Tyminski wins top bluegrass awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dan Tyminski won two top awards at the 20th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, including male vocalist of the year for the fourth time.

The duo Dailey & Vincent won best entertainer for the second straight year and comedian/actor Steve Martin won two minor awards Thursday night.

Tyminski, who also won top male vocalist in 2001, 2002 and 2003, thanked his five band members.

“I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of guys,” he said, battling loss of voice.

Tyminski also won top album for “Wheels.”

Tyminski, a guitarist and singer, is a member of Alison Krauss’ group Union Station, but he had time away from the band in recent months as Krauss was busy working with Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.

Dailey & Vincent also won vocal group of the year and best gospel recorded performance for “On the Other Side.”

“We’ll do our best to take it (bluegrass music) to the masses,” Darrin Vincent said, accepting the award for top entertainer.

Martin, who was up for six honors, won two lesser awards presented earlier Thursday for best liner notes and best graphic design for his first music album, “The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo,” which has topped the bluegrass charts this year.

Martin and his five-member band, the Steep Canyon Rangers, played “Saga of the Old West” to spirited applause at the Ryman Auditorium. He was introduced by Pete Werrick of Hot Rize, who quipped: “Here’s a man who needs an introduction.”

Martin, who has played banjo for more than 40 years, said before the show it would feel like the Academy Awards to win something. He is a former Academy Awards host.

Dale Ann Bradley was voted top female vocalist for the third straight year, commenting, “I thank anybody who finds room for my music.”

Other winners included “Jerusalem Ridge,” by Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, instrumental recorded performance of the year; Kristin Scott Benson, banjo player of the year; “Proud to Be a Daughter of Bluegrass,” the Daughters of Bluegrass; Josh Williams, guitarist of the year; Michael Cleveland, fiddle player of the year; Rob Ickes, dobro player of the year; the SteelDrivers, emerging artist of the year; Jesse Brock, mandolin player of the year; “Don’t Throw Mamma’s Flowers Away,” Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass; Marshall Wilborn, bass player of the year; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, instrumental group of the year.

As announced previously, The Dillards and The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers were inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame. The Dillards were the Darlins on “The Andy Griffith Show,” and The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers became pioneers as the first bluegrass band signed to the RCA Victor label in the late 1950s.

Kathy Mattea and the band Hot Rize were hosts of the show.

Winners were chosen by the 2,500 members of the Nashville-based International Bluegrass Music Association.

The show was not televised but was broadcast on satellite radio to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks.