Rawhide (Belgium) awarded honor at European World of Bluegrass

Congratulations to the Belgian band Rawhide, which received the 2013 "Liz Meyer-European Innovation of Bluegrass Music Award" at the European World of Bluegrass festival and trade show (EWOB) May 9-10-11..

The European Bluegrass Blog reports:

The most active band throughout the history of EWOB -- having performed in Voorthuizen every year since 1998 -- Rawhide was selected as the winner of this year's Liz Meyer European Innovation of Bluegrass Music Award in recognition of their long-running success in bringing bluegrass music to a broader audience. 

In its 35-year history, the band has developed its own unmistakable and immediately recognizable sound, and has become an undeniable presence and driving force in the European bluegrass scene.The members of Rawhide have combined their vocal and instrumental proficiency, their love of traditional bluegrass and their expertise in numerous other musical genres with imagination, creativity and humor, to create a unique sound and stage show that has extended the borders of bluegrass music in Europe.

Liz Meyer, a singer-songwriter, died in 2011 at the age of 59 after a decade-long battle with cancer. Liz, an American who had lived in the Netherlands for a quarter of a century, was a leading figure in the European bluegrass scene and a major organizer and promoter for the EWOB.

Country Music Awards in France coming up

Didier Cere and the Bootleggers at Equiblues festival, St. Agreve. August 2012

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

The Fourth French Highways country music awards will be announced on Nov. 7 in Paris, and I have friends in the running.

Voting takes place until Oct. 7 -- there are awards for best foreign artists and best French artists.

My friends Steve & Heather -- the France-based French-American duo -- and the Bootleggers, fronted by my friend Didier Cere -- are both up for best French group.

Hmm... you can only vote once.....

In the French solo artist category, the rockabilly-country singer Eddy Ray Cooper, whom I interviewed a few years ago, is up for best male singer.

Good luck, guys!

Three Inducted into British Country Music Hall of Fame

The British Country Music Hall of Fame has announced three new inductees:  the BBC broadcaster Bob Harris, the late band leader Jon Derek, and British music journalist and promoter Tony Byworth.

Here is the information from the BCMHF web site:

2012 Inductees to the British Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Jon Derek  (1941- 2011)
	Jon Derek won a talent show on Radio Luxemburg at the age of 17 and formed his first band, Black Stetson, this metamorphed into Johnny & The Hayriders. He attracted the attention of the BBC with appearances on shows like Easy Beat, Country Time and eventually playing on Brian Mathews Saturday Club. This made him an obvious choice to open for Jim Reeves when he toured the UK. In 1964 he turned professional and changed the name again to The Flintlocks. Jon joined Jamie Gunn and Jerry Hogan picking up another identity change to Jamie, Jon & Jerry, touring with Clodagh Rodgers, Carl Perkins and Hank Locklin. At this time a young Albert Lee, who is also a Hall of Fame member, joined the band. This evolved into the Jon Derek Band backing Clodagh Rodgers on her television shows. By 1958 this had become the renowned Jon Derek & Country Fever, still with Albert Lee on lead guitar. They toured with nearly every American star who toured the UK and Europe from Bobby Bare and Charley Pride to a massive 32 date tour with Slim Whitman. With almost Hollywood good looks and a brilliant voice, during the 70s Jon Derek dominated the British Country scene. A regular at the now increasingly popular Wembley festivals including the European shows, in 1977 he had a double single released on Decca. One side was a cover of the then rising star, Don Williams, ‘Til All The Rivers Run Dry which had Don’s approval when they toured together.
Bob Harris
	The history of Country music on BBC national broadcasting goes back to the 1940s when all the bandleaders had their photographs up the main staircase at Bush House when it was referred to as hillbilly music. The BBC turned to their top specialist presenter, Bob Harris after his days on Radio One presenting very listenable late night music. He carried the iconic music through onto television with the Old Grey Whistle Test where he was introducing the nation to the Country rock sounds of Poco, The Eagles, The Byrd’s and Pure Prairie League, highlighting their lead singer, Vince Gill, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, the legendary Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris to name a few. Whispering Bob Harris was still carrying the nickname from the early days and he became the voice of Country music in the UK where stars and newcomers alike all accepted invitations to guest on his Thursday night show. Voted International Broadcaster for 2004 by the CMA, he also appeared on the panel of the Americana Music Awards in 2008 and he gained a Fellowship at the University of Northampton. Bob Harris describes Nashville as his spiritual home and, with visits to Austin and the clubs of North Carolina, a close run second.
Tony Byworth
	In 1969 Tony bought a ticket to go on the first BCMA trip to Nashville as a founding member. Wanting to help, he suggested he would try and get some media attention. It resolved in him getting a spot with Wally Whyton on Country Meets Folk which led to him becoming the UK correspondent for Billboard Magazine. By 1970 he had quit his sales job and became a fully fledged journalist. As well as Billboard he wrote for Record Mirror, CMP, Sounds and various other publications. In 1977 he became the editor of Country Music People, a job he held until 1983 when he teamed with Richard Wootton and launched the most successful PR company in the UK dealing with Country music. Tony Byworth’s journalistic skills were put to full use in his contributions to many books on Country music including writing five in his own right. As PR manager for Ritz Records he was responsible for Hall of Fame member, Sarah Jory’s first recording visit to Nashville, as well as promoting Daniel O’ Donnell in the USA. Tony has also been honoured by the CMA for services to Country music. It was on one such trip last year he discovered Will Banister and started his career in the UK. In honour of his 70th birthday, the Texas Flag was flown over the State Capitol building in Austin for his work in promoting Texas music. With many American awards to his credit, it’s been many years since the journalistic awards of the 70s to being inducted into the British Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012 and he is still working in the industry.
Read more at: http://www.bcmhof.co.uk/2012.html

New Zealand Country Music Awards

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

This report on New Zealand's Country Music awards says that the awards this year had a "southern twang" -- but they were talking about the southern part of South Island, not Dixie. Makes me wonder what a southern New Zealand twang sounds like.

The National Country Music Awards had a southern twang when gongs were handed out at New Zealand country music’s most prestigious event in Hamilton last night. 

Gore golden girls The Heartleys won the Music Group/Duo of the Year award while Wanaka-raised musician Jody Direen won the NZ Horizon Award. 

Kayla Martin and Taylor Cairns grew up together in Southland and launched their career as the The Heartleys by winning the 2008 New Zealand Gold Guitars Award. 

The duo, who released their second album Talk To Me in June, beat Kylie Austin and Trevor Stevens and the Coalrangers. 

Read full story

France -- Country Music awards coming up

Heads up for the 8th French Country Music Awards next month!

The ceremony takes place Oct. 23.

Charlie McCoy to Be Inducted In Country Music Hall of Fame

Charlie McCoy, the Grammy-winning, virtuoso harmonica player who has played with country and bluegrass bands all over Europe and released albums in France, Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic, will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame May 17, along with Barbara Mandrell and Roy Clark.

The announcement of the honor was announced a couple months ago, but you can click HERE to see a recent article in The Ft. Myers Weekly, of Ft. Myers, Florida, where McCoy lives part time.

As McCoy's web site puts it:

Charlie is known all over the world. He performs every year in Europe and Asia, most frequently France, Japan, and Denmark. His European backup band is made up of Europe's finest musicians and is second to none.

This summer, he will be playing in the Czech Republic, France, Japan and Sweden.

He has recorded with my friends the French country duo Steve & Heather, and also with Druha Trava, the great "Czechgrass" group, with which he has frequently toured in CZ -- the album was a live recording of a concert in Brno. I met him, in fact, during one of his tours with DT, back in 2005.