This report was shared by C.S. “Charlie” Robinson of the Southeastern Bluegrass Association.
On the occasion of his 70th birthday at a performance on Friday (2/24) in Foley, AL, the SouthEastern Bluegrass Association (SEBA) honored Little Roy Lewis with the organization’s first Lifetime Achievement Award.
Little Roy, a veteran of over 60 years of recording, entertaining audiences and mentoring young musicians, was almost overwhelmed as he received the award. A rousing rendition of Happy Birthday immediately followed the presentation by all the show’s musicians and audience members. It was a most memorable night for one of the industry’s most colorful and remarkable personalities.
Lewis is the last active performer of the famed Lewis Family. His father “Pop” Lewis, patriarch of the family was well known by generations for his family’s Gospel shows, always punctuated by the energetic antics of Little Roy, who has retained that nickname from his earliest days with The Lewis Family as a young boy.
Little Roy is currently performing with Lizzy Long in what has been described as among the most exciting and invigorating shows on the bluegrass and Gospel circuit today, The Little Roy & Lizzy Show. The duo has garnered two consecutive Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards for Song of the Year in 2010 for When We Fly, and for Mountain Top in 2011.
Additional photos and video of the presentation can be found on the SEBA Facebook page. Special thanks go out to Tammy Jean Crothers for posting video of the actual presentation.
Congratulations, Little Roy, and Happy Birthday! You make us all so proud!
