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Earls of Leicester Lead IBMA Nominees

Clarence White and Rounder Records Founders Chosen for International Bluegrass Hall of Fame

The Earls of Leicester, an all-star band of veteran musicians, lead the field of nominees at the 2016 International Bluegrass Music Awards, the IBMA announced Wednesday morning (July 27) in Nashville.

The band is nominated for entertainer of the year, vocal group of the year and instrumental group of the year. Individual nominations went to Earls of Leicester members Shawn Camp (male vocalist of the year), Jerry Douglas (Dobro player of the year), Barry Bales (bass player of the year) and Charlie Cushman (banjo player of the year). The band is also nominated in the instrumental recorded performance category for “Cazenovia Casanova,” a collaboration with Frank Solivan and Sam Bush).

Nominated in five categories, Flatt Lonesome kicked off the IBMA press conference at the Sirius XM studios with a live performance of the title track of Runaway Train, which is up for album of the year. Sister Sadie entertained with a two-song set that included "Unholy Water.” Lead vocalist Dale Ann Bradley is a five-time nominee for female vocalist of the year.

Camp and Douglas revealed the Distinguished Achievement award recipients -- banjo stylist Bill Emerson, songwriter-producer Jim Rooney, the music education non-profit Boston Bluegrass Union, Bluegrass Unlimited magazine and Sirius XM Radio’s Bluegrass Junction channel.

Coinciding with Wednesday’s announcements, the IBMA also revealed its newest members of the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame -- guitarist Clarence White and the founders of the Rounder Records label.

White, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 1973, is best known for his work in the Kentucky Colonels, Muleskinner and the Byrds. Bill Nowlin, Marian Leighton Levy and Ken Irwin were college students in Boston when they created Rounder Records in 1970. With a focus on roots music, the label became one of the most significant independent record companies in the world.

The IBMA Awards will be presented Sept. 29 during the annual World of Bluegrass week in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Here’s a complete list of this year’s nominees:

Entertainer of the Year

Balsam Range

The Del McCoury Band

The Earls of Leicester

Flatt Lonesome

The Gibson Brothers

Vocal Group

Balsam Range

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

The Earls of Leicester

Flatt Lonesome

The Gibson Brothers

Instrumental Group

The Earls of Leicester

Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen

Punch Brothers

Sam Bush Band

The Travelin' McCourys

Song of the Year

“Black River,” Sierra Hull (artist and songwriter)

“Long Way Down,” the SteelDrivers (artist), Elizabeth Mala Hengber, Tammy Rogers King, Jerry Salley (songwriters)

“Radio,” Steep Canyon Rangers (artist), Graham Paul Sharp (songwriter)

“Thunder & Lightning,” Lonesome River Band (artist), Adam Wright (songwriter)

“You're the One,” Flatt Lonesome (artist), Dwight Yoakam (songwriter)

Album of the Year

Bridging the Tradition, Lonesome River Band

It's About Tyme, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Runaway Train, Flatt Lonesome

The Muscle Shoals Recordings, the SteelDrivers

Weighted Mind, Sierra Hull

Gospel Recorded Performance

“All Dressed Up,” Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers

“In The Heat of the Fire,” Flatt Lonesome

“Rocking of the Cradle,” Lonesome River Band

“The Savior Is Born,” Becky Buller

“Won't You Come and Sing for Me,” Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands

Instrumental Recorded Performance

“Cazenovia Casanova,” Frank Solivan with Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas

“Fireball,” Special Consensus featuring Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley and Alison Brown

“Hogan's Goat,” the Boxcars

“Hogan's House of Music,” Ron Block

“Smartville,” Ron Block

Emerging Artist

Band of Ruhks

The Lonely Heartstring Band

Mountain Faith

Sister Sadie

Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle

Town Mountain

Recorded Event

“Fireball,” Special Consensus featuring Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley and Alison Brown

“Highway 40 Blues,” Special Consensus with Della Mae

“In the Pines,” Carl Jackson and Brad Paisley

“Longneck Blues,” Junior Sisk and Ronnie Bowman

“Pretty Woman,” Frank Solivan with Del McCoury

Male Vocalist

Shawn Camp

Del McCoury

Buddy Melton

Tim O’Brien

Danny Paisley

Female Vocalist

Becky Buller

Dale Ann Bradley

Claire Lynch

Amanda Smith

Rhonda Vincent

Banjo Player

Charlie Cushman

Jens Kruger

Mike Munford

Noam Pikelny

Sammy Shelor

Bass Player

Barry Bales

Alan Bartram

Mike Bub

Missy Raines

Mark Schatz

Fiddle Player

Becky Buller

Jason Carter

Michael Cleveland

Stuart Duncan

Ron Stewart

Dobro Player

Jerry Douglas

Andy Hall

Rob Ickes

Phil Leadbetter

Josh Swift

Guitar Player

Chris Eldridge

Jim Hurst

Kenny Smith

Bryan Sutton

Josh Williams

Mandolin Player

Jesse Brock

Sam Bush

Sierra Hull

Frank Solivan

Adam Steffey

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