The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass for America has announced the nominees for their 2016 Bluegrass Awards. Winners will be announced during their Awards Show on February 7, the closing event during the 2016 SPBGMA Convention in Nashville, TN.
To determine the nominees, ballots are mailed to all SPBGMA members to complete and return to the organization. They are also printed in popular bluegrass periodicals and on the SPBGMA web site. After the voting period closes, ballots are tabulated with the top six vote-getters being nominated.
The 2016 nominees are:
Promoter
- Homer Boyd
- Norman Adams
- D.A. Callaway
- Ryan Frankhouser
- Dwight Dillman
- Bertie Sullivan
Radio Station
- WPAQ-Mt. Airy, NC
- WQDR-Raleigh, NC
- WKXR-Asheboro, NC
- Sirius XM 61-Bluegrass Junction
- WBRF-Galax, VA
- WSM-Nashville, TN
DJ
- Kyle Cantrell-Sirius XM 61
- Larry Nixon-WQDR-Raleigh, NC
- Freddy Smith-WDVX-Knoxville, TN
- Tim Frye-WPAQ-Mt. Airy, NC
- Judith Burnette-WBRF-Galax, VA
- Bobby Franklin-WKXR-Asheboro, NC
Songwriter
- Junior Sisk
- Tim Jamison
- Becky Buller
- Daryl Mosley
- Louisa Branscomb
- Donna Ulisse
Album Of The Year
- It’s About Tyme – Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out on Break A String
- Another Day From Life – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers on Rebel Records
- Runaway Train – Flatt Lonesome on Mountain Home Music Company
- Turn on a Dime – Lonesome River Band on Mountain Home Music Company
- Country Livin’ – Big Country Bluegrass on Rebel Records
- Country Grass – Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road on Pinecastle Records
Bass Fiddle
- Tony King
- Matt Wright
- Barry Bales
- Barry Reed
- Tim Surrett
- Mickey Harris
Dobro
- Gaven Largent
- Tim Graves
- Jerry Douglas
- Phil Leadbetter
- Rob Ickes
- Brent Burke
Guitar
- Keith Tew
- Marty Raybon
- Bryan Sutton
- Junior Sisk
- Josh Williams
- Eddie Gill
Mandolin
- Johnathan Dillon
- Tommy Sells
- Larry Stephenson
- Danny Roberts
- Jesse Brock
- Lorraine Jordan
Banjo
- Lynwood Lunsford
- Kenny Ingram
- Ben Greene
- Jason Davis
- Bennie Boling
- Morris Herbert
Fiddle
- Greg Moore
- Jason Barie
- Michael Cleveland
- Jamie Harper
- Tim Laughlin
- Hunter Berry
Female Vocalist
- Rhonda Vincent
- Teresa Sells
- Sonya Isaacs
- Michelle Nixon
- Lorraine Jordan
- Jeanette Williams
Male Vocalist
- Johnny Williams
- Marty Raybon
- Russell Moore
- Junior Sisk
- Eddie Gill
- Daryl Mosley
Bluegrass Gospel Group
- Jr. Sisk & Ramblers Choice
- Mountain Faith
- Big Country Bluegrass
- The Farm Hands
- Larry Stephenson Band
- Fret High
Bluegrass Vocal Group
- Remington Ryde
- Larry Stephenson Band
- Balsam Range
- Jr. Sisk & Ramblers Choice
- Big Country Bluegrass
- The Farm Hands
Bluegrass Instrumental Group
- Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
- Larry Stephenson Band
- Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
- The Farm Hands
- Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
- Big Country Bluegrass
Bluegrass Band (overall)
- Jr. Sisk & Ramblers Choice
- Big Country Bluegrass
- The Farm Hands
- Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
- Flatt Lonesome
- Larry Stephenson Band
Entertainer(s)
- Jr. Sisk & Ramblers Choice
- Rhonda Vincent
- Big Country Bluegrass
- Lil’ Roy Lewis
- Nothin’ Fancy
- The Farm Hands
Song of the Year
- You’re the One by Flatt Lonesome on Mountain Home Music Company
- Turn on a Dime by Lonesome River Band on Mountain Home Music Company
- I Got Mexico by Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road on Pinecastle Records
- The Bluefield West Virgina Blues by Big Country Bluegrass on Rebel Records
- Moon Over Memphis by Balsam Range on Mountain Home Music Company
- The Last Parade by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers on Rebel Records
