Cherryholmes Named Entertainer of the Year at IBMA Awards

Posted in News on October 31, 2005

Cherryholmes took home their first ever Entertainer of the Year award at the 16th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, October 27 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Cherryholmes was the first group in the history of the awards to be simultaneously nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year. The family band has taken the bluegrass world by storm with their infectious blend of showmanship and high level of instrumental and vocal prowess.

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 & Quicksilverproduced by Doyle Lawson

Instrumental Album of the Year
Slide Effects
produced Scott Vestal

Banjo Player
Jim Mills

Fiddle Player
Stuart Duncan

SOURCENews TAGS Bluegrass Country IBMA Awards Harley Allen Ronnie Bowman Cherryholmes Larry Cordle Jamie Dailey Stuart Duncan Vince Gill Andy Griggs Tom T. Hall Chris Jackson Alison Krauss Doyle Lawson Del McCoury Jim Mills Russell Moore Larry Sparks Ralph Stanley Dan Tyminski Scott Vestal Rhonda Vincent