Majority of 2011 IBMA Awards Go to BMI Bluegrass Family
The International Bluegrass Music Association Awards recognized the genre’s best on Thursday, September 29 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
From Bill Monroe to Flatt and Scruggs, bluegrass’s deepest roots are intertwined with the BMI story. The 2011 IBMA Awards celebrated that history and today’s torch-bearers, as BMI legends, current leaders, and new voices shared the stage, winning the overwhelming majority of the evening’s trophies.
Beloved pioneer Del McCoury was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. McCoury’s trip to the stage prompted a standing ovation from the packed auditorium.
The Boxcars earned two awards, Instrumental Group and Emerging Artist of the Year, both of which underscore the magnitude of the band’s ascent. Member Ron Stewart garnered an individual win for Banjo Player of the Year, tying with the Grascals’ Kristin Scott Benson.
The Gibson Brothers also enjoyed a big night. In addition to Vocal Group of the Year, the band walked away with the Album of the Year trophy thanks to Help My Brother.
“Prayer Bells of Heaven“ earned a pair of honors for its power trio J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, and Paul Williams: Recorded Event and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year. Balsam Range’s “Trains I Missed” claimed Song of the Year honors for the band as well as the tune’s co-writer Nicole Witt.
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper’s “Goin’ Up Dry Branch,” written by BMI songwriters Buddy Spicher and Jimmy Martin, scored Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year honors, while Cleveland took home his ninth Fiddle Player of the Year trophy.
Instrumentalist wins went to a pool of consistently heavy hitters. Marshall Wilborn claimed his third Bassist of the Year title; Bryan Sutton was named Guitar Player of the Year for the sixth time; Adam Steffey clinched his eighth Mandolin Player of the Year win; and Rob Ickes earned an historic thirteenth Dobro Player of the Year crown, making him the most-awarded instrumentalist in IBMA history.
The charismatic Russell Moore and Dale Ann Bradley won Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the Year, respectively, and Greg Cahill was a Distinguished Achievement Award Recipient.
For more information on the International Bluegrass Music Awards, visit ibma.org.
2011 IBMA Awards
BMI winners
Hall of Fame
Del McCoury
Vocal Group of the Year
The Gibson Brothers
Instrumental Group of the Year
The Boxcars
Male Vocalist of the Year
Russell Moore
Female Vocalist of the Year
Dale Ann Bradley
Emerging Artist of the Year
The Boxcars
Album of the Year
Help My Brother
The Gibson Brothers (artists), Eric & Leigh Gibson and Mike Barber (producers), Compass (label)
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year
“Goin’ Up Dry Branch”
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (artist), Buddy Spicher & Jimmy Martin (songwriters), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producers), Rounder (label)
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year
“Prayer Bells of Heaven”
J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, & Paul Williams (artists), Ben Isaacs (producer), Mountain Home (label)
Song of the Year
“Trains I Missed”
Balsam Range (artists)
Co-written by Nicole Witt
Recorded Event of the Year
“Prayer Bells of Heaven”
J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, & Paul Williams (artists), Ben Isaacs (producer), Mountain Home (label)
Banjo Player of the Year
Kristin Scott Benson and Ron Stewart (tie)
Guitar Player of the Year
Bryan Sutton
Fiddle Player of the Year
Michael Cleveland
Bass Player of the Year
Marshall Wilborn
Mandolin Player of the Year
Adam Steffey
Dobro Player of the Year
Rob Ickes
Distinguished Achievement Award Recipient
Greg Cahill
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