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Bluegrass/gospel great wins national award
When multiple International Bluegrass Music Association Award-winning singer Doyle Lawson takes the stage at Cherokee on Friday, he’ll have one more title attached to his name: National Heritage Fellow.
Lawson’s latest accolade will become official on Sept. 14 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. In earning the award, the highest conferred by the National Endowment for the Arts on folk and traditional artists “whose contributions, primarily through teaching, advocacy, organizing, and preserving important repertoires, have greatly benefited their artistic tradition.” Lawson will join a select group of other bluegrass artists, that includes the genre’s founder, Bill Monroe; banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs; legendary guitarist Doc Watson; mountain stylist Ralph Stanley and dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas.
“Needless to say I was quite surprised to hear I’d be a recipient,” Lawson said during a telephone interview last week. “When you start out in life, particularly in the music and art world, you naturally have a goal to do the best you can, but I don’t think you envision that if you do this you may win that. For me, it’s always first and foremost about the music – I love the music.”
Lawson did admit to a certain amount of gratification that his efforts through the years have been noticed.
“I thought, ‘Well, all the years I’ve been doing this, someone’s paid attention,” he said. “It’s an honor for someone to recognize the importance of what I do.”
While the award is based on his entire career, Lawson said he knew the gospel side of his music had a lot to do with his selection.
He told me before his pre-Mountain Heritage Day show in Cullowhee that gospel music was the most important to him.
“I sing gospel music because I love to sing it. If I could only do one thing it would be gospel,” he said.
While he’s pleased with the award, Lawson said it’s more important to him that he’s able to do what he loves to do.
“When you follow your heart and your faith in God, the music takes you,” he said Friday. “For me it’s the music, and the Heritage Award is a show of thanks for what I do.”
Turning his attention to this weekend’s bluegrass festival in Cherokee, Lawson said it’s a good place to play.
“I enjoy Cherokee – it’s a great little festival,” he said. “The people are really enthusiastic about the music. It’s turned into one of the most fun things we do, festival wise.”
Lawson credited producers Norman Adams and Tony Anderson for the event’s success.
“It’s really turned into one of the good festivals,” he said. “You better have your ‘A’ game when you go out there, because the people really know their music and what it’s supposed to sound like.”
Lawson says he enjoys what he termed the “festival environment.”
“It gives you a different feel,” he said. “Indoor concerts are more static. At festivals, people are walking around and there’s lots going on. I enjoy going around and looking at what the vendors have – I’ve bought instruments at events like that.”
Festivals like Cherokee give Lawson and his band, Quicksilver, an expanded opportunity to meet and greet their fans.
“We make ourselves real accessible to the people,” he said. “We ‘shake and howdy.’ ”
Lawson said he hopes area residents will join him this weekend in Cherokee.
“I look forward to going to Cherokee,” he said. “I personally invite everyone to come out and be with us. It’s a great festival.”
Born near Kingsport, Tenn., in 1944, Lawson began his career as a bluegrass musician in 1963 with IBMA Hall of Honor member Jimmy Martin. Over the next 15 years, he became increasingly prominent as he worked with the Kentucky Mountain Boys and the Country Gentlemen. Lawson established Quicksilver in 1979, and quickly moved to the forefront of the bluegrass scene, releasing a series of acclaimed albums – including the pioneering all-gospel “Rock My Soul” in 1980 – and influencing generations of younger musicians with a sound that blended traditional bluegrass and gospel elements with progressive material and superb execution.
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver will perform two shows (3 p.m. and 9 p.m.) Friday, Aug. 18, in Cherokee as part of the 24th annual Cherokee Bluegrass Festival. The event runs Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 17-19, at Happy Holiday Campground. Music begins each day at noon and continues through 11 p.m. For more information, call 497-7250.
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