Bluegrass Fiddler Kenny Baker Dies at 85
Funeral services are being held today (July 12) in Letcher County, Kentucky for master fiddler Kenny Baker, who played with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys for many years and was subsequently part of a fiddle-dobro duo with Josh Graves for more than 20 years (1984-2006). Baker died July 8 at 85, following a stroke.
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Hazel Dickens, a Pioneering Woman in Bluegrass Music, 1935-2011
Hazel Dickens, a trailblazer for women in bluegrass music, who captivated audiences with her high, lonesome vocal style and was widely recognized for her contributions to music and for championing the cause of coal miners and working people, died on April 22 . She was 75.
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Foundation for Bluegrass Music Awards $20,000 in Grants for 2011
The Foundation for Bluegrass Music will distribute $20,000 in funds to charitable public programs in 2011. These include youth-focused educational efforts, a film project and celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe -- the “father of bluegrass music.” The six grant recipients were selected from among more than two-dozen applicants.
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The Lonesome River Band Adds a New Member
The Lonesome River Band, whose latest Rural Rhythm Records release, Still Learning, was #1 on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine’s top 15 albums chart in March, has added a new member. Randy Jones made his debut appearance with the band, on mandolin and vocals, during a March 19 concert in South Carolina.
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Carlton Haney, Bluegrass Festival Promoter and Booking Agent, 1928-2011
Carlton Haney, who launched the first multi-day bluegrass music festival with camping, the second prominent magazine focused on the genre, and served as a booking agent for Bill Monroe and others, died on March 16 at a hospital in Greensburg, North Carolina, following a stroke earlier in the month. He was 82.
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Winners Named in 37th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards
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.
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Jim Lauderdale Engages in Live Facebook Chat on Songwriting, 2/1
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, who also serves as volunteer chairperson for MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, will engage in a live chat on Facebook on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. EST. Fans and aspiring songwriters can join the chat and pose questions to Lauderdale about the contest and songwriting in general by visiting the official page of the contest at the social media site.
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New Banjo Player Joins Sierra Hull & Highway 111
Banjo player Jessie Baker, formerly part of Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, has joined bluegrass band Sierra Hull & Highway 111. “I’m really excited to be playing with such a talented group of musicians and singers,” said Baker in a prepared statement. “I’ve been a fan of Sierra’s since I saw her onstage with Ricky Skaggs playing “Boston Boy” at my first IBMA FanFest in Louisville, KY. I’m looking forward to being part of Highway 111.”
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2011 Grammy Nominees Named
Nominees in more than 100 categories have been named for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, to be broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 on CBS.
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Grants Available Through the Foundation for Bluegrass Music
The Foundation for Bluegrass Music has established a one-time general grant request deadline of Dec. 15, 2010, for projects planned for the calendar years of 2011 or 2012. Grant awards will be announced by March 15, 2011. The Foundation’s general grant budget for 2011 is $10,000, with the goal of funding four projects at an average of $2,500 each.
In addition to the general grant category, a one-time exceptional grant request application with the same deadline has been announced for projects that will celebrate the Bill Monroe Centennial and focus on educational efforts that involve young people during the 2011 calendar year.
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