Bruce Winges congratulates Shane Austin at The Station Inn in Nashville
The Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation, a charitable organization established by the late Crandall Creek founder Jerry Andrews and fellow bluegrass singer and songwriter Bruce Winges, has awarded their 2026 Steve Gully Memorial Scholarship to Shane Austin of Fall Branch, TN.
The award, a $5,000 grant to help pay for further education in bluegrass music, was created to honor the memory of Steve Gulley, the highly influential singer and songwriter who died from an aggressive cancer in 2020 at 57 years of age. Steve had made a name for himself first as a vocalist at Renfro Valley, and with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Mountain Heart, Grasstowne, and his own band, Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle. His original songs, many written with Tim Stafford, were recorded by a wide array of bluegrass artists, including on two records with Tim.
Shane is in his final year at East Tennessee State University, where he studies guitar with Wyatt Rice. Though his degree will be in computer science, he is also taking a minor in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Roots Music Studies program.
In accepting this scholarship, Austin remarked…
“You have no idea what this means to me. Bluegrass music has shaped my life both musically and personally. I was introduced to it at an early age through my family.”
His application was chosen by Bruce Winges and Debbie Gulley, Steve’s widow, who also performed with Shane and Crandall Creek at Nashville’s Station Inn on August 13.
Shane’s scholarly interests lie at the intersection of music and digital technology, and he wrote in his scholarship application:
“Bluegrass music, with its emphasis on tradition, collaboration, and authenticity, provides a meaningful counterbalance to the technical and analytical nature of my academic work. I intend to carry both forward, contributing to each in a way that reflects dedication, creativity, and respect for the communities involved.”
Previous recipients of the Steve Gulley Memorial Scholarship include Maddie Murray Holbrook of Kentucky, Lillyanne McCool of Arkansas, and Audrey Neel of Missouri.
Donations to help continue this program can be made online.
