bluegrassinternational

IBJuly 2016

World ofbluegrass

wide open bluegrass

Talent Buyer Track Announced

Dr. Ralph Stanley Remembered1927 - 2016

Songwriter Showcase Participants Announced

World Of Bluegrass Health Fair

IBMA Board Elections

& 3rd Round IBMA Awards Ballot

STAFF

BoARd

InFo

International BluegrassVol. 31 | No. 6 | July 2016

Statement of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the writers alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers, directors, staff or members of IBMA. Portions of International Bluegrass may be

reprinted provided that explicit citation of the source is made: “Reprinted with permission from International Bluegrass, the publication of the International Bluegrass Music Association, www.ibma.org.”

Guest Editor: Nancy Cardwell

Designer: Erin Faith Erdoserinfaitherdos@gmail.com

IntErnatIonal BluEgrass(ISSN #1095-0605)

IBMa: IBMA is the trade association that connects and educates bluegrass professionals, empowers the bluegrass

community, and encourages worldwide appreciation of bluegrass music of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

ContaCt usThe monthly emailed publication of the

International Bluegrass Music Association

4206 Gallatin Road, 37216 USA615-256-3222 | 888-GET-IBMA

Fax: 615-256-0450 Email: info@ibma.org Website: www.ibma.org

Tim Surrett - Board Chairperson

shannon turnerDirector of

Communications and Professional

Development

leah JamesDirector of Member

Services

Paul schimingerExecutive Director

Eddie HuffmanDirector of Convention

Services

Alan Bartram-Artists/Composers/PublishersBecky Buller-At Large

Jamie Deering-Merchandisers/LuthiersRegina Derzon-Secretary, Associations

Mike Drudge-Agents, Managers & PublicistsJohn Goad-Print Media/Education

Denise Jarvinen-At LargeMarian Leighton Levy-Recording/Distribution/Marketing

William Lewis-At Large

Steve Martin-At LargeStephen Mougin-At Large

Joe Mullins-Treasurer, Artists/Composers/PublishersBen Surratt- Vice Chair

Wayne Taylor-Artists-Composers/PublishersAlan Tompkins-At Large

Angelika Torrie- InternationalBree Tucker-Myers- Event Production

Bob Webster-Broadcast Media

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Tuesday-ThursdaySept 27-30

Friday-Saturday

Sept 30-Oct 1S

A W

eeklong Bluegrass Music ExperienceLike no Other in the World!

CONFERENCE The IBMA Business Conferenceis the premier industry event and trade show forbluegrass professionals.

EXHIBIT HALLThe Bluegrass Expo is the central gathering place to browse the latest industry wares, conduct business, and network.

BLUEGRASS RAMBLEOfficial showcase performances at the IBMA's annual World of Bluegrass Business Conference form the premier platform for introducing talent and new music to the bluegrass community.

WIDE OPEN BLUEGRASS

Weekend FestivalWide Open Bluegrass has a ticketed

Main Stage at Red Hat Amphitheater, with part of the proceeds benefiting the

Bluegrass Trust Fund, and a FREE StreetFest with music in downtown Raleigh on five stages plus a dance

tent, free activities, stages, and amusic expo inside the Raleigh

Convention Center, and much more!Info and Schedules:

wideopenbluegrass.com

1

2

3

5

TICKETSTICKETS

ARE PROUD TO BRING YOU

AND

AWARDS SHOWThe International Bluegrass Music Awards Show is the biggest night on the bluegrass calendar, recognizing outstanding achievement and pioneering efforts in the genre.

ThursdaySept 294

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ta B l e o f c o n t e n t sJuly 2016

24 annoUncInG sonGWRIteR sHoWcase PaRtIcIPants!

We Had Record Numbers Of Amazing Songs from Stellar Talent This Year. Who Will Play the Coveted Songwriter Showcase Stage at World of Bluegrass in September?

international BluegraSS

Table of Contents photos provided by Todd Gunsher, James McKelvey, Willa Stein and Amy Brakefield /Gusto RecordsCover photo provided by Amy Brakefield/Gusto Records

6 Ralph edmond stanley (february 25, 1927 - June 23, 2016)

10 Photo album

Cover story

When Dr. ralph Stanley died at 89 on June 23, he left a legacy steeped in history as one of the genre’s early progenitors. obitu-ary by gary reid.

We look back at the life and career of ralph Stanley in pictures. Curated by Kelly Smith and Shannon Wayne turner.

18 Talent Buyer Track Overview

20 Business to Breakfast Invitation

22 The Bluegrass Ramble

18 WoRlD of BlUeGRass annoUnces talent BUYeR tRacK

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neXt issue...Bluegrass Unlimited Celebrates 50 YearS; our tribute to Dr. ralph Stanley Continues.

30 tHanKs to oUR neW MeMBeRs

25 25 IBMA Awards Voting – 3rd Ballot Information:

26 Wide Open Bluegrass Adds New Talent

31 BoaRD of DIRectoRs electIon UPDate

28 World of Bluegrass Health Fair

Find Out When the Final Ballot Will Be Coming Out, and When You Will Vote for the Winners of the 2016 IBMA Awards!

Big Names Have Been Added to the Line-Up of the 2016 Wide Open Bluegrass Festival. Are Your Favorites Scheduled?

Get Free Eye, Hearing and Dental Exams, plus FREE EYEWEAR!* Take advantage of our Health Fair, and Your Registration is Already Paid for! Talk About a Bargain!* For Qualified Attendees

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The legendary mountain musician known affectionately to a legion of fans the world over as Dr. Ralph Stanley has died. He had been bat-tling advanced stages of skin cancer for most of the last year.

His popularity seemed to know no boundaries, and he drew admirers from far and wide. Among his many fans were Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Elton John and the late George Jones. With a compelling voice that was instantly recognizable, he drew his listeners into a special world that was born of his own upbringing in the physically beautiful, yet hardscrabble, mountains of southwestern Virginia.

It was the hill country of rural Ap-palachia that shaped Ralph Stan-ley’s music. Much of it began right at home, where his mother Lucy played an old-time style on the banjo. Father Lee Stanley loved to sing the old ballads, including ones that in Ralph’s hands later became career masterpieces such as “Man of Constant Sorrow” and “Pretty Polly.” Years later, the Primitive Baptist singing of Ralph’s youth would become a major component of bluegrass music.

Stanley began his storied career upon his discharge from the mili-

tary at the end of World War II. He was not even out of uniform when he found himself singing a song on local radio station WNVA in Norton, Virginia, as a de facto member of Roy Sykes & the Blue Ridge Moun-tain Boys. His older brother, Carter, was also a part of the group. Shortly afterwards, Ralph offered his broth-er an ultimatum: they could pull out and start a group of their own, or he would seek other endeavors. At one time, Ralph had designs on using his GI benefits to go to school to become a veterinarian.

In short order, Ralph and Carter formed their own band – The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys – and, after a brief stay in Norton, landed a spot on a new radio station in Bristol, Vir-ginia: WCYB. The station’s flagship noontime program – Farm and Fun Time – featured The Stanley Broth-ers off and on for twelve years, and is a legendary part of bluegrass his-tory. For people in the Appalachian environs surrounding Bristol, the Stanley Brothers were there at the right time with the right product.Ralph grew up playing two styles of banjo: the old-time clawham-mer style of his mother, Lucy, and a more modern two-finger style that was popularized in the 1930s

by Wade Mainer. In 1948, Ralph added the new three-finger style to his repertoire and he got to show off his “fancy banjo pickin’” on a recording of a song the group heard by Bill Monroe called “Molly and Tenbrooks.” Band member Pee Wee Lambert played mandolin and sang the verses just like Monroe, but it was Ralph’s driving banjo playing that brought the song home. It remains one of the most exciting recordings from the early days of bluegrass.In the latter part of 1948, The Stanley Brothers signed a five-year contract with Columbia Records, one of the largest recording com-panies in the nation. Twenty-two songs were recorded, including such classics as “The White Dove,” “The Fields Have Turned Brown,” and “The Lonesome River” -- all of which featured Ralph’s banjo work and tenor harmonies. Also included were two songs that came to be the most enduring pieces in Ralph’s repertoire: “Pretty Polly” and “Man of Constant Sorrow.”

In 1953, Ralph and Carter signed another five-year recording contract, this time with Mercury Records. By all accounts, this group of 45 songs represents the cream of the crop of recorded Stanley Brothers

Ralph Edmond StanlEy (February 25, 1927 - June 23, 2016)

by Gary Reid

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material. As Bob Artis noted in his book Bluegrass, “Ralph was send-ing his hard, mountain tenor right up through the rafters. The younger Stanley was playing his banjo hard and loud, establishing once and for all the Stanley-style of bluegrass banjo.” A number of banjo num-bers recorded for Mercury, such as “Hard Times,” “Big Tilda” and “Fling Ding,” became time-honored masterpieces.

Ralph added to his instrumental rep-ertoire in 1958, when he and Carter signed with King Records. Their first release, the self-titled Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Moun-tain Boys (King 615) contained

such memorable tunes as “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” “Mastertone March,” and a riveting cover of the classic “Train 45.”

Following the tumultuous middle and late 1950s, when rock ‘n’ roll all but decimated the more tradi-tional forms of country music, the 1960s were a mixture of good times and bad for The Stanley Broth-ers. Despite a prodigious output of recordings on King Records, and acceptance on college campuses and a number of folk festivals, a lot of the brothers’ work consisted of low-paying club jobs. In 1966, the rigors of the road and declining health took the life of Carter Stanley at the age

of 41, leaving Ralph alone to carry on.

Ralph was initially unsure about what his future would be at that point, but an outpouring of support from his many fans gave him the courage to forge ahead with a solo career. In short order, he reassem-bled a new version of The Clinch Mountain Boys which included a young Larry Sparks, ebullient fid-dler Curly Ray Cline, and guitarist/bass player/comedian Melvin Goins. This group recorded five albums for the King and Jalyn labels in the late 1960s and set Ralph’s solo career in motion.

Blake Williams, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe & Ricky Skaggs on the stage of the Opry. Photo Credit: Opry.com.

RAlPH STAnlEy

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By the early 1970s, Ralph’s band changed personnel and he assembled what many consider to be one of the best editions of the Clinch Moun-tain Boys. Fans often cite Roy Lee Centers as the best of the many lead singers that replaced Carter Stanley. Added to this were young Kentucki-ans Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs, guitarist Rickey Lee and bass player Jack Cooke. Just as the mid-’50s had been a high-water mark for the Stanley Brothers, such was the case with Ralph in the early 1970s.

It was during this period that Ralph’s music experienced a num-ber of changes. While he still kept plenty of driving three-finger style banjo in his performances, his music took a decided shift that reflected the old-time roots of his upbringing. More so than any other mainstream performer, Ralph’s music was a mix of old-time mountain music and bluegrass. One of his most striking innovations was his introduction of a cappella gospel singing to bluegrass.

Throughout the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, Ralph enjoyed a steady career on the bluegrass festival circuit, where he was an established head-liner. In 1992, he got a career bump with the release of Saturday Night & Sunday Morning, a star-studded two-CD set that paired him with many top country and bluegrass performers including Dwight Yoakam, George Jones, Alison Krauss and Tom T. Hall. The process was repeated in 1998 with the release of Clinch Mountain Country, which featured popular music and cultural icon Bob Dylan.

In January of 2000, Ralph joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry, becom-ing the show’s first inductee of the 21st century. At year’s end, the audi-ence for his music exploded when his singing appeared as an integral part of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? film soundtrack. His perfor-mance of “Oh Death” resulted in his first Grammy award for Best Male Country Vocalist, and gave him top billing as part of the spinoff Down From the Mountain tour. In 2010, O Brother music producer T Bone Burnett featured Ralph on another well-received tour called The Speak-ing Clock Revue, which also includ-ed Elvis Costello and Elton John.

Over the years, Stanley amassed a number of awards and honors, in-cluding three Grammys, two honor-ary doctorate of arts degrees, induc-tion into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame, a National Medal of Arts award that was presented to him by President George W. Bush, a National Heri-tage Fellowship, a Living Legend award from the Library of Congress, designation by the Virginia legis-lature as an Outstanding Virgin-ian, and he was the Virginia Press Association’s choice for Virginian of the Year. Additionally, he had a museum bearing his name and hon-oring his life in music opened in his hometown of Clintwood, Virginia, and was the promoter of one of the longest-running bluegrass festivals in the world.

In recent years, as arthritis and other health issues hampered his perform-ing abilities, he ceded portions of the show to various band and family members, but he remained at the forefront with his trademark vocals and straightforward MC work.

Ralph Stanley possessed a beautiful singing voice that defies description and the perfect complement to it in a unique style of banjo playing, one that will forever be associated with his name. Born of the mountains and seemingly tempered to perfec-tion by the ages contained therein, his was a talent that comes along only once in a very great while. His singing and playing were charged with an intensity and, as Bluegrass Unlimited contributor Walt Saunders has mentioned, an “emotional im-pact [that] he rarely fails to deliver.” An eminent addition to our nation’s, indeed, the world’s, musical land-scape, he will be missed.

Gary Reid is a 40+ year veteran of bluegrass and old-time music. He is currently touring his one-man play A Life of Sorrow - the Life and Times of Carter Stanley.

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HEAdlInE HERE

The Stanley Brothers, circa 1948 at WCBY, Bristol, TN. Courtesy of Muleskinner News.

Ricky Skaggs, third from right, performs with Rhonda Vincent and Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys to open the IBMA Awards show at the Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville in 1998. Credit: Brian Bohannon / AP Photo

Ralph Stanley receives a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Perfor-mance for his work in “O Brother Where Art Thou?” Credit: REUTERS / Gary Hershorn File Photo

Ralph Stanley is surrounded by the former members of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys at the first Early Bird Bluegrass Concert in 1971. Standing are Monroe’s son James, left, leader of the Midnight Ramblers; Mac Wiseman; Bill Yates of the Country Gentlemen; Stanley; and Jimmy Martin. Seated are Don Reno, of Reno, Smiley, Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups; Bill Monroe; and Lester Flatt. Credit: Joe Rudis / The Tennessean

Dr. Ralph brings his buddy Jim Lauderdale to his knees on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Photo Credit: Opry.com

HEAdlInE HERE

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Ralph Stanley and Larry Sparks, 1967. Credit: www.tumblr.com Ralph Stanley and Ralph Stanley II, 2009. Credit: John Darwin Kurc

Ralph Stanley teaches a workshop at the Berkshire Mountains Festival, 1980. Credit: Fred Robbins

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HEAdlInE HERE

Dr. Ralph Stanley with Tom T. Hall and Don Rigsby. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Bluegrass, traditional and blues legends including (l-r, front row ) bluegrass musicians George Shuffler, Ralph Stanley and Red Stanley (no relation) of The Stanley Brothers; and (l-r, 2nd row) folk musician Hobart Smith and blues musician Robert Pete Williams backstage in July, 1964, at the New-port Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. Credit: The Estate of David Gahr / Getty Images

HEAdlInE HERE

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Ralph Stanley at a Senator John Edwards’ campaign in 2008. Credit: Win McNamee / Getty Images

Ralph and Carter Stanley (John Palmer on bass) at the Roanoke Blue Grass Festival in Fincastle, Virginia 1965. Photo by Ron Petronko.

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HEAdlInE HERE

Dr. Ralph Stanley with a more recent incarnation of The Clinch Mountain Boys, including Ralph Stanley II. Photo Credit: Opry.com

Ralph Stanley, center, and his brother, Carter, right, performing with Red Stanley, Benny Birchfield and George Shuffler at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964. Credit David Gahr / Getty Images

HEAdlInE HERE

I n t e r n a t i o n a l B l u e g r a s s | J u l y 2 0 1 6 15Among 34 honored by the Library of Congress for their contributions to “American life” in 2000 in Washington, D.C., are Pete Seeger, left, Bobby Short, Ralph Stanley, Gloria Steinem and Isaac Stern. Credit: Dennis Cook / AP Photo

Ralph Stanley and the Soggy Bottom Boys - Ron Block, Stuart Duncan, Barry Bales, Dan Tyminski and Mike Compton - in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, March 22, 2014. Credit: www.seeingsouthern.com

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HEAdlInE HERE

Ralph Stanley, 2010. Credit: Chris Felver / Getty Images

Ralph Stanley, 1970. Credit: Michael Ochs / Getty Images

Ralph Stanley signing autographs after a concert in Tokyo. Taken during his first Japanese tour with Roy Lee Centers, Curly Ray Cline & Jack Cooke. Photo by Komoriya, Nobuharu

Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley and Keith Whitley circa 1970. Credit: www.bluegrasstoday.com

HEAdlInE HERE

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Ralph Stanley with Don Rigsby’s son, Andrew, and father.Ralph Stanley is awarded his honorary degree by Yale President Peter Salovey, a longtime member of the Professors of Bluegrass. Photo by Michael Marsland

A teen-aged Don Rigsby with Ralph Stanley and his dad, 1970s. Photo courtesy Don Rigsby.

Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys performing on the Grand Ole Opry. Ralph joined the Opry in 2000. Credit: www.opry.com

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2:15 pm – 4 pm

Tuesday | september 27, 2016The Artist/Talent Buyer Gig Fair

The IBMA World of Bluegrass Business Conference TalenT Buyer Track: an Overview

Now in its third year, IBMA’s Talent Buyer Track Committee continues to improve upon its efforts to cultivate a space that allows agents and talent buyers to effectively conduct business during IBMA’s World of Blue-grass. Check out all the events below, RSVP and make the most of your World of Bluegrass Business Confer-ence!

**Note: The Gig Fair will kick off the week on Tuesday this year, allowing talent buyers the chance to meet artists before the showcasing begins!The event, a rare meet-and-greet opportunity in the midst of a hectic and fast-paced music industry event, serves as an organized information exchange for emerging artists and event producers. We envision the Gig Fair as a first step in building business relationships, and it has become one of the most popular events of the World of Bluegrass week! Check out more information about the Gig Fair here.

RSVP for the Gig Fair now so that artists can start scheduling to meet with you!

TAlEnT BuyER TRAck

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The Bluegrass Ramble & Artist Showcases are a core component of World of Bluegrass, the way the hottest new talent is introduced to the bluegrass industry. This year more than ever, our showcase artists demon-strate the diversity and breadth of bluegrass music.

World of Bluegrass Talent Buyer Track Sponsored by:

5 pm – 6:30 pm

Wednesday | september 28, 2016

all week

all week

9 am Breakfast 2 Business

Agent/Talent Buyer Reception

The Bluegrass Ramble & Artist Showcases

Talent Buyer Track Educational Panels

While our Agent Pitch Sessions have been successful, this year we are taking it up a notch by providing a place for buyers and agents to connect over a gratis hot breakfast at the first-ever Breakfast 2 Business. Learn more about this RSVP-only event, and see the invitation on the next page.

As always, our Agent/Talent Buyer Reception promises to be a relaxing and engaging networking session. It is the perfect time to connect with new and old colleagues over hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Why not? The first drink is on IBMA!

*Registration for artists will open later this summer, after talent buyers and event producers have signed up.

Join us for an unmatched week of networking and business opportunities!

Supporting the Talent Buyer Track for Three Years

The IBMA Education Committee has been working with the Talent Buyer Track Committee to provide educa-tional panels focused on the specific needs and interests of buyers, promoters and agents. Our seminars hold some of the most valuable take-away material at World of Bluegrass, and we know that you won’t want to miss a single opportunity to be part of the discussions on the issues facing today’s leading talent buyers, event producers and booking agents.

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AGENTS, TALENT BUYERS & EVENT PRODUCERS

talent buyer track

You’re invited to attendThe First Annual Breakfast 2 Business

RSVPs are required for this limited capacity session.

Talent Buyers & Event Producers - come together with your peers, both new and old, to be brought up to speed through a quick agent introduction that will in-clude a rundown of their roster and a detailed timeline of where you can catch them and their acts throughout the WOB week.

RSVP for Talent Buyers & Event Producers

Agents - take advantage of this opportunity to pro-mote your current roster, artists’ WOB schedules and learn who the new players are. Foster relationships that will pay forward for countless years to come. Re-connect with your long-standing buyers and network with the buyers you have been pitching for months.

RSVP for Agents

**Artists without professional agency representation may take advantage of the opportunity to get into a room with lead-ing talent buyers, event producers and programmers by signing up for the Gig Fair when artist registration opens later this summer. *You must be registered separately for the IBMA Business conference in order to participate in the Gig Fair.

Rosters are constantly changing and new buy-ers/event producers are always emerging. Join us to start your day off right over a delicious complimentary breakfast while participating in a valuable session that helps to prepare you for a successful conference experience. Your partici-pation is vital to this program and IBMA’s efforts to foster growth within our industry.

Attendance Prerequisites:

• Must be an agent working under an agency, OR a talent buyer, event producer or pro-grammer

• Please RSVP below - no on-site walk ups will be accepted

HEAdlInE HERE

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HEAdlInE HERE

ARTiST ShOwCASES

AFTERNOON ShOwCASES ThE BLUEGRASS RAmBLE

the bluegrass ramble&

The Bluegrass Ramble at the World of Bluegrass Business Conference is the premier platform for introducing the hottest new talent to the bluegrass industry. This year more than ever, our showcase artists demonstrate the diversity and breadth of bluegrass music.

*Please note: All showcase artists will perform at both the Raleigh Convention Center AND at The Blue-grass Ramble in venues around downtown Raleigh.

sponsored artist showcases

official artist showcases

wednesday | september 28| 2 pm - 5 pm tuesday | september 27| 7 pm - 2 am

wednesday | september 28| 7 pm - 2 am

thursday | september 29| 7 pm - 2 amThursday| september 29| 2 pm - 5 pm

will take place

will take place

will take place

WoRld oF BluEgRASS

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For more information on any of our 2016 Showcase acts, please visit our Bluegrass Ramble lineup page. 

This year we are thrilled to welcome to

The Bluegrass ramBle & arTisT showcase sTages: 

ANNIE LOU BILL AND THE BELLES 10 STRING SYMPHONY

CARDBOARD FOX CAROLINA BLUE

HACKENSAW BOYS HANNAH SHIRA NAIMAN HIGH PLAINS JAMBOREE

HOT BUTTERED RUM J2B2

JENNI LYN JOE WALSH KAIA KATER

MISSY RAINES AND THE NEW HIP MOLLY TUTTLE BAND

OLD SALT UNION RED WINE

RUN BOY RUN STEEP REVINE

TELLICO THE ANDREW COLLINS TRIO

THE HONEY DEWDROPS THE Lil’ SMOKIES

THE LOOSE STRINGS BAND THE UNSEEN STRANGERS

TIM CARTER AND BANG BANG TOWN MOUNTAIN

TROUT STEAK REVIVAL VALERIE SMITH AND LIBERTY PIKE

ZOE & CLOYD

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The IBMA Songwriter Committee is happy to announce the participants for the World of Bluegrass Songwriter Showcase. Those showcasing at the Raleigh Convention Center with their original songs on September 29 at 1

pm will be:

Aaron Bibelhauser - “Blue Collar Dreams”

Anya Hinkle - “Ever What They Say”

Ashleigh Caudill - “Franklin County”

Christopher Burton - “Textbook Definition of the Blues”

CJ Cain - “Widow’s Ghost”

Galen Green - “Little Circles”

Jenni Lyn Gardner - “Burn Another Candle At Both Ends”

Kevin Williamson - “The Miner’s Song”

Korby Lenker - “Friend and a Friend”

Lee Leanders - “Birmingham to Jackson”

Thank you to all who submitted a song!

World of Bluegrasss o n g w r i t e rshowcase participants announced

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The 3rd round of vot-ing for the IBMA Awards will begin August 1 and run through August 15, 2016. Professional and Organizational mem-bers of the IBMA will re-ceive their ballots with instructions for casting their votes.

The 3rd round of voting will determine the win-ners in each category.

We cannot overstress the importance of vot-ing. Without the active voices of every IBMA member, the awards process cannot properly reflectthecurrenttastesand successes of blue-grass music.

WE NEED YOU, so please vote.

The recipients of the 2016 IBMA Awards will be an-nounced at the IBMA Awards Show as part of World of Bluegrass week in Raleigh, North Caro-lina, on Thursday, Sep-tember 29.

look for…Your tHIRD Round IBMa awards Ballot

The 2016 PNC Presents Wide Open Bluegrass festival at the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina, promises to be a feast of bluegrass music. Eleven-time IBMA winner Ricky Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, have been added to the Friday, September 30, lineup. Additionally, Alice Gerrard will join previously announced Laurie Lewis & The Right

Hands as a special guest Friday night, and Symphony of the Mountains joins previously announced Kruger Brothers on Saturday, October 1. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet for the September 30 – October 1 party, tickets can be obtained by going to ibma.org/world-of-bluegrass/buy-tickets or calling 1-800-514-3849. You’re going to want to see this lineup!

We’ve Added More Music to Wide Open Bluegrass

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Ricky Skaggs Alice Gerrard

Friday, September 30(listed in alphabetical order by first name)

Dailey & Vincent

Jerry Douglas Presents The Earls of Leicester

Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands with Special Guest Alice Gerrard

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Soggy Bottom Boys – featuring Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales and Ron Block of Alison Krauss & Union Station; and Pat Enright, Mike Compton and Stuart

Duncan of The Nashville Bluegrass Band

The Becky Buller Band

The Del McCoury Band

Greensky Bluegrass

John Cowan with Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Kruger Brothers with Special Guest Symphony of the Mountains

Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Steep Canyon Rangers

Saturday, October 1

WoB lInEuP AnnouncEd

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Sight & Sound Vision Care – Free Vision Exams and Eyewear

MusiCares – Free Dental Clinic and Ear Impressions for custom ear plugs

Vision Clinic:

Sight & Sound has partnered with the America’s Best Glasses and Contacts to provide free vision screenings and eyewear to all registered conference attendees.

“Sight & Sound, as a provider of eye care to those in the music industry, is thrilled to be working alongside the International Bluegrass Music Association,” says Mark Lindsey from Sight & Sound.

“We understand that not everyone has access to regular eye care. We look forward to providing care to all attendees and hearing some terrific bluegrass music. Please come by our clinic this year for

free exams and eyewear (glasses, readers, sunglasses). Special thanks to America’s Best Glasses and Contacts for their donations of time, equipment and resources.”

VISION CARE FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRYSight & Sound

It can be tough to be in the music industry and have access to quality healthcare. Whether you are an artist, business owner, event producer or whatever your role in the industry, it can be a challenge to keep yourself healthy and find affordable providers for your healthcare needs.

Your health is important to the IBMA, and that is why we are delighted to once again partner with several providers, including Sight & Sound Vision Care and MusiCares, The Recording Academy’s healthcare outreach, to bring you the World of Bluegrass Health Fair in Raleigh. These are some of the benefits that will be available to qualifying World of Bluegrass attendees:

IBMA Health Fair Returns to World of Bluegrass

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HEAlTH FAIR

Dental clinic Information:MusiCares, in conjunction with the Smiles program, will be providing dental screenings, teeth clean-

ing, and complete x-rays to uninsured music professionals in need.

Hearing clinic and ear Impressions for custom ear plugs:MusiCares, in partnership with Audibel, will also be offering ear impressions for free custom ear plugs. MusiCares also works to address the health and wellness needs of music professionals. In support of these efforts, MusiCares will be joined by an audiologist who will be onsite during select hours to provide valuable information on the importance of hearing conservation. It is offering ear impressions for FREE* custom musicians’ earplugs, which are will likewise be provided compliments of MusiCares.

Danielle Bowker, Manager of MusiCares, notes, “MusiCares is honored to again participate in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Business Conference. IBMA does an extraordinary job of prioritizing health and wellness and helping MusiCares take care of the overall health of the Bluegrass

community.”

There will be additional health-related events presented at World of Bluegrass, with the details still to come. Stay tuned IB: International Bluegrass and your Inbox for all the details!

** Important Note: Dental and hearing clinics are limited to music industry professionals who can document eligibility and those who sign up in advance.

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Mitchi BakerDavid Bloxham

Kalyn BruinMatt Fleury

Benjamin Fursten-berg

A.C. Garner

Nancy HaywoodElizabeth Hemric

Greg HowesBill Kappa

Kelly KesslerKent Leadbetter

John May

John NelsonBetsy Phillips

Maureen RoddyAlbert SegarsKathy ShippBrian SmithKellie Tew

If you are not yet a member of the IBMA, what are you waiting for?!

Be a part of all that is great about bluegrass - yesterday, today and tomorrow. Visit www.ibma.org/membership, or call to speak with our Membership Services Director, Leah James, at 615-256-3222.

We would like to give a huge welcome and shout-out to our new IBMA members, all of whom joined in May and June. Thank you for supporting the IBMA and bluegrass music!

Grass Roots Members Organizational Members

welcome to the family

Devon AldridgePiero Biasi

Lucas BellottiCharles BrewsterRichard CiferskyAndrew CollinsMartino Coppo

Deborah Cousins

Rick DenningMarco Ferretti

Katrina HennigarNancy HightJustin Hiltner

Claudia HoneycuttUwe Kruger

James McEleney

Carla MeltonMike Mezzatesta

Kathy MouginCason OgdenWill PadgettPaige ParkLeo PoschJohn Posey

Jim SharpleyMikaya TaylorJason TomlinJustin TomlinRonald Vines

William WalkerStan Wass

Individual Members

Andrew Collins TrioThe Deer Creek BoysListen & Learn, Inc.

Red Wine

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This is to notify all IBMA members where we are in the IBMA Board election process. Applications for seats in:

1. Associations

2. Artists, Composers & Music Publishers

3. Merchandisers and Luthiers

4. At-Large (member-elected)

were received through July 1.

A Note from your IBMABoard of Directors Vice-ChairBen Surratt July Update

Please direct questions to:

IBMA Nominating Committee Chair Ben Surrattben@bensurratt.com

On or about July 15, the Nominating Committee will review all applications and will vote for the top 2 or 3 candidates for each available position. The Nominating Committee (per the bylaws) consists of 3 IBMA board members and 2 non-board members of the organization. Ballots will be sent to members electronically by late July.

August 15 is the deadline for members to vote. On or about August 16, the results of the election will be known and all candidateswillbenotified.Themembershipwillthenbenotified.

Voting shall be by electronic ballot, and will be received by theIBMAofficestaff.

Newly-elected IBMA board members will be invited to attend the IBMA Board meeting Monday and Tuesday, September 26 and 27, 2016 at the beginning of the Business Conference in Raleigh. Incoming Board members will take their seats at the end of Board meeting.

IB

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