• Hall of Honor Inductee: Burkett H."Josh" Graves
• Entertainer Of The Year: The Del McCoury Band
• Vocal Group Of The Year: IIIrd Tyme Out
• Instrumt’l Group Of The Year: The Del McCoury Band
• Male Vocalist Of The Year: Russell Moore
• Female Vocalist Of The Year: Claire Lynch
• Song Of The Year: High Lonesome Sound, Vince Gill with Alison Krauss & Union Station (artists), Vince Gill (songwriter)
• Instrumental Performances Of The Year
  • Banjo: Sammy Shelor
  • Dobro: Rob Ickes
  • Bass: Mike Bub
  • Fiddle: Jason Carter
  • Guitar: Tony Rice
  • Mandolin: Ronnie McCoury
  • Emerging Artist Of The Year: James King Band
• Album Of The Year (and Recorded Event Of The Year!)
  True Life Blues - The Songs Of Bill Monroe; (Sugar Hill Records) featuring: S.Bush, V.Clements, M.Compton, J.Douglas, S.Duncan, P.Enright, G.Garing, R.Greene, D.Grier, D.Grisman, J.Hartford, B.Hicks, K.Kallick, L.Lewis, M.Marshall, D.McCoury, R.McCoury, J.Nunally, S.Nygaard, M.O'Brien, T.O'Brien, A.O'Bryant, H.Pedersen, T.Phillips, J.Reischman, P.Rowan, C.Smith, C.Thile, T.Trischka, R.White;
• Instrumental Recording Of The Year: Bluegrass Instrumentals, Volume 6; by The Bluegrass Album Band; Rounder Records
• Gospel Recorded Performance Of The Year:  God Moves In A Windstorm, by Blue Highway, Rebel.
• Certificate of Merit Awards: Vern Williams and Ray Park, Kenny Baker, Mary Tyler Doub, Bennie Martin.

Greetings to all!

From Bill Evans

After years of trying to find a producer and cameramen with the necessary fortitude and patience, the Dry Branch Fire Squad finally has a video available that we’re not too embarrassed about actually selling to people!

“Dry Branch Fire Squad: Old Time Country Music” is a 60 minute hi-fi VHS video comprising the two shows recorded in January 1997 for the Iowa Public Television series “Old Time Country Music.” The concert was recorded before a live audience on an actual professional country store stage set and sound stage - and, believe it or not, they actually show the correct instrument and/or singer when it or he/she is taking a break or singing. There’s even more than one camera. Actually, I think there were three or four. It’s even in color. And it’s in focus. All of the time.

Among the fifteen songs included on this video are:

The God That Never Fails / I’ve Always Been A Rambler / Just A Few More Days / The Honest Farmer / Wondrous Love / Dip Your Fingers in Some Water / A Mother’s Last Words to Her Daughter / Goin’ Up On The Mountain

The video features generous portions of Suzanne Thomas playing some great clawhammer banjo (three tracks) and me playing bluegrass banjo on the rest.

And, yes, Ron does indeed talk on this video, but not quite as much as on the band’s recent live recording. I think this had something to do with the fact that they made him wear makeup.

We’d love to sell you one or even two of these. If you’re interested, please send a check or money order (no charge, Write to or COD orders please) for $23.00, which includes (USA) shipping and handling, to:

Dry Branch Video, 8031 Peach Orchard, Hillsboro, OH 45133, USA

Cheers, Bill Evans, Dry Branch Fire Squad. Write to Bill Evans

Note: This will be an NTSC version - check for PAL version, and UK shipping.

Some of you might have seen an advert in BBN for one “Peter’s Banjo”. Peter Ainsworth has sent the following photo and description as a matter of interest:

“You may be interested in the banjo I finished making in April this year (1997). It’s a joy to play, and very accurate.

"The main features are:

• Best quality American metal parts.
• Unique peghead and MOP design.
• Ivoroid binding and chequer banding on peghead, neck, heel and resonator.
• Flamed maple neck, 1.25” at nut, 26.25” scale.
• Ebony peghead overlay, fingerboard and heel.
• Sunburst 2-part finish.
• Sold for £1,000.

"It’s taken me 3 weeks to get this damn thing photographed - it’s the best I can do with this lousy camera! Cheers, Peter."  Tel: 01926-832693

Updated 23rd Jan 1999