Steve Martin makes his Grand Ole Opry debut on May 20, 2009. Photo courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry.
Aug. 13, 2009 — Steve Martin’s wild-and-crazy comedy routines might be what brought him to prominence, and his continued development as a serious actor might have extended his career, but his work as a musician is no joke either. On the heels of his first music album, The Crow: New Songs For The Five-String Banjo, Steve picked up six nominations Thursday from the International Bluegrass Music Association for its 20th annual awards, landing him among the top finalists.
The Dan Tyminski Band, including bass player Barry Bales and mandolinist Adam Steffey, secured a field-leading nine nominations. Dailey & Vincent, who won seven trophies last year, are named seven times on the ballot in 2009. Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper grabbed six nominations, the Grascals claimed five, and six acts were represented with four nods apiece: the Del McCoury Band, Blue Highway, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, the Isaacs, Danny Paisley and Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice.
Steve Martin, who has often used the banjo as a comedic prop, brought additional recognition to bluegrass this year by crossing from a different entertainment genre. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut and performed bluegrass on NBC’s "Saturday Night Live" when he hosted the show prior to the album’s release. Judged by his nominations — including one for best banjo player — IBMA members are clearly appreciative of his presence in their midst.
"He’s a great musician," said guitarist Del McCoury, whose band has won the IBMA’s Entertainer of the Year honor nine times. "I used to play banjo, so I know what he’s doin’, and he’s really a great musician. And of course his popularity don’t hurt us any."
Del and Alan O'Bryant, of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, co-hosted the nominations announcement at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Hot Rize, which won the IBMA’s first Entertainer award in 1990, will join Kathy Mattea to host the awards Oct. 1 at the Ryman Auditorium.
Nominees for the 2009 IBMA Awards follow:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Dailey & Vincent
• The Grascals
• Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
• The Del McCoury Band
• Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
• Dan Tyminski Band
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Blue Highway
• Dailey & Vincent
• The Isaacs
• Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
• Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Blue Highway
• Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
• The Infamous Stringdusters
• Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• Dan Tyminski Band
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Jamie Dailey
• Russell Moore
• Danny Paisley
• Junior Sisk
• Dan Tyminski
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Dale Ann Bradley
• Sonya Isaacs
• Claire Lynch
• Alecia Nugent
• Rhonda Vincent
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice (artist), Ronnie Bowman (producer)
• Brothers From Different Mothers, Dailey & Vincent (artist), Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers)
• Keep On Walkin', The Grascals (artist/producers)
• The Room Over Mine, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass (artist), Ken Irwin & Danny Paisley (producers)
• Wheels, Dan Tyminski, (artist/producer)
SONG OF THE YEAR
• "Don't Throw Mama's Flowers Away," Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass (artist), Chris Stuart & Ivan Rosenberg (writers)
• "Iron & Diamonds," The Gibson Brothers (artist), Leigh & Eric Gibson (writers)
• "Leaving Baker County," Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice (artist), Tom T. Hall & Dixie Hall (writers)
• "Moneyland," Del McCoury Band (artist), John Herald (writer)
• "Wheels," Dan Tyminski (artist), Patrick McDougal (writer)
RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
• "After The Fire Is Gone;" Bobby Osborne, Rhonda Vincent & Darrin Vincent (artists); Glen Duncan & Bobby Osborne (producers)
• "The Crow," Steve Martin with Tony Trischka (artists), John McEuen (producer)
• "Daddy Played The Banjo;" Steve Martin with Tim O'Brien & Earl Scruggs (artists), John McEuen (producer)
• "Proud To Be A Daughter of Bluegrass;" Daughters of Bluegrass featuring Dale Ann Bradley, Heather Berry, Lisa Martin, Gloria Belle, Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, Lisa Ray, Linda Lay, Sally Jones, Jeanie Stanley, Carol Lee Cooper, Sonya Isaacs, Becky Isaacs Bowman, Michelle Nixon, Jeanette Williams, Sophie Haislip, Louise Tomberlain, Mindy Rakestraw, Lizzy Long, Frances Mooney, Lorraine Jordan, Annette Kelley, Lily Lieux, Dixie Hall, Judi Marshall, Melissa Lawrence, Beth Lawrence, Rebecca Frazier, Donica Christensen, Lisa Manning & Jenni Lyn Gardner (artists); Dixie Hall, Paula Wolak & Frances Mooney (producers)
• "Sad Wind Sighs," The Grascals with Vince Gill (artists), The Grascals (producers)
GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
• "Darkness Wept," Lonesome River Band (artist/producers), Dee Gaskin & Rebecca Bowman (writers)
• "On The Other Side;" Dailey & Vincent (artist); Jimmy Fortune, Kevin Denney & Tom Botkin (writers); Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers)
• "What A Journey," Paul Williams & The Victory Trio (artist), Bret Bronson & Louise Gorman (writers), Paul Williams (producer)
• "When The Last Of Our Days Shall Come," Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artist), Chris Stuart (writer), Doyle Lawson (producer)
• "Who'll Sing for Me?" Audie Blaylock & Redline (artist), Thomas J. Farris (writer), Audie Blaylock (producer)
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
• "Angeline The Baker," Rob Ickes & Andy Leftwich (artists), public domain, Rob Haines (producer)
• "The Crow," Steve Martin (artist/writer), John McEuen (producer)
• "Don't Tread On Me," Kristin Scott Benson (artist/writer/producer)
• "Jerusalem Ridge," Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (artist), Bill Monroe (writer), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producers)
• "Struttin' To Ferrum," Lonesome River Band (artist/producer), arrangement by Gene Parker
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Sierra Hull & Highway 111
• Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass
• Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice
• The SteelDrivers
• Josh Williams Band
INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR
BANJO
• Kristin Scott Benson
• J.D. Crowe
• Steve Martin
• Sammy Shelor
• Ron Stewart
BASS
• Barry Bales
• Mike Bub
• Missy Raines
• Darrin Vincent
• Marshall Wilborn
FIDDLE
• Hunter Berry
• Jason Carter
• Michael Cleveland
• Stuart Duncan
• Ron Stewart
DOBRO
• Mike Auldridge
• Jerry Douglas
• Andy Hall
• Rob Ickes
• Randy Kohrs
• Phil Leadbetter
GUITAR
• Jim Hurst
• Tony Rice
• Kenny Smith
• Bryan Sutton
• Josh Williams
MANDOLIN
• Jesse Brock
• Sam Bush
• Sierra Hull
• Ronnie McCoury
• Adam Steffey
LINER NOTES FOR RECORDED PROJECT
• Charlie Cushman, Marty Stuart, Eddie Stubbs & Johnny Warren (writers); A Tribute to Fiddlin' Paul Warren; Johnny Warren & Charlie Cushman (artists)
• Eddie Dean (writer); Old-Time Pickin': A Clawhammer Banjo Collection, Ralph Stanley (artist)
• Steve Martin (writer), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist)
BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR RECORDED PROJECT
• G. Carr & Salli Ratts (designers), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist)
• Stumptown Printers (designer), Uncle Charlie Osborne: The June Appal Recordings, Uncle Charlie Osborne (artist)
• Loren Witcher (designer), Inside Out, Missy Raines & the New Hip (artist)
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