Just about everybody in Bluegrass has won Album of the Year for their participation in The Musicians Against Childhood Cancer’s Celebration of Life project. 

I’m tickled that one of the trophies will come to our house, but, proud of all the artists who donated their time for this great cause.

Award for an outstanding recorded performance by an artist or artists, first commercially released during the specified time period (Award to artist(s), producer, and label).

The Album Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

This award is for an outstanding recorded performance by an artist or artists featuring instrumental music, new or old, first commercially released during the eligibility period. An album project is eligible when 50% or more of its songs are instrumental performances. (Award to featured artist(s), producer, and label):

The Instrumental Album Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

Male Vocalist Of The Year

Award for the outstanding male vocalist based on recorded and in-person performance. The award goes to the individual.

The Male Vocalist Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. The awards go to the artists.

The Mandolin Player Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

The award for a group who regularly performs together that has shown outstanding recorded and in-person performance in the area of vocal performance. It is not limited to groups which only perform vocally. The award goes to each group member.

The Vocal Group Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. The awards go to the artists.

The Guitar Player Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

Some minor technical snafus and I am back.

Andrea Roberts, booking goddess extraordinaire and fellow Grascal wife, is acting as something of a Stage Manager for the evening. (She wouldn’t tell me her official title so I’m giving her that title). She says that everybody is “behaving and doing what they’re supposed to do.”

I’ve been roaming around while the server has been down and everything does seem to be going smoothly. Well, except for Sheri Easter. She is having some allergy troubles (welcome to autumn in Middle Tennessee) and she left her nose spray on the bus. “I don’t have a key to Mama’and them’s bus” she told me. “Mama and Them” being the illustrious Lewis Family, who are being inducted into the prestigous Hall of Honor.

It’s great to see all the Lewis Clan here, especially Janis Lewis Phillips who, next week, is having some very serious surgery and she delayed the procedure so she wouldn’t miss tonight. Keep her in your prayers.

The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. The awards go to the artists.

The Bass Player Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

The award for the outstanding female vocalist based on recorded and in-person performance. The award goes to the individual.

The Female Vocalist Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. The awards go to the artists.

The Fiddle Player Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. The awards go to the artists.

The Dobro Player Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. The awards go to the artists.

The Banjo Player Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

Recorded Event Of The Year

This award is for a recorded album performance on which 50% or more of the songs represent special collaboration between two or more featured artists (individuals or groups) who do not regularly record together and who are known primarily for their contributions and public performances separate from one another. These acts must have performed together, as a unit, on a musical recording released during the eligibility period with each separate act receiving special billing on the record label and/or songs on which they are featured. (Award to featured acts, producer and label):

The Recorded Event Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

Emerging Artist Of The Year

Award for a group or individual, new to the national bluegrass scene, which has made considerable advances artistically and/or commercially during the eligibility period. The band or individual should be performing under its/his/her name on a regular basis and not have more than two previous finalist nominations for this award. (Award to each group member or individual):

The Emerging Artist Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

Sorry folks - server problems. Everything seems to be back online now.

This award is for an outstanding gospel recorded performance, of one or more songs, new or old, first commercially released or showed significant chart action during the eligibility period. Recorded performance may be vocal, instrumental, or a combination of both. The award goes to the featured artist(s), producer, and label.

The Gospel Recorded Performance Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

Instrumental Group Of The Year

The award for a group who regularly performs together that has shown outstanding recorded and in-person performance in the area of instrumental performance. It is not limited to groups which only perform instrumentals. The award goes to each group member.

The Instrumental Group Of The Year for 2006 is:

Review past recipients of this award.

Just a quick reminder that registered users of The Bluegrass Blog can now add comments to any of the posts during our live blog, so let ‘em know what you think of the award choices!

My down the street neighbor and friend Ricky Skaggs is performing with The Nashville String Machine as we speak. I’m not sure of the title of the song, but, it’s very Irish sounding and fantastic. I imagine there will be a purist or two in the house who might not like it and say that it “ain’t no part of nothing”, but it is part of something and quite breathtaking.

When was the last time you heard some French Horns with a bluegrass band? It’s happening now. I ran into an old co-worker, Kirk Kirkland, son of famed choral arranger Camp Kirkland and his wife, Julianne, who are part of the orchestra. I never dreamed I see those two performing with a bluegrass band. They seem a little shell shocked. Let’s hope their lives will change for the better tonight!

Andy Leftwich is some kind of fiddle man. Mark my word, a hundred years from now, when our great-grandkids talk about great fiddlers, Andy will be one they talk about. Yes, he’s but a boy now…just trust me on that.