Bassist Tom Gray and banjo picker Eddie Adcock, who have long careers in bluegrass since their trailblazing days with the Country Gentlemen in the 1960s are this year’s winners of the Washington Monument Award from the D.C. Bluegrass Union.
They’ll pick up the award and perform, along with Eddie’s wife Martha, at the third annual D.C. Bluegrass Festival, scheduled for Feb. 24, and 25 in Silver Spring, Md.
“Tom Gray and Eddie Adcock have made enormous contributions to bluegrass as we know it today,” said DCBU President Randy Barrett.
In addition to his tenure with the Gents, Tom was a founding member of the Seldom Scene and played with an all-star cast of musicians over the years, including Bill Monroe and Emmylou Harris, before reuniting with Eddie and Martha last year.
Eddie formed the influential Second Generation band after leaving the Gents. He is also a walking testimonial to modern medicine, having gone through three brain surgeries in recent years and still able to pick with gusto.
Both Tom and Eddie are members of IBMA’s Hall of Honor.
Eddie, Martha and Tom recently released Many A Mile, which reprises a number of Country Gentlemen songs.
Bill Emerson and Hazel Dickens are previous recipients of the award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding regional and national contributions to bluegrass.
