GoodStuff PR Co. News Detail
February 36, 2008
Larry Stephenson Brings Home 2008 SPBGMA Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Award
Award Winning Guitar Player Josh Williams Joins Larry Stephenson Band for 2008 Tour
NASHVILLE, TN - Larry Stephenson, leader of longtime bluegrass favorites The Larry Stephenson Band, now in their nineteenth year, won the 2008 Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Award at SPBGMA's (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music) 34th Annual Bluegrass Awards and 25th National Convention in Nashville, TN on Sunday, February 3rd. Stephenson is a five time winner of the award. "It's a privilege and honor to be nominated and to receive this award. It makes what I do worth doing," he said after accepting the trophy.
SPBGMA also awarded Grammy nominated guitar player Josh Williams the 2008 Guitar Performer of the Year honors. This is William's fourth award in this category. Williams will also join The Larry Stephenson Band for their Thankful 2008 Tour and beyond in addition to playing dates with his own Josh Williams Band. Williams will replace Ben Helson on guitar and Larry wishes Ben the best of luck in his new endeavors.
Williams is a multi-instrumentalist, perhaps best known as the guitar player for the top ranked Rhonda Vincent & The Rage in their grueling 300 days per year touring schedule from December 2003 through September 2007. He is also known by some as the excellent mandolin/fiddle player formerly with The Special Consensus.
Stephenson's trademark tenor-range lead vocals and mandolin playing lead the band towards their March 18th gospel release of Thankful on Pinecastle Records. The album features guest appearances by acclaimed female vocalist Sonya Isaacs, seven time IBMA Bass Player of the Year award winner Missy Raines, as well as Dustin Benson (lead & harmony vocals, guitar), Shad Cobb (fiddle & harmony fiddle), Warren Goad (bass vocals), Aaron McDaris (lead & harmony vocals, banjo) and Ben Surratt (harmony vocals).
Stephenson has been called "One of the best and most influential of high lead/tenor singers in recent years," by Bluegrass Now Magazine and "One of the finest voices in Bluegrass today" by Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.
For more information on Thankful or The Larry Stephenson Band, contact GoodStuff PR Co. at 615.525.5303 or via email at info@goodstuffpr.com
