Americana Association Awards Announced

Buddy Miller almost pull off a sweep; Justin Townes Earle nabs coveted Emerging Artist award.

By Blurt Staff

Acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Buddy Miller was the biggest winner at the 8th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Show Thursday night at the Ryman Auditorium, taking home trophies in almost every category for which he was nominated.

Performing in celebration of lifetime achievement awards were John Fogerty, Ray Benson and Asleep At The Wheel, and Sam Bush.   John Prine and Nanci Griffith sang a duet in honor of recipient Jim Rooney.  The AMA's annual awards show, hosted by Jim Lauderdale, was also a showcase for both established artists and the next generation of stars, all contributing fresh material to the Americana music scene.  Performers included Rodney Crowell, The Gourds, Raul Malo, The Flatlanders,  Reckless Kelly,

All four nominees for New & Emerging Artist of The Year - Band of Heathens, The Belleville Outfit, Sarah Borges and Justin Townes Earle - performed during the Thursday ceremony, with Earle taking home the award via the strength of his 2008 record "Midnight at the Movies."  The show ended with an all-star jam around "Dixie Chicken," a salute to the posthumous President's Award recipient Lowell George of Little Feat.

Miller, one of Americana music's most sought-after collaborators and sidemen, won Artist of the Year, Album of the Year ("Written In Chalk," with wife Julie Miller), Duo/Group of the Year (again with wife Julie), and Song of the Year ("Chalk," written by Julie Miller and performed by Buddy and Patty Griffin).

Versatile multi-instrumentalist/producer Gurf Morlix was honored with the Instrumentalist of the Year award, keeping Miller from a clean sweep (and a three-peat in that particular category.)

The Americana Music Association's annual festival and conference, featuring panels and approximately 100 performances by legends and the next generation of stars, runs through Saturday at venues throughout Nashville.

The organization celebrated its tenth anniversary with a formal announcement of the establishment of an Americana Grammy category. The house band, assembled by Miller, included the legendary steel guitar player Al Perkins and keyboardist Spooner Oldham.

Awards:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Written in Chalk," Buddy & Julie Miller
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:  Buddy Miller
DUO / GROUP OF THE YEAR: Buddy & Julie Miller
NEW & EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Justin Townes Earle
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: Gurf Morlix
SONG OF THE YEAR: "Chalk" written by Julie Miller, performed by Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR PERFORMANCE: Asleep At The Wheel
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXECUTIVE: Ken Levitan
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR SONGWRITER: John Fogerty
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR PRODUCER/ENGINEER: Jim Rooney
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR INSTRUMENTALIST: Sam Bush
PRESIDENT'S AWARD: Lowell George