The Americana Music Association has unveiled this year's slate of honorees for its 23rd annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony, which will take place on September 18 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The ceremony serves as a key event during the annual Americanafest, scheduled for September 17-21 in Nashville.
Dave Alvin, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Rev. Gary Davis, Shelby Lynne, Don Was and Dwight Yoakam are this year's honorees.
Alvin is known for both his solo work and his involvement in the duo The Blasters with his brother Phil. Alvin won a Grammy in 2000 for his album Public Domain: Songs From the Wild Land.
The Blind Boys of Alabama were founded in Alabama in 1939 and over the following decades came to redefine gospel music with their songs and performances. They are multi-Grammy winners and Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees and found mainstream recognition after the group's role in the musical The Gospel at Colonus in 1983. They went on to perform and record with artists such as Prince, Bonnie Raitt and Peter Gabriel.
Davis, a native of South Carolina, was a blues and gospel performer, proficient on several instruments, including the harmonica. It became an essential part of the folk revival of the 1960s thanks to songs like “Death Don't Have No Mercy”, influencing artists such as Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead.
Lynne made her debut project, Sunrise, in 1989 and has since traversed musical venues such as rock, country and pop. The 1990s saw songs like “Things Are Tough All Over” reach the top 30 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Her album I'm Shelby Lynne it won Lynne a Grammy for Best New Artist. She has also won accolades, including top new female artist at the ACM Awards. Lynne will be releasing her album Consequences of the Crown on August 16, via Monument Records.
The Detroit native started the band Was (Not Was) in the 1980s and then rose to fame as a producer working with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones and Brian Wilson. Among Was' Grammy awards is a producer of the year trophy. In addition to his production work, he has served as the president of jazz label Blue Note Records since 2012. He has also been the longtime bassist in the house band for the Americana Honors & Awards.
Yoakam has scored two Billboard Hot Country Songs No. 1s with Buck Owens' 1988 collaboration “Streets of Bakersfield” and “I Sang Dixie,” as well as several Top 5 hits such as “Fast As You” and “Guitars, Cadillacs.” . .” Along the way, he forged a sound that combined elements of country, rock, bluegrass, and the Bakersfield sound. He has won two Grammy Awards, including Best Country Vocal Performance, Male (“Ain't That Lonely Yet”) and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (“Same Old Train”).
“This year's Lifetime Achievement honorees represent many facets of American roots music. It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate the incredible careers of these artists. We look forward to another great night at the Ryman Auditorium,” Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association and Foundation, said in a statement.
tickets for the Americana Honors & Awards will go on sale to silver holders on June 26, with tickets going on sale to club members, festival pass holders and the general public at a later date.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/americana-music-association-lifetime-achievement-honorees-1235716689/