“We lost one of the greatest banjo players to ever pick up the five,” tweeted fellow banjoist Bela Fleck, just one of numerous artists who took to social media to share their thoughts about the master of the bluegrass banjo in the days following his passing.

“He was an absolute legend… He will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play bluegrass music,” maintains acclaimed roots guitarist Billy Strings. “He had tone, taste and timing like no other. The space between the notes he played and the way he rolled them out just kept the band driving, running on all cylinders like a V* engine. He was just the best bluegrass banjo player out there, man,” he tweeted.

In social media posts, Mark O’Connor, a noted roots fiddler and guitarist, who had a brief stint in Crowe’s band when he was just 14 in the mid-1970s, called Crowe “one of the absolute greats in bluegrass, and a really wonderful mentor to me when I was a young boy coming.” In O’Connor’s view, there’s “no better bluegrass banjo player the history [of the genre] other than Earl Scruggs.” Crowe might be considered a disciple of Scruggs and, like him, he played in a three-fingered style. However, although he respected and sought to preserve the tradition and the legacy of the genre, Crowe was not a bluegrass purist. He also experimented and expanded bluegrass music’s traditional boundaries and helped redefine the genre and widen its appeal in the process. His pioneering progressive bluegrass band, J.D. Crowe and the New South, his pioneering progressive bluegrass band featured such notable players as Jerry Douglas, Keith Whitley, guitarist Tony Rice (who died last Christmas), Ricky Skaggs, Phil Leadbetter, and Don Rigsby over the years.

James Dee Crowe was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1937. While just a teenager and still in school, he performed and toured with acclaimed bluegrass guitarist Jimmy Martin in the mid-1950s. Returning home to Lexington in 1961, he partnered with mandolinist Doyle Lawson and bassist Bobby Sloane to form the Kentucky Mountain Dogs, which became J.D. Crowe and the New South in the 1970s and featured a revolving lineup of players. The group’s 1975 Rounder Records release, The New South, is considered one of bluegrass music’s seminal albums. In 1983, J.D. Crowe and the New South won a Grammy Award for Country Instrumental of the Year for “Fireball.”

Here’s a link to view a video of J.D. Crowe and the New South performing “Fireball”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-2rv9lxNlw

Crowe also formed and recorded with the Bluegrass Album Band featuring Lawson, guitarists Rice and Douglas, fiddlers Vassar Clements and Bobby Hicks, and Todd Phillips and Mark Schatz rotating on bass. He was a recipient of numerous awards and accolades. He was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2003, received the Bluegrass Star Award in 2011, an honorary doctorate from the University of Kentucky in 2012, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lexington Music Awards in 2016. Although he gave up touring in 2019, Crowe had continued to record.

Here’s a link to view a video of the Bluegrass Album Band performing “Big Spike Hammer” during an IBMA Awards Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO__VTOMNJo

A Greensboro native, Giddens studied opera at Oberlin Conservatory before returning home and immersing herself in the rural traditions of North Carolina’s Piedmont region. A powerhouse vocalist and multi-instrumentalist (banjo and fiddle), she launched the Carolina Chocolate Drops with bandmates Justin Robinson and Dom Flemons following a chance meeting at the 2005 Black Banjo Gathering in Boone.

The Chocolate Drops, Durham, NC-based tradition bearers whose music incorporated pre-World War II country blues, early jazz, minstrel songs, southern black music from the 1920s and 30s, and folk balladry, along with old-time string-band tunes, developed a reputation for its energetic live shows punctuated with stories about the origins and history of the tunes they played. The Chocolate Drops released several albums on their own prior to signing with Nonesuch Records in 2010. That same year, they released the chart-topping album Genuine Negro Jig, which also won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Recording.

T-Bone Burnett produced Giddens’ solo debut Tomorrow Is My Turn in 2015, a Grammy-nominated album of songs exploring facets of the human condition, after initially recruiting her to perform solo during the 2013 Another Day, Another Time concert at The Town Hall in New York City. During that concert celebrating the early 1960s’ folk revival that had inspired the Coen Brothers’ film Inside Llewyn Davis, Giddens was widely viewed as the star of the evening. Her rendition of Odetta’s “Water Boy” reportedly “stole the show.” Giddens, who currently divides her time between North Carolina and Ireland, has also been cast in the upcoming fifth season of the television series Nashville in which she plays a social worker with the voice of an angel.

Steve martin, the acclaimed actor, author, comedian and musician, established his namesake prize in 2010 to recognize artistry and heighten awareness of talented bluegrass performers. A banjo player himself for more than four decades, Martin has toured in recent years with the Steep Canyon Rangers.

Recipients receive $50,000 cash and a specially designed bronze sculpture. The Steve Martin Charitable Foundation funds the prize, while a panel of musical luminaries that includes Martin, Alison Brown, J.D. Crowe, Bela Fleck, Alison Brown, Tony Trischka, Pete Wernick and others chooses the winner. Previous winners have included Noam Pikelny – banjoist for the Punch Brothers (2010), Sammy Shelor of the Lonesome River Band (2011), Mark Johnson (2012), Jens Kruger (2013), Eddie Adcock (2014), and Danny Barnes (2015). Like the MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” fellowships, no one can apply for the Steve Martin Prize.

Brothers Eric and Leigh Gibson, along with their band (Mike Barber, Clayton Campbell and Joe Walsh) also were honored for Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year” for “Singing As We Rise.”

Other top winners of this year’s International Bluegrass Music Awards, which are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), included Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice whose The Heart of a Song was named Album of the Year, while “A Far Cry from Lester & Earl” took Single of the Year honors. Russell Moore (of Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out) and Dale Ann Bradley were named male and female vocalists of the year, respectively. The Emerging Artist of the Year Award went to Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, while Doyle Lawson and the late Ralph Rinzler were the 2012 inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

Steve Martin and other top bluegrass musicians participated in a star-filled tribute to Earl Scruggs, the legendary banjo player who died earlier this year, that capped off the gala event that was hosted by Del McCoury and Laurie Lewis.

The IBMA Awards Show is considered the centerpiece of the trade association’s annual World of Bluegrass Week, which also included an IBMA business conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest.

A complete list of award winners follows:

Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductees: Doyle Lawson, Ralph Rinzler
Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients: Byron Berline, Joe & Lil Cornett, Orin Friesen, Pee Wee Lambert, Kitsy Kuykendall
Entertainer of the Year: The Gibson Brothers
Vocal Group of the Year: Blue Highway
Instrumental Group of the Year: The Boxcars
Emerging Artists of the Year: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Male Vocalist of the Year: Russell Moore
Female Vocalist of the Year: Dale Ann Bradley
Song of the Year: “A Far Cry From Lester & Earl” Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice
Album of the Year: Heart Of A Song, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice
Gospel Recorded Event of the Year: “Singing As We Rise” by the Gibson Brothers w/Ricky Skaggs
Instrumental Performance of the Year: “Angeline The Baker” by Lonesome River Band
Recorded Event of the Year: “Life Goes On” by Carl Jackson, Ronnie Bowman, Larry Cordle, Jerry Salley, Rickey Wasson, Randy Kohrs, D.A. Adkins, Garnet Bowman, Lynn Butler, Ashley Kohrs, Gary Payne, Dale Pyatt, Clay Hess, Alan Bibey, Jay Weaver, Ron Stewart & Jim VanCleve (artists); Jerry Salley, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Jim Van Cleve & Randy Kohrs (producers); Rural Rhythm Records
Banjo Player of the Year: Sammy Shelor
Bass Player of the Year: Marshall Wilborn
Fiddle Player of the Year: Stuart Duncan
Dobro Player of the Year: Rob Ickes
Guitar Player of the Year: Doc Watson
Mandolinist of the Year: Adam Steffey
Broadcaster of the Year: Kyle Cantrell
Bluegrass Event of the Year: ROMP, produced by the International Bluegrass Music Museum; Owensboro, KY
Print Media Person of the Year: Marty Godbey, author of Crowe on the Banjo: The Music Life of J.D. Crowe (Univ. of Illinois Press)
Best Graphic Design: Bedrock Manufacturing (designer) for Nobody Knows You, by the Steep Canyon Rangers (Rounder Records)
Best Liner Notes: Marian Leighton Levy (liner notes), for Tony Rice: The Bill Monroe Collection, by Tony Rice (Rounder Records)
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year: Jon Weisberger

IBMA’s new Momentum Awards, designed to recognize promising new talent – artists and business people in the early years of their careers in bluegrass music, were presented earlier in the week This year’s recipients are:

Band of the Year: Monroeville
Vocalist of the Year: Emily Bankester (performs with The Bankesters)
Instrumentalists of the Year: bassist Samson Grisman (son of legendary mandolinist David “Dawg” Grisman, performs with The Deadly Gentlemen), fiddler Alex Hargreaves (performs with Sarah Jarosz), and fiddler Christian Ward (performs with Sierra Hull)
Event/Venue of the Year: Appalachian Uprising, produced by Steve Cielic (a new festival in Scottown, Ohio)
Industry Achievement: Crash Avenue publicist Emilee Warner
Mentor of the Year: Five-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year and producer Mike Bub

Receiving the bluegrass music industry’s highest award capped a year in which the group had a busy touring schedule (including playing New York’s famed Carnegie Hall and headlining at festivals such as Bonnaroo, MerleFest and the Newport Folk Festival), a string of national television appearances (“The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The View,” “Ellen” and “The Colbert Report”), and the release of a new album, Rare Bird Alert on Rounder. It also was the second International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award win for Steep Canyon Rangers, who were named Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006.

Although Martin, best known as a comedic actor, included claw hammer style banjo-picking in his early stand-up comedy routines, he has become more serious about recording and performing bluegrass music during the past two years, with the release of two albums of original music

Said Steep Canyon Rangers lead singer and guitarist Woody Platt: “Working with Steve, we might be the most entertained of all. Most of all, we thank Steve for giving us this most amazing ride”. He said the North Carolina-based band was delighted when Martin handpicked them to tour and record with him. “Serendipity has made a better match than any bluegrass computer dating service,” he joked. “Recording Rare Bird Alert and touring with Steve has been such a blast, from writing to playing to singing, our partnership with Steve has allowed us to bring music to new audiences,” added Platt. “Being able to share the music we love…that is the biggest reward.”

Comprised of Platt, Mike Guggiino (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Nicky Sanders (fiddle) and Graham Sharp (banjo), Steep Canyon Rangers met and began playing music during their college days in Chapel Hill, NC a decade ago. And they have been infusing traditional bluegrass with contemporary themes and arrangements ever since. During the awards show, the group played “Me and Paul Revere,” a song Martin wrote from the perspective of the Revere’s horse and performed during the nationally televised Capitol 4th Concert in Washington, DC on Independence Day.

Other top award winners included The Gibson Brothers, a New York State-based band, named Vocal Group of the Year and recipients of Album of the Year for Help My Brother on Compass Records, and The Boxcars, a new combination of veteran musicians, who were named both Emerging Artists of the Year and Instrumental Group of The Year. The Boxcars’ Ron Stewart shared Banjo Player of the Year honors with The Grascals’ Kristen Scott Benson, who received the award for the fourth consecutive year.

Song of the Year honors went to Balsam Range for “Trains I Missed,” written by Walt Wilkins, Giles Goddard and Nicole Witt. Group member Tim Surrett commented, “There are a lot of folks out there – myself included – who are thankful for some of those trains missed and how things turned out.”

Veteran musicians Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe and Paul Williams received trophies for Recorded Event of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance for “Prayer Bells from Heaven” and announced plans to record a second Old Friends album. Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out and Dale Anne Bradley were, respectively, recognized as Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the Year, the fourth time for each. Blue Highway’s Rob Ickes was awarded his 13th Dobro Player of the Year, the most IBMA Awards any individual instrumentalist has received.

Michael Cleveland was named Fiddle Player of the Year for the ninth time, while his band (Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper) scored the Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year award for “Goin’ Up Dry Branch,” a song written by Buddy Spicher and Jimmy Martin. Marshall Wilborn was named Bass Player of the Year for the third time; Brian Sutton received the Guitar Player of the Year award for the sixth time; and Adam Steffey dedicated his eighth Mandolin Player of the Year award to the twin sons who he expects t be born this month.

Hosted by noted mandolin player and band leader Sam Bush, the awards show also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe, who is recognized as the father of bluegrass, and was the centerpiece of the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass week that also featured a business conference and fan fest. In addition to awards in more than 20 categories that are voted on by the professional membership of the IBMA, which serves as a trade association for the bluegrass music industry, Del McCoury and George Shuffler were inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Ronnie and Rob McCoury inducted their father, while guitarist James Alan Shelton did the honors for Shuffler, a bass and cross-picked guitar stylist known as “the third Stanley Brother.” The evening concluded with a guitar rendition of “Life is Like a Mountain Railway” by Shuffler and Shelton and a medley of Del McCoury songs, which he sang in his trademark tenor.

Other award recipients included:

Distinguished Achievement Awards:

Greg Cahill, Bill Knowlton, Lilly Pavlak, Geoff Stelling and Roland White

Broadcaster of the Year:

Katy Daley, WAMU Bluegrass Country

Print Media Person of the Year:

Juli Thanki, Engine145.com

Bluegrass Event of the Year:

Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ Festival (Branson, MO)

Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project:

Ricardo Alessio & Erica Harris (designer & artist), Abigail Washburn (artist), Rounder (label)

Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project:

Colin Escott (writer), A Mother’s Prayer, Ralph Stanley (artist), Rebel (label)