Reigning IBMA Entertainer of the Year, The Earls of Leicester, lead this year’s IBMA awards nominations, which were announced Wednesday (July 27) in Nashville. Individually and as a group, The Earls of Leicester picked up nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year while individual nominations go to members Shawn Camp for Male Vocalist of the Year, Jerry Douglas for Dobro Player of the Year, Barry Bales for Bass Player of the Year and Charlie Cushman for Banjo Player of the Year.
Del McCoury Band follows with six nominations (for the band and individuals), including Entertainer of the Year, Recorded Event of the Year (“Pretty Woman,” with Frank Solivan); Male Vocalist of the Year for Del McCoury, Fiddle Player of the Year for Jason Carter, Bass Player of the Year for Alan Bartram and Instrumental Group of the Year for the Travelin’ McCourys.
Flatt Lonesome, who earned the 2014 Emerging Artist of the Year honor, garnered five nominations this year, including Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year (for Runaway Train), Song of the Year (“You’re the One”), and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year (“In The Heat of the Fire”).
Becky Buller, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, and Frank Solivan earned three nominations apiece.
This year’s winners will be announced during the International Bluegrass Music Awards, slated for Thursday, Sept. 29 at Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Rounder Founders Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy, and Bill Nowlin.
Also announced Wednesday morning were the latest inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Guitarist/singer Clarence White, and Rounder Records founders Bill Nowlin, Marian Leighton Levy and Ken Irwin will be inducted during the awards show on Sept. 29. The Rounder founders celebrated 45 years in 2015.
Each year, the IBMA also recognizes up to five individuals for their significant contributions to bluegrass music, with its Distinguished Achievement Award. This year’s recipients include Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, the Boston Bluegrass Union, William Hundley “Bill” Emerson, Jr. (founder of groups The Country Gentlemen and Emerson & Waldron), producer/manager/publisher Jim Rooney, and SiriusXM Radio’s Bluegrass Junction. The Distinguished Achievement Awards will be presented during an awards luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 29 during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Week in Raleigh, North Carolina.