Dailey & Vincent were the top winners in the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) 37th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards, taking home seven trophies, while Rhonda Vincent retained her title as Entertainer of the Year. Winners in 23 categories were announced during an awards show on February 6, 2011 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, capping the nonprofit organization’s national convention.

Pictured (l-r) are: Christian Davis, Jamie Dailey, Joe Dean, Jr., Jessie Stockman, Darrin Vincent and Jeff Parker.

Dailey & Vincent were honored as Bluegrass Band of the Year, Entertaining Group of the Year and, for the third consecutive time, as Vocal Group of the Year and Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary). The duo also received Album of the Year honors for Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers, its bluegrass tribute to the legendary country quartet, which topped Billboard magazine’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart for a number of weeks last year. For the third consecutive year, Jamie Dailey also was named Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary) and Darrin Vincent was named Best Bass Fiddle Player of the Year. The duo closed out the awards show with a 30-minute set.

Although relatively new on the scene as a duo, having released their debut album in 2008, Dailey & Vincent apprenticed for years under Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs, respectively. They are the reigning three-time winners of IBMA Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year honors and have won a bevy of other awards. “We love to sing, and we love to entertain. Thanks to all of you for letting us do what we love to do,” said Dailey in accepting one of the awards on Feb. 6.

Rhonda Vincent, Darrin’s sister, the reigning and multi-time SPBGMA Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary), again secured those coveted honors. She and her band, The Rage, had received nominations in seven categories.

The Grascals, last year’s SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year, took home awards in three of the ten categories in which they were nominated – Instrumental Group of the Year, Mandolin Player of the Year (Danny Roberts), and Banjo Performer of the Year (Kristin Scott Benson). Last year’s SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year currently has the top album on Billboard’s bluegrass charts : The Grascals & Friends – Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin.

Veteran songwriters Tom T. and Dixie Hall won the Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year award for the tenth time.

A complete list of SPBGMA award winners follows::

Entertainer of the Year: Rhonda Vincent

Entertaining Group of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Album of the Year: Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers

Song of the Year: “Train Without a Track,” Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Bluegrass Band of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Female Vocalist (Contemporary) of the Year: Rhonda Vincent

Female Vocalist (Traditional) of the Year: Alecia Nugent

Male Vocalist (Contemporary) of the Year: Jamie Dailey

Male Vocalist (Traditional) of the Year: James King

Vocal Group of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Instrumental Group of the Year: The Grascals

Gospel Group (Contemporary) of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Gospel Group (Traditional) of the Year: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Songwriter of the Year: Tom T. and Dixie Hall

Top Instrumental Performers: Darrin Vincent (bass fiddle), Tim Graves (dobro), Josh Williams (guitar), Danny Roberts (mandolin), Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), Michael Cleveland (fiddle)

Promoter of the Year: Adams & Anderson LLC

Radio Station of the Year: WDVX-FM, Knoxville, Tennessee

DJ of the Year: Joe Mullins, WBZI-AM, Xenia, Ohio