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As the title of her new album suggests, Rhonda Vincent appears to have a Good Thing Going.  The bluegrass singer and mandolinist, who also plays the guitar and fiddle, was again named as Entertainer of the Year, while her band, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, took Vocal Group of the Year honors during the 34^th Annual Bluegrass Awards presented by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) earlier this month at its 25^th national convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Vincent also was named SPBGMA’s Entertainer of the Year in 2002-2006.  Three of Vincent’s band mates also took instrumental performers of the year honors for their respective instruments this year: Mickey Harris (bass fiddle), Kenny Ingram (banjo) and Hunter Berry (fiddle).

Other big winners in the ceremonies held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel included The Grascals (interviewed and profiled in these pages in a Jan. 30, 2007 feature that is available in the Archives)), whom fans selected as both Bluegrass Band and Instrumental Group of the Year.  Nothin’ Fancy was voted Entertaining Group of the Year.  Grasstowne took home Album of the Year honors for The Road Headin’ Home, while J.D. Crowe & the New South ‘s “”Lefty’s Old Guitar” was voted Song of the Year and Tom. T.  Hall & Dixie Hall shared the Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year honor.    

Alecia Nugent was voted Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional), while James King was named Male Vocalist of the Year (Traditional).  Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary) was Larry Stephenson.  His female counterpart was, of course, Rhonda Vincent.

Rounding out the instrumental performers of the year are Phil Leadbetter (dobro) and Josh Williams (guitar). John and Fern Hutchinson were named Bluegrass Promoters of the Year.  Knoxville, Tennessee-based WDVX-FM was voted Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year, while the station’s Freddy Smith was voted Bluegrass DJ of the Year.

The SPBGMA also held an International Bluegrass Band Championship in conjunction with its national convention.  Shephardsville, Kentucky’s Blue Riverwas named the first place winner, edging Dyersburg, Tennessee’s Stone County Connection, by less than 200 overall points, 8524-8350.

Established in 1979, SPBGMA is a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve the traditional spirit and art form of bluegrass music.  More information is available at www.spbgma.com.

Last 5 posts in Awards & Contests

• Americana Music Association to Honor Joan Baez, Sept. 18 - August 19th, 2008
• Independent Music Awards Extends Entry Deadline - August 4th, 2008
• Aaron Espe is Emerging Artist for Four Corners Folk Festival - July 20th, 2008
• Entry Deadline Nears for Mountain Stage NewSong Contest - July 2nd, 2008
• 2008 Music to Life Contest Winners Perform at Kerrville - June 12th, 2008

Last 5 posts in Bluegrass & Beyond

• Long Island Bluegrass Festival Set For August 16 - July 29th, 2008
• Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame Inducts 10 - June 28th, 2008
• 42nd Bill Monroe Memorial Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival Set For June 14-21 in Indiana Town that was his Second Home - May 19th, 2008
• Americana, Bluegrass & Roots Festivals Spring Up in TX & NC - March 5th, 2008
• Rhonda Vincent & The Rage Win a Bevy of SPBGMA Awards - February 17th, 2008

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