mariah Carey's multi-platinum comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, and its smash single "We Belong Together," helped the pop singer score three of the most coveted Grammy nominations: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The hit ballad also picked up mentions for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while Mimi added Best Contemporary R&B Album to Carey's haul.

Presenters for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards nominations included BMI songwriter/artists John Legend, CeCe Winans, Mariah Carey, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and Patti LaBelle. Photo by S. Lovekin/WireImage

Rapper Kanye West continued his red hot streak, also earning nominations in the Album and Record of the Year categories with his sophomore release Late Registration and the hit "Gold Digger," respectively. He will compete against himself for the Album of the Year title as a producer on Carey's disc. As a songwriter, West will battle for the Best Rap Song crown with his "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," as well as Best R&B Song as a co-writer on the Alicia Keys track "Unbreakable."

Black Eyed Peas	Brooks & Dunn

Soul singer John Legend is up for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for his debut Get Lifted, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Song of the Year for "Ordinary People," which he also co-wrote. Legend joins his mentor Kanye West and rapper Common on the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ticket with "They Say."

Casting Crowns	Common

Coming in with six nominations was Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas who, as a songwriter, has a shot at Song of the Year and Best R&B Song as co-writer of Legend's "Ordinary People" and Best Rap Song for the Peas' hit "Don't Phunk with My Heart." The band is also up for Best Rap and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Death Cab for Cutie	Foo Fighters

In addition to Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Common earned three other mentions, including Best Rap Album for Be. Four nods also went to Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Billy Childs and BMI producer/songwriters the Neptunes, who have production credits on two Album of the Year nominees -- Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi and Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

The Game	Gorillaz	John Williams

Earning three nominations apiece were Sheryl Crow, with Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Good is Good"), Best Pop Vocal Album (Wildflower) and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the single "Building Bridges," featuring Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill; Eminem (Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album); and film composer John Williams, up for Best Score for Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as well as for Best Instrumental Composition for both "Anakin's Betrayal" (from Revenge of the Sith) and "The Ferry Scene" (from the War of the Worlds soundtrack).

Maroon 5	Norah Jones	Sheryl Crow

Double nominees included rappers The Game and T.I., songwriter Marcus Hummon, singer Norah Jones and gospel diva CeCe Winans.

Other BMI songwriters and artists collecting Grammy nominations were Christina Aguilera, Dallas Austin, Casting Crowns, Eric Clapton (PRS), Death Cab for Cutie, Paquito D'Rivera, Danny Elfman, Fall Out Boy, Osvaldo Golijov, Dave Holland Big Band, Intocable, Keane (PRS), Maroon 5, Sugarland, Ying Yang Twins, and BMI Icons Charlie Daniels and Brian Wilson.

Sugarland		T.I.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 8.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Nominees:

8 NOMINATIONS
Mariah Carey
John Legend
Kanye West

6 NOMINATIONS
William Adams

4 NOMINATIONS
Billy Childs
Common
Foo Fighters
Gorillaz (PRS)
The Neptunes

3 NOMINATIONS
Yolanda Adams
The Black Eyed Peas
Sheryl Crow
De La Soul
Eminem
Herbie Hancock
Faith Hill
Alison Krauss & Union Station
John Williams

2 NOMINATIONS
Bobby Boyd
Brooks & Dunn
Andrew Coleman
Andrew Dawson
Dixie Chicks
The Game
Michael Giacchino
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Norah Jones
Delbert McClinton
Donnie McClurkin
Joel Moss
Willie Nelson
Al Schmitt
Fat Man Scoop
T.I.
The White Stripes
CeCe Winans

MORE NOMINEES
Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill
Christina Aguilera
Trey Anastasio
Audio Adrenaline
Audioslave
John August
Dallas Austin
Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte
Marcia Ball
Ray Barretto
Steve Berkowitz
Big & Rich
Terence Blanchard
Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Blue Highway
Printz Board
William Bolcom
Peter Boyer
Solomon Burke
Burning Spear (PRS)
Sam Bush
Gary Calamar
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels Orishas (SACEM)
Kurt Carr
Casting Crowns
Christopher Cerf
Steven Curtis Chapman
Cherryholmes
The Chieftains (IMRO)
Willy Chirino
Eric Clapton (PRS)
Dorinda Clark-Cole
Conjunto Progreso
Ry Cooder
Stewart Copeland
The Crabb Family
Robert Cray
Bill Cunliffe
Rivers Cuomo
Daft Punk (PRS)
Charlie Daniels
Day of Fire
Death Cab for Cutie
Deep Dish
Mos Def
Jack De Johnette
The Del McCoury Band
Ani DiFranco
Jerry Douglas
Dave Douglas
Paquito D'Rivera
John Du Prez (PRS)
Jerry Duplessis
Nokie Edwards
Danny Elfman
Ahmet Ertegun
Bill Evans
Fall Out Boy
Sammy Figueroa
Béla Fleck
Floetry
David Foster
Jamie Foxx
Aretha Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Carlos Franzetti
Larry Gatlin
Joachim Garraud (SACEM)
Gilberto Gil
Vince Gill
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Osvaldo Golijov
The Grascals
Grits
Buddy Guy
Merle Haggard
John Hammond
Raiatea Helm
Dave Holland Big Band
Israel Houghton
Van Hunt
Eric Idle (PRS)
Intocable
Jamiroquai (PRS)
Jars of Clay
The Jazz Chamber Trio
Rodney Jerkins
Eric Johnson
George Jones
The Jordanaires
Ledward Ka'apana
Keane (PRS)
John P. Kee
Garison Keillor
Toby Keith
R. Kelly
B.B. King
Kitaro
Kraftwerk (GEMA)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (SAMRO)
Las 3 Divas
La Secta Allstar
The Last Poets
La Tropa F
Donald Lawrence
Ricky Lewis
The Light Crust Doughboys
Lil Wayne
Harold Lily
Aaron Lindsey
Linkin Park
Little Joe
Los Lonely Boys
Los Pleneros de la 21
Andre Lyon
Maroon 5
Joeworn Martin
Martina McBride
Delbert McClinton
Vicky McGehee
Tim McGraw
Sarah McLachlan (SOCAN)
Meat Beat Manifesto
Pat Metheny Group
Luis Miguel
Mingus Big Band
Ministry
Keb Mo
Molotov
Rick Moranis (SOCAN)
Mudvayne
Martha Munizzi
Walter Murphy
Meshell Ndegeocello
North Mississippi Allstars
The Oak Ridge Boys
Claus Ogerman (GEMA)
Walter Ostanek (SOCAN)
George Pajon, Jr.
Eddie Palmieri
John Prine
Queens of the Stone Age
Rascal Flatts
Joshua Redman Elastic Band
Sonny Rollins
The Royal Jesters
Eddie Santiago
Marvin Sapp
Seal (PRS)
José Serebrier
Shakira
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Ron Sluga
Omar Sosa
Luciana Souza
Jimmy Sturr
Sugarland
Tierney Sutton
System of a Down
Ali Farka Touré (BUMDA)
Tiempo Libre
Turtle Island String Quartet
Keith Urban
Bebo Valdés
Marcello Valenzano
Louie Vega
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
Brian Wilson
BeBe Winans
George Winston
Paul Winter Consort
Hugh Wolff
David Yazbek
Ying Yang Twins

Larry Sparks

Hosted by Alison Krauss and Ricky Skaggs, the evening featured a number of live performances from award nominees who played for a sold-out crowd and worldwide radio audience, celebrating the 60th anniversary of bluegrass music, which began on the very same Ryman stage in 1945.

IBMA Entertainer of the Year winners Cherryholmes book ended by BMI's Bradley Collins and Paul Corbin, Mark Mason and Shelby Kennedy. photo: Brian Tipton

Forty years of performing has proven to be a delight for Larry Sparks as he received his second award in a row for Male Vocalist of the Year. Sparks also took home Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year honors for 40, the album celebrating the span of his legendary career. The record brought Sparks together with a cadre of performers including Ronnie Bowman, Larry Cordle, Kevin Denney, Vince Gill, Andy Griggs, Tom T. Hall, Jim Hurst, the Isaacs, Carl Jackson, Chris Jones, Alison Krauss, the Marshall Family, Russell Moore, Tim Stafford, Ralph Stanley, Dan Tyminski, Rhonda Vincent and Paul Williams.

BMI's Mark Mason, IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Rhonda Vincent, BMI's Paul Corbin. photo: Brian Tipton

Harley Allen was given Song of the Year honors for "Me and John and Paul," recorded by the Grascals. Allen recently was named a Songwriter of the Year at BMI's 2005 Country Awards. Rhonda Vincent broke her own record by taking home her sixth consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year award, more than any female in history.

BMI's David Preston, Vocal Group of the Year's bandleader Doyle Lawson and tenor singer Jamie Dailey, BMI's Bradley Collins. photo: Brian Tipton

Harmony masters Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver were recipients of their fifth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year award in addition to Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year for "Praise His Name," from their album School of Bluegrass. Lawson recently released a DVD special surrounding the band's 25th anniversary celebration of the founding of the influential group.

BMI's Perry Howard, Del McCoury, BMI's Mark Mason. photo: Brian Tipton

Fiddle player and Nashville Bluegrass Band founding member Stuart Duncan was named Fiddle Player of the Year, his eighth career win in that category, having last taken home the honor in 1996. Kentucky Thunder banjo player and Sugar Hill Records solo artist Jim Mills received the Banjo Player of the Year trophy, the fifth such honor of his career and a great topper on a successful year with his solo release, Hide Heads Blues.

BMI's Scott Andrews addresses technology issues during a panel at the 2005 IBMA convention. photo: Priscilla Warnock

The International Bluegrass Music Awards were broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio and syndicated to radio stations in over 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks. Sponsors of the evening, in addition to BMI, included Martha White, Great American Television (GAC), Merlefest, Sugar Hill Records, Deering Banjos and GHS Strings.

Congratulations to BMI's 16th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards winners:

Entertainer of the Year
Cherryholmes

Vocal Group of the Year
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Female Vocalist of the Year
Rhonda Vincent

Male Vocalist of the Year
Larry Sparks

Album of the Year
40 by Larry Sparks

Song of the Year
"Me and John and Paul" written by Harley Allen

Recorded Event of the Year
40 by Larry Sparks

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year
"Praise His Name" by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
produced by Doyle Lawson

Instrumental Album of the Year
Slide Effects
produced Scott Vestal

Banjo Player
Jim Mills

Fiddle Player
Stuart Duncan

Alison Krauss & Union Station	Rhonda Vincent

Alison Krauss & Union Station received 14 nominations including Entertainer of the Year, Instrumental Group, Vocal Group, Song of the Year, Album, Gospel Recorded Performance, Female Vocalist for Alison, Male Vocalist for Dan Tyminski and individual instrumental award nods for band members Jerry Douglas (Dobro) and Ron Block (banjo). Krauss and Tyminski are also featured on the Larry Sparks album 40, nominated for Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year. She also received a nod for being a part of the Recorded Event-nominated album Moody Bluegrass.

Blue Highway	Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Five-time Female Vocalist of the Year Rhonda Vincent and her band the Rage came in with eight nominations including Entertainer, Vocal Group, Female Vocalist, and an individual nod for the Rage's Hunter Berry on fiddle. Vincent is also a featured artist on the IBMA-nominated album 40 by Larry Sparks.

Larry Sparks	Del McCoury Band

Picking up seven nominations, Doyle Lawson and his band Quicksilver were recognized for Entertainer, Vocal Group, Album and Gospel Recorded Performance, along with an individual instrumental nomination for Lawson on mandolin. They'll compete with themselves among others with two nominations in the Song of the Year category for "Heartbreak Number Nine," written by band members Barry Scott and Jamie Daley, and "You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper," written by Carl H. Caldwell and Barry Scott.

Paul Williams	Williams & Clark Expedition

Blue Highway also earned seven nominations including Vocal Group, Instrumental Group, and an Album of the Year and Recorded Event nod for their participation on Larry Sparks' 40. Band members Rob Ickes (Dobro) and Tim Stafford (Guitar) are nominated in their respective Instrumental Award categories; Stafford's album Endless Line is also a finalist for Instrumental Album.

Cherryholmes	Mountain Heart

Eight-time Entertainers of the Year the Del McCoury Band received six nominations including Entertainer, Instrumental Group and individual nods for band members Rob McCoury on banjo and Ronnie McCoury on mandolin. Del McCoury was also a Song of the Year nominee as writer for the Alison Krauss & Union Station song "Rain Please Go Away."

Reigning Male Vocalist Larry Sparks nabbed five nominations -- Album of the Year, Recorded Event, Male Vocalist, Guitar Player and a Song of the Year nod for the Alan Laney-penned "Georgia Peaches" with Andy Griggs.

Bluegrass power group Mountain Heart picked up five nominations for Vocal Group, Instrumental Group and Gospel Recorded Performance for their song "I Want To Live Beyond The Grave," in addition to an individual recognition for Jason Moore on bass.

Longtime gospel stalwart Paul Williams also gathered five nominations, including Gospel Recorded Performance for his album I'll Be No Stranger There. Williams also contributed to the Album and Recorded Event-nominated albums 40 by Larry Sparks and the Tribute to Jimmy Martin: "The King of Bluegrass" project.

The recipients of the 2005 International Bluegrass Music Awards will be broadcast via radio around the world to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks. 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 award show is the centerpiece of IBMA's week-long Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, slated for October 24-30 in Nashville.

Congratulations to BMI's 2005 IBMA nominees:

Entertainer of the Year
Cherryholmes
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Del McCoury Band
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

Instrumental Group of the Year
Blue Highway
Alison Krauss & Union Station
The Del McCoury Band
Mountain Heart

Vocal Group of the Year
Blue Highway
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Mountain Heart
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Male Vocalist of the Year
Russell Moore
Larry Sparks
Dan Tyminski

Female Vocalist of the Year
Dale Ann Bradley
Cia Cherryholmes
Sonya Isaacs
Alison Krauss
Rhonda Vincent

Song of the Year
"Georgia Peaches"
Larry Sparks with Andy Griggs
written by Carl Jackson & Alan Laney

"Heartbreak Number Nine"
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
written by Barry Scott & Jamie Dailey

"Me and John and Paul"
written by Harley Allen

"Rain Please Go Away"
Alison Krauss & Union Station
written by Del McCoury

"You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper"
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
written by Carl H. Caldwell & Barry Scott

Album of the Year
40
Larry Sparks
produced by Don Rigsby

Lonely Runs Both Ways
Alison Krauss & Union Station
produced by Alison Krauss & Union Station

Tribute to Jimmy Martin: "The King of Bluegrass"
J.D. Crowe & Paul Williams
produced by Ben Isaacs

You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
produced by Doyle Lawson

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year
"A Living Prayer"
Alison Krauss & Union Station
produced by Alison Krauss & Union Station

"I'll Be No Stranger There"
Paul Williams & The Victory Trio
produced by Paul Williams

"I Want To Live Beyond the Grave"
Mountain Heart

"Praise His Name"
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
produced by Doyle Lawson

Instrumental Album of the Year
Bending The Rules
Jesse McReynolds with Travis Wetzel
produced by Jesse McReynolds & Billy Troy

Endless Line
Tim Stafford
produced by Tim Stafford & Bobby Starnes

Half Moon Bay
produced by Bobby Starnes

Slide Effects
produced by Scott Vestal

Recorded Event of the Year
40
Larry Sparks with Ronnie Bowman, Larry Cordle, Kevin Denney, Vince Gill, Andy Griggs, Tom T. Hall, Jim Hurst, the Isaacs, Chris Jones, Alison Krauss, Russell Moore, Don Rigsby, Tim Stafford, Ralph Stanley, Dan Tyminski, Rhonda Vincent & Paul Williams
produced by Don Rigsby

Daughters of American Bluegrass
Kim Fox, Dale Ann Bradley, Cindy Cashdollar, Missy Raines, Gena Britt and Michelle Birkby-Vance
produced by Lorraine Jordan

Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues
Harley Allen, Alison Brown, Sam Bush, Fred Carpenter, Lionel Cartwright, Larry Cordle, Stuart Duncan, Andrew Hall, Aubrey Haynie, David Harvey, Alison Krauss, Keith Little, Jon Randall, Tom Shinness
produced by David Harvey

Tribute to Jimmy Martin: "The King of Bluegrass"
J.D. Crowe, Paul Williams, Audie Blaylock & Kenny Ingram
produced by Ben Isaacs

You Were There For Me
Peter Rowan & Tony Rice
produced by Peter Rowan & Tony Rice

Emerging Artists of the Year
Cherryholmes
Williams & Clark Expedition

Instrumental Performers of the Year
Banjo
Ron Block
J.D. Crowe
Rob McCoury

Dobro
Mike Auldridge
Jerry Douglas
Rob Ickes
Randy Kohrs

Bass
Missy Raines
Marshall Wilborn

Fiddle
Hunter Berry
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Ron Stewart

Guitar
Jim Hurst
Tony Rice
Larry Sparks
Tim Stafford

Mandolin
Sam Bush
Doyle Lawson
Ronnie McCoury

Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year
Terry Herd

Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project
Eddie Stubbs
Don Reno & Red Smiley
Sweethearts in Heaven]]> 2005-09-06T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234378 Artists, Gill, Vince, Griggs, Andy, Hall, Tom T., Krauss, Alison, Reynolds, Leigh, Sparks, Larry, Stanley, Ralph, Tyminski, Dan, Vincent, Rhonda, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Country, Type, International Larry Sparks, the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association's Male Vocalist of the Year, marked the March 1 release of his album 40 with a party and performance co-hosted by BMI Nashville and Rebel Records.

BMI's Harry Warner, Rebel Records' Dave Freeman, Larry Sparks, BMI's Paul Corbin, producer Don Rigsby

Named to commemorate Sparks' 40th year as a professional bluegrass performer, the 16-song package - produced by Don Rigsby -- pairs him with a glittering array of fellow country and bluegrass stars, including Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Andy Griggs, Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs, Tom T. Hall, Dan Tyminski, Sharon & Cheryl White, Rebecca Lynn Howard, the Isaacs, the Marshall Family, Kevin Denney, Paul Williams, Jim Hurst, Kenny Smith, Tim Stafford, Don Rigsby, Chris Jones, Russell Moore, Ronnie Bowman and the legendary Ralph Stanley, who gave Sparks his start in the music business.

Kevin Denney, Larry Sparks

A native of Lebanon, Ohio, Sparks joined the Stanley brothers band, the Clinch Mountain Boys, in 1964, when he was 16 years old. Two years later, elder brother Carter Stanley died, and surviving brother Ralph asked Sparks to take his place as lead vocalist. In 1969, Sparks formed his own band, the Lonesome Ramblers, and has headlined the bluegrass circuit ever since. A BMI affiliate since 1973, he has recorded for Rebel Records since 1980.

Larry Shell, Leigh Reynolds	WSM Radio's Eddie Stubbs, IBMA's Dan Hays

Sharon White, Pam Sparks

Tom T. Hall, Carl Jackson, Larry Sparks

Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers: Matthew Madden (acoustic bass), Scott Napier (mandolin), Joshua McMurray (banjo) and Michael Feagan (fiddle)

Photos by Alan Mayor

Rhonda Vincent	Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Rhonda Vincent was the night's biggest winner with three; she claimed the Entertainer of the Year trophy as well as prizes for Contemporary Female Vocalist and Best Instrumental Group (with her band, the Rage). Double winners were Larry Stephenson, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and songwriters Tom T. & Dixie Hall.

Jimmy Gaudreau	Tom T. & Dixie Hall

The Lewis Family received the Grand Masters Gold Award for having won the traditional gospel group of the year honor for a total of 10 years.

Charlie Waller	The Lewis Family

Mandolinist Jimmy Gaudreau, who played key roles in such trailblazing groups as the Country Gentlemen, J. D. Crowe & the New South, Spectrum and Chesapeake, was inducted to the SPBGMA Preservation Hall.

Hunter Berry	Blue Highway

Congratulations to BMI's SPBGMA winners:

Entertainer
Rhonda Vincent

Song
"Clinch Mountain Mystery"
The Larry Stephenson Band, artist
Tom T. & Dixie Hall, songwriters

Songwriter
Tom T. Hall & Dixie Hall

Josh Williams	Cherryholmes

Ronnie McCoury	Lynn Morris Band

IIIrd Tyme Out