Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Doyle Lawson Elected President of Bluegrass

BRISTOL, TN  — Doyle Lawson has been voted the President of Bluegrass Music this week in a poll sponsored by Bluegrass Today Magazine.  The poll numbers stayed neck-and-neck between Doyle and Del McCoury, with no one else in close contention for the top spot in the first-ever race for President of Bluegrass. The final numbers reflected 37% of votes for Doyle Lawson and 30% for McCoury. 

Lawson’s website praised McCoury for running a strong race and Bluegrass Today for sponsoring the good-spirited election whose other nominees included such artists as the Grammy-winning Allison Krauss and Rhonda Vincent.

Of the honor, Lawson wrote:
“Well folks, I am just about speechless (and that’s not good for a President) but I want to thank everyone for this extinguished – I mean distinguished honor. And now I must be about my duties as your President, for there is much to be done, and I have quite a mess on my hands.  My intentions are to make all roads lead to Bluegrass music venues, all hit recordings be by a Bluegrass artist, all awards be won by Bluegrass artists, and mainstream Airplay across the board to be BLUEGRASS! That should keep me busy for the first term, and by the end of it I should have a new platform to stump with, should I decide to run for re-election.  And finally, look on the bright side, I am taking no salary for any of this!  Thank you again, my fellow bluegrass music lovers, and Long Live this Music from the Heart!”
 
Doyle Lawson
President of Bluegrass Music

Lawson’s acceptance speech was tongue-in-cheek for a fun victory in an election-week themed poll, but his influential reach in helping to build Bluegrass music is very real. Testaments of his devotion and success in Bluegrass range from being a founding member of the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) to helping build the genre with a style embraced for nearly 50 years and almost 40 albums.  The trailblazing Lawson was recently inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in September, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver were crowned the Inspirational Country Music Association (ICM) Vocal Group of the Year in October at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

For daily photos and updates on Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, please visit their new official Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/doylelawsonofficial?ref=hl

Photo by Sherri George:  President-elect Doyle Lawson with Mr. Commodore at Vanderbilt Stadium, following Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver’s recent National Anthem performance at the Vanderbilt Football Homecoming Game with Massachusetts in Nashville. (Children’s Hospital & Arena Tour performance)