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Americana Music Association: Ryan Bingham wins 2 Americana Awards; Rosanne Cash takes album of year
By CHRIS TALBOTT , Associated Press
Last update: September 9, 2010 - 9:59 PM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The trophies keep piling up for Ryan Bingham, this time at the Americana Awards.
Bingham won the Americana Music Association's top honor, artist of the year, and also took song of the year for "The Weary Kind," the theme to the movie "Crazy Heart," during a star-studded show Thursday night at Ryman Auditorium.
The gravel-voiced 29-year-old former bull rider won the Oscar and the Golden Globe for original song earlier this year for his collaboration with producer T Bone Burnett.
"Man, I don't know if I really deserve this," Bingham said. "Everyone on the list are all people I've looked up to and admired for a long time."
Other artist of the year nominees were Patty Griffin, Levon Helm, Steve Earle and Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Bingham was the only multiple winner at the awards. He also was nominated for new/emerging artist of the year. Top nominee Dave Rawlings, who received four nominations for his debut album "A Friend of a Friend," was shut out.
Rosanne Cash won album of the year for "The List," her tribute to the music loved by her father, Johnny Cash. The album is made up of songs culled from a list of 100 essential country songs that father gave daughter.
"This was such an emotional project for me and represented a really wide and full circle in my life," Cash said. "As hard as I pushed away form the legacy I was given, that's as much as I embraced it as I made this record. That's what happens when you get older."
North Carolina roots rockers The Avett Brothers won duo/group of the year, Americana Awards bandleader Buddy Miller is instrumentalist of the year and Texas singer-songwriter Hayes Carll is the new/emerging artist of the year — an award a long time in coming.
"I remember the first time I was nominated for new and emerging artist five years ago," Carll said, pausing for effect. "I was standing in the wings here and I heard my name announced and thought I had won. I started walking out on stage and I realized Mary Gauthier deservedly won that year. I turned around and standing there watching me was Emmylou Harris and John Prine. I felt really silly about the whole thing."
The show included several outstanding performances, including new songs from lifetime achievement award recipients John Mellancamp and Wanda Jackson, and Lucinda Williams.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops earned a standing ovation for their sassy rendition of "Hit 'Em Up Style," Bingham played the haunting "Hallelujah" from his new album "Junky Star," Cash sang a quiet version of Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billy Joe" and the Avetts played a poignant version of "I And Love And You."
Surprise guest Robert Plant shut down the show with a 30-minute set that included material from his new album "Band of Joy." His backing band of the same name includes Miller and Griffin.
The AMA also gave awards to Lost Highway founder Luke Lewis, pedal and lap steel guitar player Greg Liesz and producer Brian Ahern.
Mellancamp was honored for his indelible impact on music as a songwriter.
"We all wonder does anybody listen, does anybody care?" Mellancamp said. "... This award shows me tonight there are some people still listening and I appreciate it very much."
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Comment by Kyla Fairchild on September 10, 2010 at 12:08am -
Wow, what an incredible show it was. A fantastic night all the way around. So many talented musicians all in one place.
If you care to listen to an archived broadcast of the stream you should be able to find it on NPR eventually. This from their website:
NPR Music and partner station Folk Alley will live webcast the awards show at www.npr.org/music and www.folkalley.com. The ceremonies will be archived for on-demand listening at www.npr.org/music and the NPR Music iPhone App where users can also explore archival interviews, performances and stories about this year’s awardees and performers.
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Comment by steviedal on September 10, 2010 at 6:24am -
Strange that Hayes Carll got that nomination - his last album was nowhere near as good as his first , he went backwards !
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Comment by Ron Frankl on September 10, 2010 at 7:06am -
Carll's award is also strange in that he's been recording since 2002 and active professionally since 1998.
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Comment by Adam Sheets on September 10, 2010 at 9:35am -
Kyla, if you guys see John Mellencamp, tell him to feel free to come to Portsmouth, Ohio anytime he wants.
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Comment by Phil Fox on September 10, 2010 at 10:12am -
Thanks for the update amigo!
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Comment by chris sweeney on September 10, 2010 at 7:39pm
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I'm not sure the AP writer is all that familiar with the subjects in his story.
I think Ryan Bingham deserves better than to be referred to as "The Weary Kind" singer. While he gave T Bone Burnett co-writing credit, I believe Ryan substantially wrote the song.
And while I acknowledge that he has changed his name several times during his career, I believe he has always spelled it Mellencamp.
I am not opposed to any of the winners and only wish I had been there.
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Comment by Mark W. Lennon on September 10, 2010 at 7:42pm
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awesome...anybody have any clips from it?
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Comment by Kyla Fairchild on September 13, 2010 at 9:07am
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Comment by Birmingham Steve on September 14, 2010 at 6:40am -
I was there, as well. My favorite week of each year is whenever the AMA is having its Awards & Honors show and Showcases at various small venues around downtown. An awesome vibe permeates the air. Its the excitement knowing that you're going to hear some wonderfully HONEST music (as opposed to what Contemporary Country puts out); and, during the Awards show, the anticipation of what is coming next! Its in seeing the faces of other music fans with the same expectations; and the moments when you bump into some of your favorite artists and you get to chat for a minute and perhaps get a photo with them (as I did with Canada's Corb Lund and 2nd-time-around New Emerging Artist of the Year Hayes Carll). Highlights during the show for me included performances by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell (together), the Carolina Chocolate Drops (Rhiannon Giddens was amazing!), Ray Wylie Hubbard, and the Avett Brothers (I'm not a convert yet; but they were good). Ryan Bingham's winning for Song of the Year for "The Weary Kind" was no surprise; and that he chose another song to perform later proved to be the right call. Backed by Buddy Miller and the house band, Ryan's performance of "Hallelujah" from his new album, "Junky Star" was ethereal. But, the thrill of the night for me and other fans of his was easily his being named Artist of the Year. During his acceptance speech, he was sincerely...and understandably...embarrassed by his selection. Ryan's rise has been meteoric; and he's uncomfortable with all the attention. But he better get used to it...because he is the real deal. The next in line of great Texas songwriters like Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Steve Earle, and Townes Van Zandt. The flag is being handed down from them to him. A few short years ago, he was just another singer/songwriter with a band trying to make a living on the road. Now, after three highly acclaimed albums, he is one of the most articulate lyricists and charismatic stage performers of his age group. A new Dylan? Naw...I'm wondering if we have the new Woody Guthrie!
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