The Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame has announced the names of the 2012 inductees. Among those listed is bluegrass radio host Cindy Baucom.
Cindy Baucom, who presents the syndicated Knee-Deep in Bluegrass, a 2-hour weekly radio show highlighting the best bluegrass music from new releases to classics, is honored as a Promoter, Organizer and Special Contributor.
Baucom was almost speechless on receiving the news of her induction ….
“I am honored beyond words by this news. It’s like validation for years and years of pursing my passion of bluegrass music.”
Her passion began as a young girl thanks to her late father, Jim, to whom this honor is dedicated, and continued with her playing playing bass and guitar and attending fiddlers’ conventions and bluegrass music festivals, and playing in a band with her dad and working in other local or regional bands.
She began her career in radio at the age of 17 at her hometown station, WKSK in West Jefferson, North Carolina, and continued on WKBC, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina and WFMX, Statesville, North Carolina.
Knee-Deep in Bluegrass, now heard on nearly 100 radio stations nationwide, began syndication in 2003 thanks to the John Boy & Billy Radio Network.
In addition to her radio career, Cindy Baucom has been involved with Merlefest since its beginning in 1988 and started serving as MC there in 1990. Her MC work has taken her to many stages and venues over the years, including the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival in Denton, North Carolina, the Bass Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Burlington, North Carolina, and the IBMA FanFest in Nashville, Tennessee.
She was the producer of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 IBMA Awards shows at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Baucom was elected to the Board of Directors of the IBMA for two terms and currently serves as chair of the IBMA Membership Committee.
In 2005 she was named Broadcaster of the Year in Nashville by the IBMA.
She has been a contributor to Bluegrass Unlimited magazine both as a writer and as a photographer.
Earlier this year she produced her husband’s, Terry Baucom, CD, In A Groove, bringing together some of the top names in bluegrass music.
Other 2012 inductees to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame include “Snuffy” Jenkins, in the Regional Musician and Sideman category; Robert “Tut” Taylor, Master Musician and Tradition Bearer; David Holt, Recording Industry; The Chuckwagon Gang, Gospel Music; Charlie Poole, Pioneer Artist; and George Hamilton IV, Nationally Known Artist from the Region.
The Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the Stone Center for Performing Arts.
The Blue Ridge Music Hall is a part of the Wilkes Heritage Museum and Old Wilkes, Inc., a non-profit organization. It exists to showcase and preserve the rich musical heritage of the greater Blue Ridge Mountains region from northern Georgia to northern Virginia.
