Dailey & Vincent, who released their debut CD earlier this year, captured the most awards during last night’s 19th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Tennessee. The group, whose leaders (Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent) apprenticed for years under Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs, was named Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year, while its self-titled debut on Rounder Records was named Album of the Year and “By the Mark” was named Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year. In addition, Dailey was named Male Vocalist of the Year, while Vincent was among the featured artists on the Recorded Event of the Year – Everett Lilly & Everybody and Their Brother (Swift River Music).
Other top award winners included Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Instrumental Group of the Year); Dale Ann Bradley (Female Vocalist of the Year); “Through the Window of a Train,” artists: Blue Highway, songwriters: Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley (Song of the Year). Andy Hall’s Sound of the Slide Guitar was named Instrumental Album of the Year, while Instrumental Performers of the Year honors went to Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), Barry Bales (bass), Michael Cleveland (fiddle), Rob Ickes (dobro), Josh Williams (guitar), and Adam Steffey (mandolin). Previously announced Distinguished Achievement Award recipients included artist Bill Harrell, The Banjo Newsletter, The Ernest Tubb Record Shop, association leader and event producer Art Menius, and artists and educators Joe Carr and Alan Munde. Kyle Munde of XM Satellite Radio was named Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year, while Chris Stuart, a freelance writer for Bluegrass Unlimited, took the honors for Print Media Person of the Year. The Bluegrass Event of the Year Award went to the 29th Annual Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival, which was held at Thomas Point Beach in Maine, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2007.
The awards show, hosted by Del McCoury, was broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio’s ”Bluegrass Junction” and syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets. The show was part of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s annual “World of Bluegrass,” which also featured a business conference that ended yesterday and continues through Sunday, Oct. 5, with a three-day Bluegrass Fan Fest at the National Convention Center/Renaissance Hotel.
