Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers Earn Top Prize At 30th Annual IBMA Awards

(L-R): Jason Barie, Mike Terry, Joe Mullins, Adam McIntosh, Randy Barnes (photo credit: Jeff Fasano/IBMA)

Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers won the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award at the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, marking the band’s first win – and first nomination – in this category. The IBMA awards ceremony was hosted by Del McCoury and Jim Lauderdale and held at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on Sept. 26. Awards were voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association.

“Congratulations to this year’s awards recipients and all of the nominees,” said Paul Schiminger, Executive Director of IBMA. “Being recognized by your professional peers with the highest honors in bluegrass music is quite an achievement, considering the number of incredible artists and recordings in our music today. This is a moment for everyone in the bluegrass community to feel proud and celebrate the many accomplishments of the past year. It is no wonder the appreciation of bluegrass is growing every day.”

The recipients of the 2019 International Bluegrass Music Awards are listed below:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR:
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Sister Sadie (this is the band’s first win in this category)

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (this is the band’s fifth win in this category)

SONG OF THE YEAR:
“Thunder Dan” – Sideline (artist), Josh Manning (writer) Tim Surrett (producer), Mountain Home Music Company (label)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass – Del McCoury Band (artist), Del and Ronnie McCoury (producer), McCoury Music (label) (this is the band’s second win in this category, with a previous win in 2004)

GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR:
“Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout” – Claire Lynch (artist), Jerry Salley (producer), Billy Blue Records (label)

INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR:
“Darlin’ Pal(s) of Mine” – Missy Raines with Alison Brown, Mike Bub, and Todd Phillips (artist), Alison Brown (producer), Compass Records (label)

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Billy Strings

COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR:
“The Guitar Song” – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers with Del McCoury (artists), Joe Mullins (producer), Jerry Salley (associate producer) Billy Blue (label)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:
Brooke Aldridge (her third win in this category, including 2017 and 2018)

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:
Russell Moore (his sixth win in this category, the most recent in 2012)

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Kristin Scott Benson (her fifth win in this category, the most recent in 2011)

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Missy Raines (her eighth win in this category, the most recent in 2007)

RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Phil Leadbetter (his third win in this category, the most recent in 2014)

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Michael Cleveland (his 12th win in this category, previously in 2018)

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Billy Strings (his first nomination – and win – in this category)

MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Alan Bibey (his first win in this category)

Previously announced inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame – Mike Auldridge, Bill Emerson, and The Kentucky Colonels – were honored at the show.

At the Industry Awards Luncheon held earlier in the day, the recipients of the following awards were also announced:

BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR:
Michelle Lee
EVENT OF THE YEAR:
Blueberry Bluegrass Festival – Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
LINER NOTES OF THE YEAR:
Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey
Akira Otsuka, Dudley Connell, Jeff Place, Katy Daley
GRAPHIC DESIGNER OF THE YEAR:
Michael Armistead
WRITER OF THE YEAR:
David Morris
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:
Jerry Salley
SOUND ENGINEER OF THE YEAR:
Ben Surratt

The previously announced 2019 Distinguished Achievement Award recipients –Katy Daley, Mickey Gamble, Dan Hays, Allen Mills, and Moonshiner – were also honored at a luncheon.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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