Tim Surrett steps down as IBMA Board Chair

Tim Surret, Chairman of the IBMA Board of Directors, has resigned his position on the organization’s Executive Committee. Surrett, who also works as bass player with Balsam Range and as a studio musician and producer with Crossroads Music, is recovering from a serious gastrointestinal issue that placed him in the hospital a few weeks ago.

Tim is recovering well, and expects to complete a full recovery, but has found himself with one job too many and has elected to step down from the Board Chair position heading into the organization’s big week in Raleigh later this month.

Vice Chair Ben Surratt will assume Surrett’s position until the Board of Directors meets in Raleigh the day before World of Bluegrass begins on September 26 to hold their regular elections. Ben is the owner operator of the Rec Room Studio in Nashville.

Tim expressed regret at having to give up his chairmanship, saying that he has enjoyed it very much, but that he gets very tired and breathless easily when stressed. His doctor told him in no uncertain terms to reduce his responsibilities to duties that were required to maintain his livelihood.

“Your body is #1, and until I get my blood levels back to where they belong, I just have to slow down. I went back out with the band last weekend, and I felt fine onstage. But the guys wouldn’t let me do anything else. After the show, they started up the van, turned on the AC and stuck me in there to watch a ball game.

This is a great Board of Directors, and they have done such a fine job while I’ve been on. I have no doubt that they will continue to make the best decisions for the IBMA.”

Tim will be in attendance at World of Bluegrass, where he plans to host the Mountain Home showcase and perform with Balsam Range, but he’ll be keeping his other contributions to a minimum.

The IBMA has also announced today the results of the recent Board elections, which saw the re-election of current members Jamie Deering (Merchandisers/Luthiers), Regina Derzon (Associations), and Stephen Mougin (At Large). Jeremy Darrow was elected to fill the open seat for Artists, Composers, and Publishers recently vacated by Alan Bartram.

 

Larry Stephenson Band in the studio

The Larry Stephenson Band is hard at work on their next album, tracking with Larry’s co-producer Ben Surratt at Ben’s Rec Room Studio in Nashville.

This will be their third project for Larry’s Whysper Dream Music label, a follow-up to their current record, Pull Your Savior In.

With Larry in the studio is his touring band: Kenny Ingram on banjo, Kevin Richardson on guitar, and Matt Wright on bass.  Stephenson handles mandolin and lead vocals with harmony coming from Matt and Kevin. They are working on a strong set of material from prominent writers like Donna Ulisse and Rick Stanley, Rick Lang, Bill Monroe, Jerry Salley, Bill Anderson, Randall Hylton, Jon Weisberger, and Billy Smith.

They are planning on a mid-summer release.

Larry’s wife Dreama, a professional photographer, was in the studio with them over the weekend, and shared these images. She tells us that Larry and the band have a very busy year ahead and look forward to seeing everyone in their travels.

New IBMA Board officers elected

The Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association has elected a new slate of officers to lead the organization.

According to board members who asked not to be identified, previous Director Jon Weisberger, who was eligible for another term, did not stand for re-election and is succeeded by Tim Surrett, bass player with Balsam Range and producer/engineer at Crossroads Entertainment.

Ben Surratt, chief engineer with Rec Room Studio in Nashville, was elected Vice Chair. Surratt had previously served on the Executive Committee of the IBMA Board.

Further announcements are expected this afternoon relating to Board meetings held yesterday and today at their annual fall meeting, held in conjunction with the World of Bluegrass Convention in Raleigh, NC.

 

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