The Earls of Leicester Win Big at 2015 IBMA Awards

It was a big night for the Earls of Leicester at the 2015 IBMA Awards. The band, led by Jerry Douglas, picked up four awards during the ceremony, held on Thursday night (Oct. 1) at the Duke Energy Center in Raleigh, N.C., including the night's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.

The Earls of Leicester also took home awards for Album of the Year, for their self-titled disc, Instrumental Group of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year, for their song "Who Will Sing for Me." In addition, Douglas was awarded Dobro Player of the Year, and another of the band's members, Shawn Camp, earned Male Vocalist of the Year.

“Congratulations to each of the IBMA Awards winners; it is quite an honor and achievement to have your professional peers recognize you in this way,” IBMA Executive Director Paul Schiminger says. “To all winners and nominees, you have achieved a standard of excellence we all admire and celebrate.”

Earlier this year, the Earls of Leicester won a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, also for their self-titled release, which is a tribute to bluegrass artists Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

Steve Martin was also honored earlier in the day, during the IBMA's Special Awards luncheon, as one of the 2015 Distinguished Achievement Awards winners. Throughout his career, Martin has received three IBMA trophies (now four) and is a Grammy Awards winner as well, both for his comedy material and for his music.

A complete list of winners at the 2015 IBMA Awards is below.

2015 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Winners

Entertainer of the Year: The Earls of Leicester
Female Vocalist of the Year: Rhonda Vincent
Male Vocalist of the Year: Shawn Camp
Vocal Group of the Year: Balsam Range
Instrumental Group of the Year: The Earls of Leicester
Song of the Year: “Moon Over Memphis,” Balsam Range
Album of the Year: The Earls of Leicester, The Earls of Leicester (produced by Jerry Douglas)
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: “Who Will Sing for Me,” the Earls of Leicester
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year: “The Three Bells,” Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes
Emerging Artist of the Year: Becky Buller
Recorded Event of the Year: “Southern Flavor,” Becky Buller with Peter Rowan, Michael Feagan, Buddy Spicher, Ernie Sykes, Roland White and Blake Williams
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year: Becky Buller
Banjo Player of the Year: Rob McCoury
Bass Player of the Year: Tim Surrett
Dobro Player of the Year: Jerry Douglas
Fiddle Player of the Year: Michael Cleveland
Guitar Player of the Year: Bryan Sutton
Mandolin Player of the Year: Jesse Brock
Inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame: Bill Keith and Larry Sparks
Distinguished Achievement Awards: Alison Brown, Murphy Henry, the International Bluegrass Music Museum, “Bashful Brother” Oswald Kirby and Steve Martin