Poss frequently acknowledged that he didn’t have a very conventional career path. “I used to joke that I had the perfect qualifications for being in the music business,” Poss once wrote. “I had no business training; in fact, no formal music background either but I teach Sociology of deviant Behavior.”

After graduating from Duke, he took a position with County Records in Floyd, Virginia. Poss and its owner, Dave Freeman, launched Sugar Hill Records in 1978, embracing what Poss called “contemporary music grounded in traditional music roots.” A self-described “wayward academic in an entrepreneurial role,” Poss assumed full control of the label in 1980, and moved it to Durham. He operated the label from there until its sale to Welk Music Group 20 years later. He became the group’s chairman in 2002. It’s now part of Concord Music, which also owns Rounder Records.

Among the many artists of note who recorded for Sugar Hill Records during Poss’ tenure were Pat Alger, Byron Berline, Ronnie Bowman, Sam Bush, Guy Clark, Mike Cross, Rodney Crowell, Jerry Douglas, Sara Evans, Cathy Fink, Butch Hancock, Hot Rize, The Infamous Stringdusters, Chris Hillman, Wanda Jackson, Sarah Jarosz, Robert Earl Keen, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Lonesome River Band, Lyle Lovett, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Nickel Creek, Tim O’Brien, Dolly Parton, Dirk Powell, The Red Clay Ramblers, Peter Rowan, Ricky Skaggs, Darrell Scott, Marty Stuart, Bryan Sutton, Chris Thile, Townes Van Zandt, Doc Watson, and Jesse Winchester.

“The identity peg for Sugar Hill is having that traditional connection to contemporary music,” Poss Told Blue ridge Outdoors in 2008. “Some have taken to describing a ‘Sugar Hill Sound,” but I am not going to try to define that. To me, it’s what connect Doc Watson to Chris Thile, ricky skaggs to Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt to dolly Parton. They all exhibit a rootedness in their contemporary expressions of music. I like it because the music comes from a place. It’s not prefabricated or manufactured.”

Douglas and Skaggs had been part of a bluegrass group called Boone Creek, whose One Way Track album was Sugar Hill’s first release in 1978. In a May 18 Facebook post, Douglas wrote of Poss: “His dream was to have a label that mirrored the same idea as Sam Phillips and his famous Sun label, which catered to a specific audience and created a new genre, Rockabilly Plus. Barry knew an audience was there for a specific form of music (bluegrass) and there were certain bands who could grow that audience and the music would evolve with the growth of that audience.”

Douglas, who also produced a number of recordings for Sugar Hill Records, noted that he and Poss were “very close friends. Confidants really. He was like my wingman and brother at any event we collided with. We would spend hours talking about the direction of the music and the parameters he wanted his label to maintain no matter the current climate.” Poss was also godfather to Douglas’ daughter Nola. “Barry loved my family, and Jill and I, along with our children, will forever press his memory closer to our hearts.”

In addition to spending many years at the helm of Sugar Hill Records, Poss was a founding board member of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky and helped to launch the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).

“Barry Poss was not just a champion of roots music and the artists that made it, but he was instrumental in the founding of our organization,” Ken White, IBMA’s executive director, said in a statement. “For that and so much more, we will always be grateful.”

Poss was a recipient of the IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award in 1998. The Americana Music Association also honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 in recognition of Sugar Hill’s pivotal role in both preserving and reinvigorating traditional music, while he was inducted into the Oak Ridge Music Hall of Fame in 2023.

Closer to home, Poss also served on the boards of the Carolina Theater, the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, MerleFest, the North Carolina, Folklife Institute, and WUNC-FM.

While many artists and others have shared tributes to Poss since his passing, for his part Poss once said: “It’s the artists who make the music to which I’m the most indebted. They had something important to say. They needed to be heard. And I wanted to be part of their creative lives – because it mattered.”

Called DelFest At Home and celebrating musical highlights from DelFests past that have taken place in western Maryland for more than a decade, the free online event will showcase the festival’s namesake and his family, along with notable bluegrass artists and jam bands such as the Trey Anastasio Band, Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck & Chris Thile, Greensky Bluegrass, Hot Rize, I’m With Her, The Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth, Sierra Hull, Marty Stuart, The Wood Brothers, and more.

Like many festivals and other musical events this spring and summer, Delfest was cancelled due to public health concerns surrounding the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We’ve heard from many folks how much it’s going to hurt not being at DelFest this Memorial Day weekend, so we hope this helps a little,” says Ronnie McCoy, a mandolinist with the Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys “We’re grateful to have a dedicated crew that has captured some great moments of DelFest through the years, and are looking forward to reliving some of these great moments with you ourselves.” Adds Rob McCoury, his brother—and banjo-playing bandmate in both ensembles: “We are so excited about this. It’s just a small way we can all feel connected this weekend. … We are going to pop onto Facebook Live from time to time between sets to say ‘hello.’”

DelFest At Home starts Thursday, May 21, at 4:30 p.m. EST and can be viewed on Nugs.tv and via DelFest’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Performances will air until 9:30 p.m EST. on May 21, and from 2:30-11:30 p.m. on May 22, 12:30 p.m. on May 23 – 1 a.m. on May 24, and from 11:30 a.m. on May 24 to 12:30 a.m. on May 25. Although there is no cost to view the virtual festival from the comfort of your own home, donations will be gratefully accepted throughout the holiday weekend that will go toward funding the DelFest Foundation, an organization that works with and supports nonprofit organizations throughout western Maryland.

Editor’s Note: Although I have not been to DelFest to date, I have had the pleasure of seeing Del McCoury perform live a few times — both with his sons and with David Grisman as Del & Dawg.

With nods for Album of the Year (A Sailor’s Guide to Earth), Artist of the Year and Song of the Year (“All Around You”), Sturgill Simpson has the most nominations for this year’s American Honors and Awards. The Kentucky-bred and Nashville-based singer-songwriter was previously honored as Emerging Artist of the Year in 2014 and Artist of the Year in 2015, while his “Turtles All The Way Down” was named Song of the Year in 2015. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, his third studio album and first major label release, received the Grammy Award for Best Country Album earlier this year, while Simpson was named International Artist of the Year in the UK American Awards. Rodney Crowell, Drive-By Truckers and Lori McKenna each were nominated in two of the six AMA member-voted awards categories.

Here’s a listing of the nominees:

Album of the Year
American Band – Drive-By Truckers
Close Ties – Rodney Crowell
Freedom Highway – Rhiannon Giddens
The Navigator – Hurray for the Riff Raff
A Sailor’s Guide to Earth – Sturgill Simpson

Artist of the Year
Jason Isbell
John Prine
Lori McKenna
Margo Price
Sturgill Simpson

Duo/Group of the Year
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Drive-By Truckers
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
The Lumineers

Emerging Artist of the Year
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Amanda Shires
Brent Cobb
Sam Outlaw

Song of the Year
“All Around You” – Sturgill Simpson
“It Ain’t Over Yet” – Rodney Crowell (with Rosanne Cash and John Paul White)
“To Be Without You” – Ryan Adams
“Wreck You” – Lori McKenna (co-written with Felix McTeigue)

Instrumentalist of the Year
Spencer Collum, Jr.
Jen Gunderman
Courtney Hartman
Charlie Sexton

In addition to these six Americana Music Association member-voted awards, Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Van Morrison (Songwriter), Robert Cray (Performance), Hi Rhythm Section (Instrumentalist), Iris DeMent (Trailblazer), Graham Nash (Spirit of Americana/Free Speech in Music), and Larry Sloven and Bruce Bromberg for Hightone Records (Executive).

AmericanaFest, which extends from September 12-17, is expected to draw several thousand artists, industry professionals and fans for plenty of learning and networking opportunities during days filled with panel discussions and seminars and evenings chock-full of artist showcases at venues throughout the Music City.

Established in 1999, the Americana Music Association is a professional trade association whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American Roots Music throughout the world. For more information, visit www.americanamusic.org.

Among the dozens of artists and acts slated to perform are Mike Agranoff, April Mae & the June Bugs, Boris Garcia, Michael Braunfeld, Bumper Jacksons, Burning Bridget Cleary, Mya Byrne, Meghan Cary with Analog Gypsies, CJ Chenier and the Buckwheat Zydeco Band, Darlingside, Del & Dawg (living legends of bluegrass Del Mc Coury and David Grisman), Iris DeMent, John Flynn, Fortunate Ones, John Francis, Sam Gleaves, The Hello Strangers, Si Kahn, Christie Lenee, The Lone Below, Los Lobos, Mist Covered Mountains, Peter Mulvey, David Myles, Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Pine Leaf Boys, River Whyless, Katherine Rondeau, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Session Americana, Sharon Shannon, Roger Sprung, Spuyten Duyvil, The Stray Birds, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Tall Heights, Tempest, Vishten, Toby Walker, Robin & Linda Williams, Avi Wisnia, Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes, The Wood Brothers, and Peter Yarrow.

As the names above suggest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music that stretches the boundaries of folk, helping to broaden its appeal and reach a new generation of listeners. Both notable national and international touring artists and emerging ones are on the bill.

Through a new partnership with the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, the festival will showcase the talents of three up-and-coming 20-something artists – Kaia Kater, Kirsten Maxwell and Ethan Pierce– during a NERFA Presents Young Folk song swap on Saturday morning. Maxwell will also be part of a Next Gen Folk set on Friday (along with Deer Scout and Jason McCue) and a Sunday afternoon Songsmiths session (with Michael Braunfeld, Sam Gleaves and Peter Mulvey), while Kater joins David Myles in a Sunday afternoon Oh Canada! set.

In addition to musical performances and workshops on eight stages – including contradancing with Groovemama, a Martin Guitar Jam and an old time & bluegrass jam — there will be an array of children’s activities and kid-oriented musicians in the shady Dulcimer Grove. Singer-songwriters and social activists John Flynn and Si Kahn will conduct a short workshop on “The Role of Musicians in Movements for Social Justice. ”

As in years past, many artisans will display and sell their creations in an open-air juried crafts area.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents — is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours. David Dye, host of the syndicated World Café radio program, will host a special Thursday night concert on the Camp Stage –featuring Liz Longley, Quiet Life and The Sheepdogs — exclusively for all-festival camping ticket holders.

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival and to order tickets, visit
www.pfs.org/Philadelphia-folk-festival/55th-folk-festival/.

Editor’s Note: As vice president of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) board of directors, I have the honor and pleasure of hosting the “NERFA Presents Young Folk” showcase on Saturday, Aug. 20.

You Are Not Alone
Mavis Staples
(Anti-)

Best Bluegrass Album

Mountain Stage II
Patty Loveless
(Saguaro Road)

Best Country Instrumental Performance

“Hummingbird”
(from Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions)
Marty Stuart
(Sugar Hill Records)

Best Traditional Folk Album

Genuine Negro Jig
Carolina Chocolate Drops
(Nonesuch)

Best Contemporary Folk Album

God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs
(RCA Records)

Best Traditional World Music Album

Ali and Toumani
Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate
(World Circuit/Nonesuch)

Best Contemporary World Music Album

Throw Down Your Heart, African Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks
Bela Fleck
(Acoustic Planet Records)

Best Traditional Blues Album

Joined At The Hip
Pinetop Perkins & Willy “Big Eyes” Smith
(Telarc)

Best Musical Album for Children

Tomorrow’s Children
Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends
(Appleseed)

Best Hawaiian Music Album

Huana Ke Aloha
Tia Carrere
(Daniel Ho Creations)

Best Native American Music Album

2010 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit’s Dance
Various Artists
(Gathering of Nations Records)

Best Tejano Album

Recuerdeos
Little Joe & La Famila
(TDI Records)

Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album

Zydeco Junkie
Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band
(Swampadelic Records)

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album

Crazy Heart
Various Artists
Stephen Bruton & T Bone Burnett, producers
(New West Records)

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, TV or Other Visual Media

“The Weary Kind” (from Crazy Heart)
Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, songwriters
(New West Records)

Ray LaMontagne also was among the nominees for Song of the Year for “Beg, Steal or Borrow,” off the RCA album God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise. Among the Best New Artist nominees were Mumford & Sons, who, along with The Avett Brothers, joined Bob Dylan in singing “Maggie’s Farm” during the Grammy Awards telecast. Also during the telecast, Norah Jones, John Mayer and Keith Urban paid tribute to Dolly Parton with their rendition of “Jolene.”

A complete list of winners and nominees in all 109 categories currently appears at www.grammy.com.

Here are the nominees in categories that may be of particular interest to readers of AcousticMusicScene.com.

Best Americana Album (vocal or instrumental)

The List
Rosanne Cash
[Manhattan Records]

Tin Can Trust
Los Lobos
[Shout! Factory]

Country Music
Willie Nelson
[Rounder]

Band of Joy
Robert Plant
[Rounder]

You Are Not Alone
Mavis Staples
[Anti-]

Best Bluegrass Album (vocal or instrumental)

Circles Around Me
Sam Bush
[Sugar Hill Records]

Mountain Stage II
Patty Loveless
[Saguaro Road]

Family Circle
The Del McCoury Band
[McCoury Music]

Legacy
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
[Compass Records]

Reckless
The SteelDrivers
[Rounder]

Best Country Instrumental Performance

Tatoo of Smudge
(from Cherryholmes IV Common Threads)
Cherryholmes
[Skaggs Family Records]

Magic #9
(from Things That Fly)
The Infamous Stringdusters
[Sugar Hill Records]

New Chance Blues
(from Punch Brothers)
Punch Brothers
[Nonesuch]

Willow Creek
(from A Crooked Road)
Darrell Scott
[Full Light]

Hummingbird
(from Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions)
Marty Stuart
[Sugar Hill Records]

Best Traditional Folk Album

Genuine Negro Jig
Carolina Chocolate Drops
[Nonesuch]

Onward And Upward
Luther Dickinson & The Sons Of Mudboy
[Memphis International]

Memories Of John
The John Hartford Stringband
[Compass Records/Red Clay Records]

Maria Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy
Maria Muldaur
[Stony Plain Records]

Ricky Skaggs Solo: Songs My Dad Loved
Ricky Skaggs
[Skaggs Family Records]

Best Contemporary Folk Album

Love Is Strange – En Vivo Con Tino
Jackson Browne & David Lindley
[Inside Recordings]

The Age Of Miracles
Mary Chapin Carpenter
[Zoe Records]

Somedays The Song Writes You
Guy Clark
[Dualtone]

God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise
Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs
[RCA Records]

Dream Attic
Richard Thompson
[Shout! Factory]

Song of the Year nominees include Ray LaMontagne for “Beg, Steal or Borrow,” off the RCA album God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise. Among the Best New Artist nominees are Mumford & Sons, whose debut album topped the Roots Music Report Folk Radio Chart for weeks earlier this year.

Nominees for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals include reigning three-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent for “Elizabeth” from the Rounder release Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers and The SteelDrivers for “Where Rainbows Never Die” off Reckless, also on Rounder. Diercks Bentley, a country artist with bluegrass leanings, received two nods for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “Bad Angel” with Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson and “Pride (In the Name of Love)” with Del McCoury and the Punch Brothers; both tracks appears on his Capital Records release Up On the Ridge. Also nominated in that category is Mary Stuart (and Connie Smith) for “I Run to You” from the Sugar Hill Records release Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions.

Pete Seeger and They Might Be Giants are among the nominees for Best Musical Album for Children. Seeger was nominated for Tomorrow’s Children, an Appleseed recording that also features the Rivertown Kids and Friends, while TMBG received a nod for the Disney Sound recording Here Comes Science. Nominees for Best Spoken Word Album for Children include Healthy Food for Thought, which features readings by veteran Philadelphia folk DJ Gene Shay and singer-songwriter Sara Hickman, among others. Folk and acoustic artists and labels also are among the nominees for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Best Historical Album, Best Album Notes and Best Recording Package.

Other award categories that may be of interest to AcousticMusicScene.com readers include Best Traditional Blues Album, Best Hawaiian Album, Best Native American Album, Best Zydeco or Cajun Album and Best Traditional World Music Album. A complete list of nominees in all 109 categories appears on www.grammy.com.