The annual IBMA elections concluded recently with the addition of four new board members.

Only professional members vote in board elections. Elected representatives serve for a period of three years beginning with their installment on September 29, 2008.

Here are the four new board members, the constituency they represent, and a little background info about them.

Carl Jackson, an award-winning artist, songwriter and producer from Gallatin, Tennessee, was elected to represent artists and composers.

Ronnie McCoury, an award-winning artist, producer and member of the Del McCoury Band from Hendersonville, Tennessee was elected as an “at-large” representative for all members.

Cindy Baucom, from Elkin, North Carolina, is an award-winning broadcast personality who hosts the nationally syndicated program “Knee Deep in Bluegrass,” was elected to represent the broadcast media.

Craig Havighurst, an award-winning independent journalist, author and producer whose company (String Theory Media) is located in Nashville, Tennessee, was elected by IBMA’s print media and education members.

These new board members join the existing board members (replacing four who previously held these posts) to compose the 17 member policy-making, governing body of the organization.

Ten years ago a CD was released that was probably the very first mashup to feature bluegrass music (mashed with some groovy funk). The CD was GrooveGrass 101, produced by Scott Rouse.

This week Warner Brothers released the CD on iTunes for the first time and I’m told it’s selling quite well.

The CD features bluegrass legend Doc Watson together with Bootsy Collins on Wabash Cannonball and Blue Moon of Kentucky. Other stars making appearances include Mac Wiseman, Jerry Douglas, Ronnie and Rob McCoury, Jason Carter, Mike Bub, Bernie Leden (from the Eagles), and many more. Flatpicking master Steve Kaufman rips off some great solos on Little Cabin Home on the Hill mixed up with all the groovy stuff.

If you’ve never heard GrooveGrass 101, do yourself a favor and go give it a listen on iTunes.

Bluegrass has been getting cozy with the guys from Led Zeppelin recently. From the success of the duet album by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, to John Paul Jones producing Uncle Earl, the connection is there.

The rock band of legend just performed their first full concert in 27 years at the O2 Arena in London, UK, Monday night. This was a full on rock concert, but the bluegrass connection was still alive.

We just heard from our friend Scott Rouse, the Nashville producer responsible for the Blue Highway CD MarbleTown, who was at the show courtesy of John Paul Jones himself.

John Paul Jones invited his bluegrass buddies to London for the Zeppelin show. He gave us killer seats. John’s wife, Mo, really took great care of us all. Here’s me, Paczosa, Ronnie and Rob. We all got backstage after show passes and had a blast. The Bluegrass contingent was full on.

From what Scott tells me, the whole bunch headed over to Jones’ house for a jam session after the concert. So who’s the “whole bunch” you ask?

• John Cowan
• Bela Fleck
• the Uncle Earl girls
• Ronnie & Rob McCoury
• Gary Paczosa
• Scott Rouse
• David Ferguson
• John Carter Cash and Laura Cash
• Chris Eldridge

Sounds like a jam I would have liked to heard!

Thursday afternoon’s edition of Talk of the Nation will include time with The Del McCoury Band. The show (talk/news format) airs each weekday on many National Public Radio affiliate stations at 3:00 p.m. (eastern).

The McCourys will appear during the Performance Chat segment on October 18, where they will pick and sing live in the NPR studio, and also chat with show host Neal Conan. They will offer songs from Ronnie McCoury’s new children’s bluegrass CD, Little Mo’ McCoury, and perhaps some band favorites as well.

The NPR signal is streamed live online if your NPR station does not carry Talk of the Nation and, should you miss Thursday’s show, the audio will be accessible on the NPR web site by 6:00 p.m. tomorrow evening (10/18), and archived indefinitely online.

The first music video from Little Mo’ McCoury, Ronnie McCoury’s new CD of bluegrass music for children, is now available online.

It’s for the song, Man Gave Names To All The Animals, and it’s a real hoot.

Fatherhood has a profound impact, and each man who experiences it feels the change in his own way. For Ronnie McCoury, it has called him to record bluegrass music designed to appeal to young listeners, and hopefully bring families together to enjoy the music as a group.

Little ‘Mo McCoury is due for release on August 21 on McCoury Music, featuring Ronnie and the Del McCoury Band on a set of both new and familiar songs with themes and/or lyrics that young children might appreciate, all performed in the unmistakable McCoury bluegrass style. They’ve included such classics as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Teddy Bear’s Picnic and I’ve Been Working On The Railroad with bluegrass classics like Jimmy Brown The Newsboy and Mama Blues - with Rob McCoury on banjo.

Audio samples from all 16 tracks can be found on the McCoury Music site.

Some touring in support of this CD is expected, with more details anticipated before long.

Ronnie McCoury recently held a bluegrass luau and picking party in Nashville. The party guests included a who’s who of Nashville bluegrass stars. Our friend Wichita Rutherford, the podcasting superstar, was on hand with a video camera.

He’s uploaded the video as a podcast and is running a contest with it. Go watch the video and count the bluegrass stars. Then be the first to leave him a comment with the correct number and you’ll win a spiffy prize. And if you don’t win, he’s still going to give away about 50 other prizes randomly to people who try hard.

I watched it twice and still lost count, I suggest you have a sharp pencil and pad ready!

Last week we told you about a couple of ebay auctions by WDVX in Knoxville that were part of it’s 2007 fundraising efforts.

The first auction was for an autographed Martin DXM guitar. The second auction was an autographed Tony Rice model Santa Cruz guitar. Friday evening the third, and final, instrument went up for auction on ebay.

This time it’s a mandolin. An “F Style” Liddy Mandolin featuring a fern peghead inlay and tobacco sunburst finish. The instrument is sporting autographs by Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Doyle Lawson, David Grisman, Marty Stuart and more.

Once again this instrument and the accompanying case have been provided by Smoky Mountain Guitars in Pigeon Forge, TN.

The bidding began Friday evening February 16th, and will continue through the auction’s closing date of Sunday February 25th, at 6PM EST.

More photos of the instrument are available on the ebay auction page.