tag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:/blogs/tim-stafford-and-rob-ickes-honored-with-ibma-awards?p=5News Posts2023-06-02T12:14:50-04:00Blue Highwayfalsetag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/72195512023-06-02T12:14:50-04:002023-10-16T10:48:23-04:002nd ANNUAL BLUE HIGHWAY FEST SET FOR OCTOBER 11-14 IN BIG STONE GAP, VA!!<p>The 2nd annual BLUE HIGHWAY FEST will be held October 11-14 in beautiful Big Stone Gap, VA!! Headliners include Sam Bush Band, the Steeldrivers, Scythian, Dan Tyminski Band, Darrell Scott, Seldome Scene, Tim O'Brien Band, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Rambles, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, Missy Raines and Allegheny, Terry Baucom & The Dukes of Drive, Authentic Unlimited, Volume Five, the ETSU Bluegrass Band, Tim Stafford, Thomm Jutz and Dave Eggar, Shawn Lane & Richard Bennett, Wayne Taylor & Friends, Jason Burleson, Gary Hultman & Friends, Beth Snapp, Tony Arata, Craig Street Ramblers, Sycamore Hollow, Bobby Starnes, Grayson & Garrett Lane, Ed Snodderly and your hosts Blue Highway! Tickets at www.bluehighwayfest.com<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/170285/0d3f68398a5079707bda5937c62dc8e22731cf7e/original/screen-sh-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/72195502023-06-02T12:05:51-04:002023-06-02T12:31:24-04:00BLUE HIGHWAY'S "LONESOME STATE OF MIND" #1 SIX TIMES ON BLUEGRASS TODAY'S WEEKLY NATIONAL SINGLES COUNTDOWN, 3 TIMES #1 ON MONTHLY CHART!!<p>“Lonesome State of Mind,” Blue Highway's second single from their upcoming album, has been #1 for six months on Bluegrass Today's weekly national singles countdown, on January 20, Feb. 3, March 17, March 31, April 28, and May 19, 2023. Written by Tim Stafford and Bobby Starnes, the song was also the #1 song on the BT monthly airplay chart in February, March and May 2023! The previous single, “On the Roof of the World,” written by Tim Stafford, was #1 on the chart for four weeks in July and August 2022. The band anticipates another single, “The North Side,” soon, followed by the release of our new album late in 2023!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/170285/a8df723732347a7662d26047109bb33c006c5fc6/original/res-39224565-209a-4215-8c11-7c77c425a6f2-bluehighway-lonesomestateofmind-cover.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/70844872022-10-19T13:20:11-04:002022-10-19T13:20:41-04:00INNAUGURAL BLUE HIGHWAY FEST A SMASHING SUCCESS--MAKE PLANS FOR 2023!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/559e184ef3ab180126c847108f989bce07384ea9/original/bhflogoonly2-1-22png.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Blue Highway and the town of Big Stone Gap, VA were proud to announce The first annual BLUE HIGHWAY FEST, October 7-8, 2022 at Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap, VA. The festival featured an incredible lineup: Blue Highway, Sam Bush Band, Tommy Emmanuel, The Earls of Leicester Featuring Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski Band, the Travelin' McCourys, Scythian, Sierra Hull Band, Darrell Scott, Seldom Scene, Balsam Range, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers, Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Brooke and Darin Aldridge, Ed Snodderly, Carson Peters and Iron Mountain, and Beth Snapp. Attendees and performers alike were blown away by the staging, sound, lights, hospitality and cleanliness of the venue! Make plans to attend in 2023, dates coming soon! https://bluehighwayfest.com/ </p>
<p>#bluehighwayfest </p>
<p>Come join us next Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia on the Trail of the Lonesome Pine, to celebrate the rich heritage of Bluegrass and Roots music, food and culture, with Blue Highway and their friends! On-site camping (RVs and tents), On-site food vendors, Craft brews... Ticket information and FAQs coming soon! Children under 12 FREE! </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/68571992022-01-02T11:40:41-05:002022-01-02T11:42:46-05:00HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022 FROM BLUE HIGHWAY!<p><span class="font_large">Blue Highway wishes everyone a very happy 2022! Dec. 31, 2021 marked the 27 year anniversary for the band, and we are ready for normal to return so we can see everyone on the road during our 28th year of touring! Look for new recordings and some exciting announcements from the band soon--check our schedule for updates.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/e5a23dc84bc14dd96dd659e7d72113a8062c66bd/original/bobby-cleaned-up-bh-logo.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/67705582021-10-08T21:57:29-04:002021-10-08T21:57:29-04:00NEW RELEASE by Shawn Lane ~ Family & Friends is out NOW!<p>NEW RELEASE by Shawn Lane ~ Family & Friends is out NOW! Two #1 singles, songs written by Shawn with Barry Bales, Ronnie Bowman, and more! Soaring family harmony by Chad, Grayson, and Garrett Lane! Toe-tapping instrumentals, and a cappella harmony that'll take your breath away! Family and friends, get your copy TODAY of an album created just for YOU! <a contents="ShawnLaneMusic.com/Family-Friends" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://ShawnLaneMusic.com/Family-Friends" target="_blank">ShawnLaneMusic.com/Family-Friends</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/20461d276c0ad0c4e10ec90d867c345c3b02e32f/original/244349180-2107854932689313-1503804121369088914-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/67705572021-10-08T21:55:29-04:002021-10-08T21:55:29-04:00TIM STAFFORD WINS TWO AT 2021 IBMA AWARDS <p>Blue Highway guitarist and co-founder Tim Stafford won a pair of trophies at the 2021 IBMA Awards, including Liner Notes of the Year for his work on Rebel Records' reissue of Tony Rice's 1975 masterpiece, California Autumn. Tim also was part of Sacred Reunion's "In the Resurrection Morning" featuring Vince Gill, Doyle Lawson, Barry Abernathy, Mark Wheeler, Jim van Cleve, Phil Leadbetter and Jason Moore, which was a co-winner with Dale Ann Bradley in the Gospel Recording of the Year category.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/3eff568f3c408dbb82760014af1ba82a9bc7637c/original/243941287-1454857611559548-3746977495340520201-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/67124162021-08-10T14:42:54-04:002021-08-10T14:42:54-04:00BLUE HIGHWAY NOMINATED FOR 2021 IBMA VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR AS BAND MEMBERS PULL DOWN FIVE NOMINATIONS!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/2ea9cc833961ec0a8a039ef39bf17c7ad340fecc/original/download.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Blue Highway was nominated yet again for "Vocal Group of the Year" at the 2021 IBMA Awards. Tim Stafford was nominated for Album of the Year with his late collaborator, Steve Gulley, for <em>Still Here</em>. Another tribute to Steve, “In the Resurrection Morning” by the studio group Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, and Jason Moore was nominated for Gospel Recording of the Year as well as Collaborative Recording of the Year, while Tim's notes to Rebel Record's remastered release of Tony Rice's California Autumn record were nominated in the Liner Notes of the Year category.<br> </p>
<p>Results of the balloting will be revealed at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, September 30, at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina. Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), the professional nonprofit association for the bluegrass music industry.</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/65962582021-04-06T20:24:28-04:002021-04-06T20:24:28-04:00Mountain Stage show from 2012 rebroadcast this weekend (4/9-11/21)!<p>Blue Highway's show on <a contents="Mountain Stag" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/mountainstage" target="_blank">Mountain Stag</a>e from 2012 will be rebroadcast this weekend (4/9-11/21)! This Friday the show will be fed to <a contents="affiliates" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.mountainstage.org/.../Radio-Affiliates.aspx" target="_blank">affiliates</a> across the country! <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/67fc2a83c23bb01f7ddaa96cdd4752b322d23448/original/bluehighway3.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Photo by Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage</p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/65962552021-04-06T20:22:39-04:002021-04-06T20:22:39-04:00Mountain Stage show from 2012 rebroadcast this week!<p>Blue Highway's show on <a contents="Mountain Stag" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/mountainstage" target="_blank">Mountain Stag</a>e from 2012 will be rebroadcast this week! This Friday the show will be fed to <a contents="affiliates" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.mountainstage.org/.../Radio-Affiliates.aspx" target="_blank">affiliates</a> across the country! <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/67fc2a83c23bb01f7ddaa96cdd4752b322d23448/original/bluehighway3.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Photo by Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage</p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/64311412020-09-11T09:56:13-04:002020-10-23T11:44:15-04:00Whole lot of Blue Highway on the Bluegrass Today top 20 singles chart!!<p><span class="font_xl"><strong>Whole lot of Blue Highway on the Bluegrass Today top 20 singles chart</strong></span><span class="font_large"><strong>--Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley at #1 with "Still Here," Shawn Lane at #4 with his new single, "One More," co-written with Ronnie Bowman, and the band's "I Can't Think of One" at #16, co-written by Wayne Taylor and Bowman! </strong></span></p>
<p><a contents="https://bluegrasstoday.com/chart/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluegrasstoday.com/chart/" target="_blank">https://bluegrasstoday.com/chart/</a></p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/7f9d6f7036891d921deba68480bbf7f2c0e05d1c/original/screenshot-20200911-093601-chrome.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/63797752020-07-08T12:31:35-04:002020-10-23T11:44:44-04:00Somewhere Far Away, 25th Anniversary Record available again!!<h2>
<span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/b690a2b932294e1f77ade17caaf99ccf078ec789/original/105030189-10157710858673842-177147366395280489-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Somewhere Far Away</em>, 25th Anniversary Record available again!! </span>Somewhere Far Away was out of stock for a while but is now available again in our store. This critically-acclaimed record, which contains "Both Ends of the Train," nominated for IBMA's 2020 Song of the Year has been a big hit with fans and radio alike! <span class="font_xl">20% OFF!!!!</span>
</h2>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/63679252020-06-26T22:00:57-04:002020-09-22T10:29:19-04:00BLUE HIGHWAY NOMINATED FOR 2020 IBMA AWARDS!<p><span class="font_large">BLUE HIGHWAY picked up nominations for Vocal Group of the Year and Song of the Year for the 31st Annual <a contents="IBMA Awards" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluegrasstoday.com/2020-ibma-award-nominees-announced/" target="_blank">IBMA Awards</a>! The band was named Vocal Group of the Year at the 2012 Awards and has been nominated numerous times over its 26-year history. "Both Ends of the Train," the first track on the band's 25th Anniversary record, <em>Somewhere Far Away</em>, written by Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley, was nominated for Song of the Year. The Award goes to the artist and songwriters. This year's IBMA Awards will be held virtually on October 1--stay tuned for more details.</span></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/63634862020-06-23T11:36:49-04:002020-09-22T10:29:34-04:00Be sure to tune in Wednesday 6/24--Sunday 6/28 for a replay of Sirius XM's "Track by Track" with Kyle Cantrell!<p>Be sure to tune in Wednesday 6/24--Sunday 6/28 for a replay of Sirius XM's "Track by Track" </p>
<p>with Kyle Cantrell!! </p>
<p>We'll be revisiting our episode of Track-By-Track with Blue Highway this Wednesday! Listen in at 11amET and hear all of the songs and stories that make up their most recent album, "Somewhere Far Away." </p>
<p>Here's the full schedule: <br>Wednesday 6/24 @ 11amET <br>Thursday 6/25 @ 9pmET <br>Saturday 6/27 @ 8amET <br>Sunday 6/28 @ 12pmET</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/b690a2b932294e1f77ade17caaf99ccf078ec789/original/105030189-10157710858673842-177147366395280489-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/62340932020-03-02T01:04:43-05:002020-10-23T11:44:28-04:00Blue Highway Tops National Charts with 25th Anniversary Album<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/ae1800978012ff220dbf85d64df3981ef8fbaf0c/original/bh-bu-1-both-ends-of-the-train-march-2020.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>BRISTOL, VA (March 2, 2020) ~ Blue Highway's "Both Ends of the Train" from its highly acclaimed 25th Anniversary album has risen to the top of multiple national charts, including the most recent trip to #1 on the acclaimed <strong>Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey Chart</strong> for March 2020. </p>
<p>Penned by the award-winning band's co-founder Tim Stafford and good friend Steve Gulley, "Both Ends of the Train" is also #1 on the <strong>Roots Music Report (RMR) Traditional Bluegrass Song Chart</strong> for the week of March 1 ~ its sixth consecutive week at #1, and its eighth week overall in the top spot. </p>
<p>The first #1 song from the album was the Wayne Taylor-penned "That Sounds More Like Heaven to Me," which topped the <strong>Bluegrass Today Gospel Chart</strong> on September 13, 2019, and was #20 for the year on the <strong>Bluegrass Today Top 30 Bluegrass Gospel Songs of 2019</strong>.</p>
<p>The Silver Anniversary album, <strong><em>Somewhere Far Away,</em></strong> hit #1 on the <strong>RMR Top 50 Traditional Bluegrass Album Chart </strong>for the week of February 1, when Blue Highway reigned with both the <strong># 1 Album</strong> and <strong>#1 Song</strong> on the RMR Charts. </p>
<p>Currently the album is at # 2 for the second consecutive month on the <strong>Bluegrass Unlimited Top 15 Albums Chart</strong>. </p>
<p>Blue Highway's fan base is loyal and widespread, voting the band as the <strong>Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time</strong> in a <em>Bluegrass Today</em> poll in April 2016. The band charted the <strong>Most Radio Airplay of Any Bluegrass Artist </strong>in 2014, while selling out half of their shows in 2015. </p>
<p>Honored and humbled by awards spanning their 25-year storied career, Blue Highway has garnered 28 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three GRAMMY nominations as a band. </p>
<p>Wayne Taylor was inducted into the <strong>Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame</strong> in 2016 alongside legends like Patsy Cline and the Statler Brothers. </p>
<p>Tim Stafford was honored as <strong>IBMA Songwriter of the Year</strong> in 2017 and 2014, while earning <strong>Guitar Performer of the Year</strong> honors from SPBGMA in 2015. Shawn Lane was nominated as <strong>IBMA Songwriter of the Year</strong> in 2015.</p>
<p>An enviable dream team of songwriters, vocalists, and instrumentalists, Blue Highway boasts four of its original five members, who are often heralded as musical heroes by loyal fans who grew up listening to original Blue Highway songs, now legendary, like <em>Lonesome Pine, Sycamore Hollow, Some Day, The Game,</em> and <em>Through the Window of a Train</em>. </p>
<p>Blue Highway and its members have earned widespread respect and an international following, with four co-founders still at the helm: <strong>Jason Burleson </strong>(banjo, vocals), <strong>Shawn Lane</strong> (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals), <strong>Tim Stafford </strong>(guitar, vocals), and <strong>Wayne Taylor</strong> (bass, vocals) . <strong>Gary Hultman</strong> (Dobro, vocals) joined the supergroup in January 2019. </p>
<p>Blue Highway is represented by Lee Olsen, President of Nashville's <strong>CMC Artists</strong>. For more information on booking Blue Highway, please call 615-627-2243, email <strong>Lee@CMCArtists.com</strong>, or go to <a contents="www.CMCArtists.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.CMCArtists.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#f39c12;">www.CMCArtists.com</span></a>.</p>
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<p><a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com"><span style="color:#f39c12;">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</span></a></p>
<p><a contents="www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway"><span style="color:#f39c12;">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</span></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Somewhere Far Away</strong></em>, Rounder Records, August 2019.</p>
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<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/60466372019-12-27T21:07:56-05:002020-10-23T11:45:00-04:00Blue Highway launches Silver Anniversary Giveaways<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/e8db2dcbf209d0d3fe0f1f0aa7b36076684334a5/original/20191227-171544.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>BRISTOL, VA (December 28, 2019) ~ Award-winning supergroup Blue Highway is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with an almost two-week run of giveaways, which will be posted every day starting the day after Christmas via the <a contents="Blue Highway Facebook Page" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/BlueHighway">Blue Highway Facebook Page</a>. </p>
<p>Winners will be announced starting on New Year's Day at 4:00 pm ET, with one or more winners being announced daily until all prizes are awarded. </p>
<p><u>Prizes include</u>:</p>
<p> </p>
<ol> <li>Blue Highway's first publicity photo. 1995. </li> <li>Blue Highway's first cover story ~ <em>Bluegrass Unlimited</em> magazine, March 1996 issue. </li> <li>Blue Highway cover story ~ <em>Country Music Club of Switzerland Newsletter</em> publication, Jan/Feb 1998 issue. </li> <li>Blue Highway cover story ~ <em>Moonshiner Bluegrass Journal</em> of Japan, Volume 10 of 1997 issue. </li> <li>Blue Highway cover story ~ <em>BMP: Bluegrass Music Profiles</em> magazine, Mar/Apr 2012 issue. </li> <li>Blue Highway cover story ~ <em>Bluegrass Unlimited</em> magazine, April 2012 issue. </li> <li>Blue Highway cover story ~ <em>Bluegrass Unlimited</em> magazine, July 2017 issue. </li> <li>Blue Highway's first Christmas card. 2016. </li> <li>GRAND PRIZE ~ An original Blue Highway demo tape. 1994. </li>
</ol>
<p>The Grand Prize is identical to the tapes the band sent out in 1994, which landed Blue Highway its first recording contract with Rebel Records. </p>
<p>The original demo recording featured Tim Stafford on guitar, Wayne Taylor on bass, Shawn Lane on mandolin, and Rob Ickes on Dobro ~ with Tony Brown on banjo. </p>
<p>It was recorded before Jason Burleson joined the band on banjo, and before Blue Highway appeared in its first show in Kingsport, Tennessee, on December 31, 1994. </p>
<p>The cassette tape has four songs on it, including three original songs written by Tim Stafford and Wayne Taylor: </p>
<ul> <li>Lonesome Pine (Wayne Taylor) </li> <li>Before the Cold Wind Blows (Wayne Taylor) </li> <li>Farmer's Blues (Tim Stafford) </li> <li>Blueridge Mountain Girl </li>
</ul>
<p>The demo tape has the original name "Hurricane Reign" marked out, with a sticker over it bearing the now iconic name "Blue Highway." </p>
<p>Tim Stafford recalls: "The tapes originally had the first name for the band, "Hurricane Reign." But, I ordered some stickers as soon as we got the tapes, marked the first name out, and put the Blue Highway sticker on." </p>
<p>Fans can enter to win the historic prizes by commenting on each item's post on Blue Highway's Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway. Each item is open for entering until the winner of the item is announced.</p>
<p>Highly esteemed bluegrass band Blue Highway has earned a collective 28 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three GRAMMY nominations as a band. Current members include Tim Stafford, Wayne Taylor, Shawn Lane, Jason Burleson, and Gary Hultman.</p>
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<p>Prizes courtesy of:</p>
<p>Personal collections of Tim Stafford and Wayne Taylor.</p>
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<p>Photos courtesy of:</p>
<p>Sherri George, Wayne Taylor, and Tim Stafford.</p>
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<p>Press Release courtesy:</p>
<p>Sherri George, Publicist, Blue Highway.</p>
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<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/55846682019-01-07T13:56:13-05:002020-09-22T10:28:01-04:00Blue Highway Announces Gary Hultman as Newest Member<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/04ab3a365acdd4dff855840a40223b140adc8c9d/original/gary-hultman-by-danny-dorsey-photography.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />BRISTOL, VA (January 7, 2019) -- Blue Highway is pleased to announce the addition of gifted vocalist and resophonic guitarist Gary Hultman as the newest member of the award-winning band. </p>
<p>"Gary Hultman is a first-rate musician and singer," said Tim Stafford, Grammy Award winner and co-founder of Blue Highway. "And he's a great guy ~ one of the absolute best. We're all beyond thrilled he's the newest member of Blue Highway!" </p>
<p>Hultman will replace Justin Moses who will be increasing his touring schedule with his beautiful wife, the award-winning Sierra Hull, after the successful introduction of their duo talents last year. </p>
<p>Gary Hultman is a gifted young man who spent four years as Dobro player with the highly celebrated Grammy-nominated Boxcars, and most recently performed with the Adam Steffey-created Highland Travelers. </p>
<p>"Gary has talent beyond his years," said Steffey. "He has the great ability to play what each song needs: never overplaying or showboating, always sensitive to the song and the dynamics that it requires." </p>
<p>"When I first heard Gary play with the Boxcars, I was impressed with his musical instinct on the Dobro and how he used it to better the song, no matter what the song was," said Shawn Lane. "When I got to meet him later, I could tell he was a great guy, too. I’m looking forward to making some music with this cat!" </p>
<p>"I've been a huge fan of Gary's from the first time I heard him!" said Jason Burleson. "He's such a great player and singer, and is absolutely one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Looking forward to playing music and hanging out with this guy!"</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/3065ac75f64100bde66e4c42f68c9e6818ea35e9/original/blue-highway-compressed-6485.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />The excitement is mutual, as Hultman has Blue Highway in his blood. He grew up listening to the band's music and learning from its famed founding Dobro player Rob Ickes at his heralded Reso-Summit workshops in Nashville. </p>
<p>“Blue Highway has been such a huge part of my upbringing in music, and to say that I am excited would be an understatement!" said Hultman. "Not only has the band been an influence and inspiration to me, but so has each member’s playing, singing, and songwriting. Becoming a part of Blue Highway really means a lot to me, especially as a Dobro player. I know I’ll never fill the shoes that have come before me, but I look forward to the challenge ahead with passion. To play the band's songs that I have left on repeat, practiced along to, and genuinely loved for years .. on stage, with THE band ... I would never have dreamed I’d have the opportunity! It is truly an honor and a blessing. All of the guys are so kind, and I look forward to traveling and picking with them!” </p>
<p>"We're pumped to start our 2019 tour, and can't wait to make some new music with Gary!" said Blue Highway co-founder and Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame member Wayne Taylor. </p>
<p>Blue Highway's 2019 tour schedule kicks off in the band's home base of Tennessee, as they play the <a contents="The Down Home" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluehighwayband.com/event/2465035/479634013/the-down-home" target="_blank">The Down Home</a> in Johnson City on January 18-19, and <a contents="The Open Chord" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.openchordmusic.com/new-events/december25/bluehighway" target="_blank">The Open Chord</a> in Knoxville the following weekend on January 25, 2019. </p>
<p>For the band's full tour schedule and more information on Blue Highway, please visit www.BlueHighwayBand.com. </p>
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<p><u>About Blue Highway</u>: <br>Blue Highway is a respected 25-year strong band heralded as a supergroup with 28 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three GRAMMY nominations. Four of its founding members are still intact: Tim Stafford (guitar and vocals), Wayne Taylor (bass and vocals), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and vocals), and Jason Burleson (banjo, mandolin, and vocals). The band is pleased to welcome Gary Hultman (Dobro and vocals) in January 2019. </p>
<p><u>About Gary Hultman</u>: <br>Gary grew up on a farm on the Canadian border in the small town of Birchdale, MN. He loves hunting and fishing, and fell in love with music when his family formed a bluegrass band when he was 10 years old. Gary played Dobro in his family's band until he left Minnesota for the hills of East Tennessee as he enrolled in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music program at ETSU in Johnson City. Hultman was invited to join the elite ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band and travel to Japan on tour during the summer of 2014. ETSU's program opened the doors for Gary to live his dreams, as he has performed on stage with many of his musical heroes, such as Ricky Skaggs, Doyle Lawson, Adam Steffey, and Blue Highway's Tim Stafford. Gary attended Rob Ickes’ ResoSummit as a student, and has cherished the opportunity to return in recent years as an instructor. Hultman was Dobro player for the highly celebrated Grammy-nominated Boxcars for four years, and most recently performed with the Adam Steffey-created Highland Travelers. Gary recently married his college sweetheart, the former Ashley Nale of The Loose Strings Band, and they reside in Galax, VA.</p>
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<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release courtesy:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Sherri George</span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</span></p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/55651872018-12-21T20:57:06-05:002020-08-20T17:09:39-04:00Wayne Taylor Makes a Christmas Wish Come True<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/27606dc91815b45545811b9b169ab784b7940133/original/wayne-easton-2-christmas-dec-19-2018-copy.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span>BRISTOL, VA (December 21, 2018) -- Once upon a time in the Bluegrass-loving land of Southwest Virginia lived a little boy named Easton. Easton loved the band Blue Highway, and wrote to Santa asking for a Blue Highway poster for Christmas. </p>
<p>Santa's elves were already out packing his sleigh, so Santa asked Easton's mom Jessica to message his buddies in Blue Highway. All those cool cats hang together :) </p>
<p>Everyone knows the beloved band's bass player Wayne Taylor has a heart of gold, so it's no surprise Wayne immediately offered to help Santa fill young Easton's wish. Wayne offered a classic Blue Highway Midnight Storm album poster that he'd been saving. </p>
<p>Santa's elves and Blue Highway's tour manager got all excited with an idea to send Easton and his family to Bristol's magical Blackbird Bakery, and then send Wayne Taylor to walk in and surprise them by personally delivering the poster. </p>
<p>Wayne grinned from ear to ear, the boys in Blue Highway cheered, and Santa sat back to watch from the North Pole with a Live Stream set up by the elves. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/338b3583f65abd266efa07ebe3b4f3e637a1c43f/original/wayne-with-easton-christmas-dec-19-2018.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Wayne arrived at the white light bedazzled Blackbird Bakery on Wednesday night, walked over to Easton's family's table, and said, "Hi, I'm Wayne Taylor."</p>
<p>Easton's eyes grew wide with surprise, and his face lit up with a big grin, as he said, "I know!" </p>
<p>Wayne told him he heard Easton had asked Santa for something from Blue Highway. </p>
<p>Easton said, "Yeah, a poster!" </p>
<p>Wayne then handed Easton the poster tube, which he'd generously filled with not one, but three rare vintage Blue Highway posters. . </p>
<p>Easton's smiles were contagious, as his mom Jessica, dad Brett, and little sister Averie all excitedly watched as Easton pulled out his posters, and Wayne Taylor pulled up a chair for a visit. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/0bf8b592e72a517803def17042bbd8eac52a17fb/original/christmas-wayne-easton-averie-dec-19-2018.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Wayne learned that Easton loves to sing, and even organized a bluegrass festival in his family's living room to entertain his grandparents on Thanksgiving. Easton shared that his favorite song is <em>Some Day</em>, while his little sister chimed in that her favorite is <em>Lonesome Pine</em>. </p>
<p>"This has absolutely made my holiday season," said Wayne Taylor. "So glad I was able to do it. Easton has a beautiful family, and the expression on his face was priceless. It made it worth it all." </p>
<p>"It was absolutely perfect," said Easton's mom Jessica. "Easton said it was a dream come true! He told his Nana and Papaw on the phone that it was the best day of his life! Our little girl was so excited, too, and she's still talking about it! Thanks to Wayne for making Easton's Christmas wish come true, and for giving him an unforgettable evening!" </p>
<p>Good hearts abound in the Bluegrass world, and Wayne Taylor's is among the best. </p>
<p>Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night from a land where dreams really do come true! </p>
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<p><em>Written by </em></p>
<p><em>Blue Highway publicist, Sherri George</em></p>
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<p><em>Photos graciously provided by Easton's mom, Jessica.</em></p>
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<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/d6ba54471c530ddae41bf4a50188d4db59db5f12/original/christmas-eastons-family-brett-jassica-averie.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></em></p>
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<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/54466102018-09-27T22:21:48-04:002020-05-05T16:55:27-04:00Justin Moses Honored as 2018 IBMA Dobro Performer of the Year<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/7eb5cf110fa774c6a7d23789ab67b35be24af96a/original/justin-moses-by-sherri-george.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />RALEIGH, NC (September 28, 2018) Blue Highway's <strong>Justin Moses</strong> was honored as 2018 <strong>IBMA Dobro Performer of the Year </strong>as part of the 29th Annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards on Thursday, September 27, at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, NC. </p>
<p>This is the first IBMA Dobro Performer of the Year award for Moses, who joined Blue Highway in May of this year. Justin's wife, GRAMMY nominee <strong>Sierra Hull</strong>, was also honored as <strong>IBMA Mandolin Performer of the Year</strong>, for the third consecutive year.</p>
<p>Moses has shared the stage with icons such as Clint Black, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Hornsby, Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Joe Diffie, Jerry Douglas, Peter Frampton, and Barry Gibb.</p>
<p>Justin appeared on the 2009 GRAMMY Nominated and IBMA Album of the Year winning release "Wheels" by Dan Tyminski, as well as "Music to My Ears" by Ricky Skaggs, among other prominent releases.</p>
<p>Prior to joining Blue Highway, Moses toured with bands like Blue Moon Rising, NewFound Road, Band of Ruhks, The Dan Tyminski Band, and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. He has also appeared on prominent television shows such as <em>The Today Show, Conan, The Marty Stuart Show</em>, and <em>The Grand Ole Opry</em>.</p>
<p>For more info on Justin Moses, please go to <a contents="www.JustinMoses.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.JustinMoses.com" target="_blank">www.JustinMoses.com</a>.</p>
<p>For more info on Blue Highway, please visit <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>.</p>
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<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release and Photo courtesy:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Sherri George</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</em></span></p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/52332142018-05-14T11:30:17-04:002020-10-29T20:46:44-04:00Blue Highway Blazes New Trails Annoucing Justin Moses as Newest Member<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/d72f79e327f44858324895b84a06e71c4ea5b631/original/justin-moses-small-copy.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>BRISTOL, VA (May 14, 2018) - Blue Highway announced today the addition of heralded multi-instrumentalist JUSTIN MOSES to the 24-year strong supergroup. </p>
<p>Moses will step up to the plate at Dobro, replacing departing Gaven Largent, who married his sweetheart over the weekend and will embark on new musical trails, including opening his own woodworking and resophonic guitar crafting shop in Virginia. </p>
<p>"Justin Moses is arguably the most versatile and talented bluegrass musician working in the business today," said Blue Highway co-founder and GRAMMY winner Tim Stafford. "He can sing all parts, and is an accomplished instrumentalist on mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and bass, as well as Dobro." </p>
<p>Justin's resume sparkles with superstars and legends. Moses has lived a musician's dream, sharing the stage with icons such as Clint Black, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Hornsby, Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Joe Diffie, Jerry Douglas, Peter Frampton, and Barry Gibb. </p>
<p>Justin appeared on the 2009 GRAMMY Nominated and IBMA Album of the Year winning release "Wheels" by Dan Tyminski, as well as "Music to My Ears" by Ricky Skaggs, among other prominent releases. </p>
<p>Moses married the beautiful, multi-talented sweetheart of bluegrass, Sierra Hull, in 2017, merging two powerhouse musical talents. Sierra is a well-loved, accomplished mandolin player and vocalist, and GRAMMY Nominee. Justin and Sierra have several duo shows on schedule in 2018. </p>
<p>Justin has toured with bands like Blue Moon Rising, NewFound Road, Band of Ruhks, The Dan Tyminski Band, and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. He has appeared on prominent television shows such as <em>The Today Show, Conan, The Marty Stuart Show,</em> and <em>The Grand Ole Opry</em>. </p>
<p>Moses is excited to continue his musical journey as the newest member of three-time GRAMMY Nominee and 27-time IBMA Award winning powerhouse Blue Highway. </p>
<p>"I've had the good fortune to play with many of my heroes in the music business, but I'm truly beyond excited to have the opportunity to play with Blue Highway," said Justin Moses. "Blue Highway has been a favorite of mine since the first time I heard them play!" </p>
<p>The enthusiasm is shared among the members of Blue Highway, who can't wait to begin touring with Moses. </p>
<p>"Justin is an absolute beast on any instrument you put in his hands!" said Jason Burleson, Blue Highway's force on the five. "He's also a great singer, and a really nice guy. I'm really looking forward to working with him!" </p>
<p>"Justin is the dream band member: great guy, super talented on every instrument and vocal part, and dedicated," said Tim Stafford. "To say we're stoked to have him in the band is an understatement!" </p>
<p>"Justin is one of the most talented musicians in the music biz today," said Shawn Lane. "I’ve played music with him before, and enjoyed every second of it! I really look forward to making more music with him." </p>
<p>Shawn Lane and Justin Moses recently appeared together in Dan Tyminski's band on CBS-TV on <em>The Late Show</em> in support of Tyminski's new album "Southern Gothic." </p>
<p>The new team of Stafford, Taylor, Lane, Burleson, and Moses will debut on Saturday, June 2, at the iconic Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. Blue Highway will play three shows at Dollywood's Celebrity Theater at 12:30, 2:30, and 4:30 pm. </p>
<p>The band is revving up for their new team's debut -- five celebrated musicians coming together for an explosive Summer of touring, and the creation of a new Blue Highway album in studio. </p>
<p>Blue Highway albums have rocked charts and stood the test of time, from their debut release "It's a Long, Long Road" rising to earn IBMA Album of the Year honors in 1996, to their latest release "Original Traditional" on Rounder Records earning a 2017 GRAMMY Nomination. </p>
<p>From the stage to the studio, Blue Highway's engines are stoked and ready to entertain loyal excited fans. </p>
<p>"I've been a fan of Justin's for a long time, so getting to work side by side with him will be very exciting," said Hall of Famer Wayne Taylor. "Looking forward to what the future holds!" </p>
<p>"Having been around Blue Highway at events over the years, I've seen what great guys Shawn, Tim, Wayne, and Jason are," said Moses. "I'm really looking forward to getting started!"</p>
<p>Blue Highway's new turbo-charged musical engine will race starting on <a contents="June 2 at Dollywood" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluehighwayband.com/event/2154167/462294006/dollywood-bbq-bluegrass-festival" target="_blank">June 2 at Dollywood</a>, followed by <a contents="June 9 at HoustonFest" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluehighwayband.com/event/2154171/462294013/houstonfest" target="_self">June 9 at HoustonFest</a>, <a contents="June 12 at Bean Blossom" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluehighwayband.com/event/2154280/462294216/51st-annual-bill-monroe-bean-blossom-bluegrass-festival" target="_blank">June 12 at Bean Blossom</a>, and <a contents="June 16 at Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluehighwayband.com/event/2154228/462294139/blistered-fingers-family-bluegrass-festival" target="_blank">June 16 at Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival</a> in Maine. </p>
<p>For Blue Highway's full Tour Schedule, please go to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>. </p>
<p>For Blue Highway Booking, please contact Lee Olsen at Lee@keithcase.com or (615) 327-4646. </p>
<p>For Publicity and Tour Management, please contact Sherri George at BlueHighwayPR@hotmail.com. </p>
<p>For more info on Justin Moses, please go to <a contents="www.JustinMoses.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.JustinMoses.com" target="_blank">www.JustinMoses.com</a>. </p>
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<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release courtesy:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Sherri George</span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</span></p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/48908142017-10-13T16:12:35-04:002020-10-29T20:48:10-04:00Win Passes to See Blue Highway at Sirius XM "On Stage!"<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/daeb865d132ad38199831236b494e60d86653690/large/b-highway-sirius-xm.jpg?1507922720" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Blue Highway is giving away four (4) passes to two (2) winners to attend the band's private performance at Sirius XM Theater inside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville next Wednesday, October 18, 2017.</p>
<p>Blue Highway will take the stage at the Sirius XM Theater on Wednesday, October 18, at 4:00 pm CT to record a live show taping for <strong>"On Stage"</strong> which will air on <span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction</strong></span> at a later date. </p>
<p>The performance will be a mix of interviews and songs, with a focus on the band's newest GRAMMY-nominated album, "Original Traditional," released in 2016 on Rounder Records.</p>
<p>Fans can enter to win by going to Blue Highway's <strong><a contents="Facebook Page" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/bluehighway" style="" target="_blank"><span style="color:#6699ff;">Facebook Page</span></a></strong> and commenting on the post at this link: </p>
<p><strong><a contents="www.facebook.com/bluehighway/photos/a.10150723378423126.452741.8391908125/10155784657973126/?type=3&amp;theater" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/bluehighway/photos/a.10150723378423126.452741.8391908125/10155784657973126/?type=3&theater" style="" target="_blank"><span style="color:#3498db;">www.facebook.com/bluehighway/photos/a.10150723378423126.452741.8391908125/10155784657973126/?type=3&theater</span></a></strong></p>
<p>Winners must be able to be present in Nashville of their own accord on Wed Oct 18, in order to attend and claim the passes.</p>
<p>Fans can enter from Friday, October 13, until the morning of Monday, October 16, when Two (2) Winners of Two (2) Passes Each will be announced via Blue Highway's Facebook Page.</p>
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<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/48708562017-09-29T16:03:57-04:002020-10-23T11:45:13-04:00Tim Stafford Honored as 2017 IBMA Songwriter of the Year<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/946c3fd3a2422e8bc25af9585b32092d5c34b04e/medium/tim-and-janet-stafford-ibma-awards-20170928.png?1506715489" class="size_m justify_left border_" />RALEIGH, NC (September 29, 2017) -- <span style="color:#e67e22;"><strong>Tim Stafford</strong></span>, co-founder of the award-winning band <strong>Blue Highway</strong>, was honored as <strong><span style="color:#e67e22;">2017 IBMA Songwriter of the Year</span> </strong>as part of the 28th Annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards yesterday in Raleigh. </p>
<p>This is the second IBMA Songwriter of the Year Award for Stafford, the first being awarded in 2014. </p>
<p>Blue Highway was also nominated for two additional awards: <em>Vocal Group of the Year</em> and <em>Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year</em> for the song "Hallelujah" from Blue Highway's GRAMMY Award-nominated album, "Original Traditional," a 2016 release on Rounder Records. </p>
<p>A GRAMMY Award winner, Stafford is a gifted songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, producer, session musician, collegiate instructor, and author. Tim was recently honored as <em>2015 Distinguished Alumnus in the Arts</em> by the National Alumni Association of East Tennessee State University. He also was named <em>2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year</em> and <em>2015 SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year</em>. A former member of world-renowned Alison Krauss and Union Station, Tim released his third solo album in mid-September entitled "Acoustic Guitar" to rave reviews. </p>
<p>East Tennessee-based Stafford and Blue Highway have amassed a cumulative 27 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three prestigious GRAMMY Nominations as a band since Blue Highway's founding in 1994. </p>
<p>For more information on Tim Stafford and Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.TimStaffordGuitar.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.TimStaffordGuitar.com" target="_blank">www.TimStaffordGuitar.com</a> and <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com." target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com.</a> </p>
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<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press release courtesy:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Sherri George</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</em></span></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/48421442017-09-08T12:15:37-04:002020-10-29T20:47:51-04:00Blue Highway Members Contribute One-of-a-Kind Items to Charity Auction<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/0953cf18f83e5c23182f9a61c6c3ad32b3ee218f/medium/wayne-taylor-contributions-cbc-festival-auction-sept-9-2017.jpg?1504887636" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>MOCKSVILLE, NC -- Blue Highway band members <strong>Tim Stafford</strong> and<strong> Wayne Taylor</strong> have contributed one-of-a-kind items to the Carolina Bible Camp Festival auction, which is on-going now and benefits the 501(c)3 non-profit camp for children ages 9-19 in Mocksville, NC. </p>
<p>The CBC Bluegrass Festival is the camp's primary annual fundraiser, in its sixth year, with Blue Highway headlining the upcoming event in Mocksville this Saturday, September 9, 2017. </p>
<p>A Silent Auction will occur at the festival site on September 9 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Artists participating in this year's and past events were invited to contribute items to the Silent Auction, with all proceeds benefiting the camp. </p>
<p>The auction has been expanded this week due to the unexpected generosity of Blue Highway band members <strong>Tim Stafford </strong>and <strong>Wayne Taylor,</strong> who surprised festival Executive Director <strong>Lisa De Maio Brewer</strong> with once-in-a-life time items -- the original lyric sheets from the writing sessions of some of Blue Highway's most beloved songs, like <em>Nothin' But a Whippoorwill</em> and <em>Talk Is Cheap.</em> </p>
<p>An On-line Auction was quickly set up this week by T. Kyle Swicegood of The Swicegood Group, and all the items which will be part of the Silent Auction this Saturday are <u>also now available to the general public for On-line Bidding</u>. </p>
<p>The auction may be accessed at <a contents="www.ready2bid.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ready2bid.com" target="_blank">www.ready2bid.com</a> by selecting the Carolina Bible Camp Auction event. </p>
<p>"I am not ashamed to say I cried when I opened Wayne's envelope and saw what it contained. I just can't get over Tim and Wayne. What an amazing display of generosity," shared Lisa De Maio Brewer. </p>
<p>"Lisa Brewer and the folks at the Carolina Bible Camp festival are some of our favorite people in the business. I'm happy to donate these signed lyric sheets, some of which are originals from the day of composition," said Tim Stafford. </p>
<p>Blue Highway's contributions to the auction include: </p>
<ul> <li>Tim Stafford ~ Original lyric sheet from songwriting session for <em>Nothing But a Whippoorwill</em>. Co-written with Steve Gulley. Recorded on Blue Highway's album "Marbletown," which was nominated for both a GRAMMY Award and 2006 IBMA Album of the Year. Matted and Framed. Autographed by Tim Stafford. </li> <li> </li> <li>Tim Stafford ~ Original lyric sheet from songwriting session for <em>When Day is Done</em>. Co-written with Bobby Starnes. Recorded on Jeff Parker's 2004 album "When Day is Done." Jeff Parker is mandolin player for 3-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year, Dailey & Vincent. Matted and Framed. Autographed by Tim Stafford. </li> <li> </li> <li>Wayne Taylor ~ Original lyric sheet from songwriting session for <em>Talk Is Cheap</em>. Recorded on Blue Highway's album "The Game," which was nominated as 2014 IBMA Album of the Year, and topped the Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart at #1 for an unprecedented 7 consecutive months. The song <em>Talk Is Cheap </em>was #1 on multiple national charts and was the #3 song of the year on the <em>2014 Bluegrass Today Radio Airplay Chart.</em> Matted and Framed. Autographed by Wayne Taylor. </li> <li> </li> <li>Tim Stafford ~ Handwritten lyric sheet to the beloved Blue Highway a cappella classic, <em>Some Day. </em> Lyrics are by Olive Stockton, with the melody penned by Stafford. Recorded on Blue Highway's album "Midnight Storm," which was nominated as 2006 IBMA Album of the Year. This item is a lyric sheet handwritten and autographed by Tim Stafford for this auction. Matted and Framed. </li> <li> </li> <li>Wayne Taylor ~ Two (2) Autographed copies of Taylor's solo album, "It's About Time." </li> <li> </li> <li>Blue Highway ~ Opportunity for one fan to join Blue Highway on stage for the Finale at the CBC Festival on Saturday, September 9, as the band and other festival artists perform the finale song, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," at the close of the event at approximately 6:15 pm. Bids may be placed on-line for this item, but bidder must be present in Mocksville at the CBC Festival on September 9 by 4:00 pm in order to win and claim the prize. </li>
</ul>
<p>It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for Blue Highway fans to own a piece of history ~ the handwritten lyric sheets to some of Blue Highway's most popular songs ~ and all for a great cause! </p>
<p>Auction items have also been donated by Grammy winner Dom Flemons; 'Song of the Mountains' host Tim White; bluegrass sweetheart Sierra Hull; the band Scythian; North Carolina cigar box luthier Thomas Taylor; and craftsman Adam Broadway. </p>
<p>The CBC Bluegrass Festival will take place at the Carolina Bible Camp at 1988 Jericho Road in Mocksville, NC, on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Tickets will be available at the Gate on day of show for $20, or in advance on-line for $15 at <a contents="www.CBCBluegrass.com/tickets" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.CBCBluegrass.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.CBCBluegrass.com/tickets</a>. </p>
<p>The Silent and On-line Auctions will end on Saturday, September 9, at 4:00 pm, with winners announced shortly thereafter.</p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>. </p>
<p>For more information on the CBC Festival, please go to <a contents="www.CBCBluegrass.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.CBCBluegrass.com" target="_blank">www.CBCBluegrass.com</a>. </p>
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<p> </p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press release courtesy:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Sherri George, Agent, Tour Manager, and Publicist, Blue Highway</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/48111012017-08-11T12:41:47-04:002020-10-30T02:40:34-04:00Blue Highway Honored with Three 2017 IBMA Awards Nominations<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/9bc39a3a020d2e945ad81415187a9970c9b209c5/medium/blue-highway-small-version.jpg?1502469260" class="size_m justify_left border_" />BRISTOL, TN (August 11, 2017) – Respected supergroup Blue Highway is honored to be nominated for three IBMA Awards in the upcoming 28th Annual International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. </p>
<p>The 2017 IBMA Awards will be held at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, September 28, at 7:30 p.m., in Raleigh, NC. </p>
<p>Blue Highway received nominations as a band for <span style="color:#e67e22;"><strong>Vocal Group of the Year </strong></span>and <span style="color:#e67e22;"><strong>Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year</strong></span> for the song “Hallelujah” from their Grammy-nominated album on Rounder Records, “Original Traditional.” </p>
<p>Tim Stafford is nominated for an individual award, <span style="color:#e67e22;"><strong>2017 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. </strong></span></p>
<p>Stafford’s nomination was announced on Thursday as part of the Special and Momentum Awards Nominations Announcement, hosted by IBMA Executive Director Paul Schiminger at Sirius XM Studios in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. </p>
<p>“I’m very humbled and honored to be nominated by my peers in the IBMA,” said <strong>Tim Stafford</strong>. “I believe strongly in the organization, which works hard year-round for the success of the music.” </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/f214c11dc5822606865d5424429e90487beaf8c8/medium/tim-stafford-and-steve-gulley.jpg?1464287711" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><strong>Tim Stafford</strong> is a gifted guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, producer, session musician, author, and collegiate instructor who co-founded Blue Highway, and is a former member of world-renowned Alison Krauss & Union Station. Tim was honored as 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year, 2015 SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year, and was also named 2015 Distinguished Alumnus in the Arts by the East Tennessee State University National Alumni Association. </p>
<p>Blue Highway has been a mainstay at the International Bluegrass Music Awards since releasing their first album “It’s a Long, Long Road” in 1995. That album was honored as <strong>IBMA Album of the Year</strong> in 1996, with Blue Highway also being named <strong>Emerging Artist of the Year.</strong> </p>
<p>In their storied 23 years, the beloved band has amassed a cumulative 26 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three Grammy nominations. </p>
<p>“We appreciate all the support we’ve received from the beginning from our peers, and truly appreciate our fans more than anything,” said <strong>Shawn Lane</strong>, heralded for his jaw-dropping vocals, smoking instrumentals on mandolin and fiddle, and gifted songwriting which earned him a 2015 IBMA Songwriter of the Year nomination. “We wouldn’t be anywhere without our fans, and we recognize that every day. Our thanks always go to our loyal fans, our families, and our friends in this industry. We’re blessed beyond words.” </p>
<p>Winners of the 2017 IBMA Awards will be announced on Thursday, September 28, at 7:30 p.m., at Raleigh’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, with tickets and additional details available at www.ibma.org. </p>
<p>For a full list of 2017 IBMA Awards Nominees, please go to: <a contents="https://www.ibma.org/blog-entry/2017-international-bluegrass-music-awards-nominees-finalists " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ibma.org/blog-entry/2017-international-bluegrass-music-awards-nominees-finalists" style="" target="_blank">https://www.ibma.org/blog-entry/2017-international-bluegrass-music-awards-nominees-finalists </a></p>
<p>For a listing of IBMA Special and Momentum Award Nominees, please go to: <a contents="https://bluegrasstoday.com/ibma-announces-2017-special-awards-and-momentum-awards-nominees/ " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluegrasstoday.com/ibma-announces-2017-special-awards-and-momentum-awards-nominees/" target="_blank">https://bluegrasstoday.com/ibma-announces-2017-special-awards-and-momentum-awards-nominees/ </a></p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please visit<a contents=" www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank"> www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a contents="www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway." target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway.</a> </p>
<p>###</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/47625172017-06-29T13:30:00-04:002020-10-30T12:54:00-04:00Blue Highway's Wayne Taylor to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/194e898f752b908c6e3324eed1e8675d76fe5839/medium/wayne-taylor-5413-by-sherri-george.jpg?1498828037" class="size_m justify_left border_" />TAZEWELL, VA (June 29, 2017) -- On the heels of being inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame last Fall, the gifted vocalist, songwriter, and bass player <span style="color:#d35400;"><strong>Wayne Taylor</strong></span> of the multi-award winning, highly respected band Blue Highway is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the <em>15th Annual Tazewell County Fiddlers Convention</em> on <span style="color:#d35400;"><strong>Saturday, July 15, at 6:30 pm</strong></span>, at the Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park.</p>
<p>Museum Executive Director<strong> <span style="color:#d35400;">Charlotte Whitted</span></strong> announced on Thursday the two honorees for 2017 as Blue Highway's<strong> <span style="color:#d35400;">Wayne Taylor</span></strong> and posthumous awardee, banjo standout <span style="color:#d35400;"><strong>John Wesley Wright, Jr.</strong></span> </p>
<p>"The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who have made a significant impact toward preserving Traditional Mountain Music in Tazewell and Southwest Virginia," said Whitted. "We are proud to welcome bluegrass legend Wayne Taylor to our list of honorees. Wayne's humble approach to music and giving spirit pushed him to the top of the Nominees List this year. He will make a worthy addition."</p>
<p>Wayne Taylor's life reads like a pure American dream. </p>
<p>A child of humble parents, Wayne overcame four early years spent on crutches and in a wheelchair to become a coal truck driver in the mountains of southwest Virginia for 18 years before a golden door opened for him to become a founding member of what would become one of the most awarded and influential contemporary bluegrass bands in modern history, Blue Highway. </p>
<p>The 23-year strong Blue Highway has earned 26 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three prestigious Grammy Nominations as a band, including a 2017 Grammy Nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. </p>
<p>Wayne is often credited with giving Blue Highway its "inimitable" sound. Taylor is a highly respected vocalist, songwriter, and bass player, earning honors as <strong><span style="color:#d35400;">SPBGMA Bass Player of the Year</span> </strong>in 2001. Wayne was recently honored as the 2016 Inductee into the <span style="color:#d35400;"><strong>Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame</strong></span>, alongside legends such as Patsy Cline, The Statler Brothers, and Roy Clark. </p>
<p>Taylor's songs have filled Blue Highway's albums from the band's first release in 1995, with songs from the rollicking <em>Riding the Danville Pike</em> to the toe-tapping<em> Lonesome Pine</em> and <em>Talk is Cheap</em>, to the deep perennial fan-favorites <em>Keen Mountain Prison, No Home to Go Home To, That Could Be You, Homeless Man, Only Seventeen, and Seven Sundays In A Row,</em> which was co-written by Kim Williams and Larry Shell and nominated as <em>2004 IBMA Song of the Year.</em> </p>
<p>Eighteen years of hauling coal in southwest Virginia gives Wayne's songwriting a depth and authenticity hard to match. </p>
<p>The gifted songwriting and pure vocals of Wayne Taylor, Tim Stafford, and Shawn Lane have been like rocket fuel for Blue Highway, helping skyrocket each of their 11 studio albums to #1, with their most recent album <em>'Original Traditional'</em> earning a <strong><span style="color:#d35400;">2017 Grammy Nomination</span> </strong>for Best Bluegrass Album. Their last album<em> 'The Game'</em> reigned at #1 for 7 consecutive months on the <em>Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart</em>, helping Blue Highway chart the <strong><span style="color:#d35400;">Most Radio Airplay of Any Bluegrass Artist</span> </strong>in 2014. Blue Highway was also voted the<strong> <span style="color:#d35400;">Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time</span></strong> in April 2016 by the readers of <em>Bluegrass Today</em>. </p>
<p>The<em> 15th Annual Tazewell County Old Time & Bluegrass Fiddlers Convention</em> will be held July 14-16 at the Historical Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park at 3663 Crab Orchard Road in Tazewell, VA. It's a fun family-focused event with concerts, musical workshops, cake and pie walks, an old fashioned Dance on the Green, and individual music competitions with prizes in the categories of guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, Dobro, harmonica, dulcimer, bass, autoharp, fiddle & banjo duet, folk song, and youth. On Sunday morning, a gospel sing at the Red Barn will conclude the weekend's activities. </p>
<p>Weekend Passes are $12, with Single Day Passes $7 for Friday or Saturday. All events are FREE for children 12 and under with an accompanying paying adult. Camping is also available on site. For more information, please call 276-988-6755 or email: info@craborchardmuseum.com </p>
<p>For full event details, please go to <a contents="www.CrabOrchardMuseum.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.CrabOrchardMuseum.com" target="_blank">www.CrabOrchardMuseum.com</a>. </p>
<p>For more information on Wayne Taylor and Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>.</p>
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<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release courtesy:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Sherri George</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Agent, Tour Manager, and Publicist, Blue Highway</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/47461772017-06-15T18:12:57-04:002020-04-02T05:15:56-04:00Shawn & Gracie Lane to Co-Headline Stringbean Memorial Bluegrass Festival<p>TYNER, KY -- <strong>Shawn Lane</strong> of award-winning super group <strong>Blue Highway </strong>and his wife <strong>Gracie</strong> will co-headline the <em>21st Annual Stringbean Memorial Bluegrass Festival </em>on Friday, June 16, at Stringbean Memorial Park at 1410 Oak Grove Church Road in Tyner, KY. </p>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/a6a6369f0c6532092f24970d236f0cbf9c4cec58/medium/shawn-and-gracie-lane.jpg?1497564816" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Shawn & Gracie Lane</strong> will co-headline the festival with Hall of Fame legend <strong>Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers</strong> for their first official performance on Friday, June 16. </p>
<p>The duo's sons <strong>Grayson</strong> and <strong>Garrett</strong> will join Shawn and Gracie, along with <em>2016 SPBGMA Dobro Player of the Year</em> nominee <strong>Gaven Largent</strong> of Blue Highway. </p>
<p>Formally billed as <strong>Shawn & Gracie Lane</strong>, the duo is scheduled to perform two sets at 5:50 pm and 8:40 pm on Friday. </p>
<p>The duo's appearance was sparked by the social media explosion each time Gracie posted a video of the duo singing on her personal Facebook page. The response was overwhelming, with the first video <em>"My Kind of Woman, My Kind of Man"</em> reaching over 20,000 people, and the most recent video <em>"One More Day"</em> reaching over 30,000 people in under 48 hours. The response is remarkable when considering it was generated from informal cell phone footage on Gracie's personal Facebook page alone, with no help from any viral app or YouTube. </p>
<p>Shawn asked Blue Highway's Tour Manager and In-House Booking Agent <strong>Sherri George</strong> to schedule a Summer 2017 performance to answer the demand for the duo to appear. </p>
<p>A prestigious co-headlining spot alongside a Hall of Fame legend at a 21-year strong festival honoring one of the Grand Ole Opry's most beloved stars, <strong>David 'Stringbean' Akemon</strong>, was the spot crafted for the duo's first appearance. </p>
<p>Rumors of an album for the pair also swirl as Shawn and Gracie prepare to make their first official appearance. </p>
<p>Blue Highway fans need not worry, Shawn Lane is committed to the 23-year strong powerhouse group he co-founded in 1994. Blue Highway's all-star members make special appearances frequently, from Jason Burleson's performances with<em> 'Father of Newgrass'</em> Sam Bush, to Shawn Lane's frequent guest appearances with the Grammy-winning <em>Jerry Douglas & the Earls of Leicester.</em> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/59a34100425054bfe65b4aa266e07e014df24b54/small/larry-sparks-1.jpg?1497566123" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Appearing along with Shawn & Gracie and legend Larry Sparks at Stringbean Park on Friday, June 16, are festival host Phillip Akemon & Flatlick, Wilderness Road, the Fritts Family, Felix Brock & Gospel Harmony, the Sparrow Hawks, and Archie Campbell of Hee Haw's son Phil Campbell. </p>
<p>Bluegrass music, food, arts and crafts run <strong>Thursday-Saturday, June 15-17,</strong> <u>concluding on Sunday with the festival hosting its first ever church service at 9:30 AM on Sunday, June 18, 2017.</u> </p>
<p>Headliners overall include <strong>Ralph Stanley II & the Clinch Mountain Boys</strong>; Hall of Fame member <strong>Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers</strong>; Eastern Kentucky's <strong>Dave Adkins Band</strong>, whose most recent Bluegrass album debuted at #1 on the <em>Billboard Chart</em>; and <strong>Shawn & Gracie Lane</strong>. Regional favorites <strong>Laurel River Line</strong>, <strong>Larry Sigmon & Martha Spencer</strong>, and <strong>Southland Drive</strong> featuring Charlie Hall of WCYO's<em> Bluegrass Express</em>, will also appear among 21 bands. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/a855a88b9cb030a0b4711abaf5bcdcbd8664c43b/small/david-stringbean-akemon.jpg?1497564948" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Stringbean Memorial Bluegrass Festival honors Jackson County native and beloved Grand Ole Opry star<strong> David 'Stringbean' Akemon.</strong> His unique stage attire, traditional claw hammer banjo style, and entertaining stage banter endeared him to fans around the world. 'The Kentucky Wonder' was best known for his musical comedic performances on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry beginning in the 1940’s and on the television series “Hee Haw” until his tragic death in 1973. </p>
<p>With a rich history and beautiful locale at Stringbean Memorial Park, the festival has hosted the biggest stars in Bluegrass in the heart of Jackson County, Kentucky, for nearly a quarter century. </p>
<p>Festival hosts Phillip and Linda Akemon warmly welcome everyone to enjoy a wonderful family event at Stringbean Memorial Park, a beautiful 25-acre family-owned venue near the Daniel Boone National Forest, just 30 minutes off I-75 Exit 41 for London, KY. </p>
<p>Single day tickets are $20 each, or a Big Three-Day Pass is only $55. Campsites with electric are $25 per day, or dry camping is Free with a festival ticket. All are available at the gate. </p>
<p>Tickets, Camping Sites, and a Full Festival Schedule may also be found at <a contents="www.StringbeanPark.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.StringbeanPark.com" target="_blank">www.StringbeanPark.com</a>. </p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>* Video of "One More Day" ~ <a contents="https://www.facebook.com/1529196086/videos/10211888711043045/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/1529196086/videos/10211888711043045/" style="" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/1529196086/videos/10211888711043045/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>* Video of "My Kind of Woman, My Kind of Man" ~ <a contents="https://www.facebook.com/1529196086/videos/10208565399682338/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/1529196086/videos/10208565399682338/" style="" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/1529196086/videos/10208565399682338/</a></p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/46335352017-03-17T00:36:25-04:002018-09-28T01:32:41-04:00Tim Stafford to Teach Songwriting and Flat Picking Workshop on Safari in South Africa<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/e2a2d745bcc945036c95af8383ad915e7a7b66ee/medium/safari-image-giraffe-sunset.jpg?1489725001" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Blue Highway's Tim Stafford will teach an elaborate Songwriting and Flatpicking Workshop in January 2018 in South Africa as part of MSWIA - <em>Music Safari Workshops in Africa</em>. </p>
<p><strong>Madikwe Flatpick & Songwriting Workshop with Tim Stafford</strong> is a 10-day dream vacation, running from January 5-14, 2018. Shopping and cultural activities kick off the event, while daily schedules will combine Game Drives, Master Classes, and a Positive Critique Session, coupled with meals and accommodations at luxurious lodges. All Lodging, Meals, and Drinks are included. Enrollment is limited to 12 people. </p>
<p>Participants will arrive in South Africa on January 5, with the first official day starting on January 6 at the Lesedi Cultural Village, then on to Madikwe on January 7, 2018. </p>
<p><br><em><u>Key Information Links include</u>: </em></p>
<p><em>Overview and Sample Itinerary:</em> <a contents="www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/music-safari/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/music-safari/" target="_blank">www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/music-safari/</a> </p>
<p><em>Lodging Details:</em> <a contents=" www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/lodges/ " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/lodges/" target="_blank"> </a><a contents="www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/lodges" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/lodges" target="_blank">www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/lodges</a><a contents=" www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/lodges/ " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/lodges/" style="" target="_blank">/ </a></p>
<p><em>Workshop Details & Registration:</em> <a contents="www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/music-workshops/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/music-workshops/" target="_blank">www.mswiamusicsafari.co.za/music-workshops/</a> <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/825dc38b3b0dfc84e8e7ec71cd05e01385185d99/small/safari-lesedi-african-lodge.jpg?1489725657" class="size_s justify_left border_" />MSWIA is a Music Safari company combining a dream African Safari with world-class musical instruction. Five-star accommodations are included at the most distinguished lodges in Africa, selected with luxury, privacy, and pristine scenic beauty in mind. Instructors are hand-picked from the world's top professional musicians, highly esteemed for both their extensive careers as professional performers and their reputations as skilled dynamic instructors, to ensure the most memorable workshop experience on earth. MSWIA is a new company founded by Johannesburg-based promoter Wiam Otto. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/f214c11dc5822606865d5424429e90487beaf8c8/small/tim-stafford-and-steve-gulley.jpg?1464287711" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Grammy-winning <strong>Tim Stafford</strong> co-founded the 23-year strong powerhouse band <strong>Blue Highway</strong>, and is a gifted songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, producer, session musician, collegiate instructor, author, and former member of the world-renowned <strong>Alison Krauss and Union Station</strong>. Tim was awarded as <em>2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year</em> and <em>2015 SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year</em>. He was also honored as 2015 Distinguished Alumnus in the Arts by the National Alumni Association of <strong>East Tennessee State University</strong>. </p>
<p>Stafford and Blue Highway are just coming off a <strong>2017 GRAMMY</strong> <strong>Nomination</strong> for Best Bluegrass Album, and are currently riding high in the #1 spot on the <em>Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart</em> for March with the heralded <em>Original Traditional</em>. <br><br> </p>
<p>###<br><br><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release courtesy:<br>Sherri George</em><br><em>Agent, Tour Manager and Publicist, Blue Highway</em></span><br><br><br>_______________</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/45897112017-02-14T10:59:46-05:002020-04-16T08:09:41-04:00Grammy Nominated Blue Highway Brings Concert Booking In House<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/9061cddb41f129bc33c50e99533e98c0c16d8aba/medium/blue-highway-by-sherri-george-small-version-8x10-crop.jpg?1491006475" class="size_m justify_left border_" />BRISTOL, TN (February 14, 2017) -- Sizzling hot off a Grammy Nomination on Sunday in Los Angeles, respected 23-year strong bluegrass powerhouse Blue Highway announced today it is bringing the band’s concert booking in house. </p>
<p>The five-member, award-winning Blue Highway writes their own songs, produces their own albums, and effective February 10, will book their own shows from within the Blue Highway family. </p>
<p>Before promoters start looking for a call from Blue Highway’s force on the five Jason Burleson, the band is quick to relay they are adding Booking Agent to the hats currently worn by Sherri George, their Tour Manager and Publicist since 2014. </p>
<p>“We like the way Sherri represents Blue Highway,” said Wayne Taylor, the newest member of Virginia’s Country Music Hall of Fame. “We now feel like we have the right person in place to bring everything including booking under the Blue Highway umbrella. Sherri has become our right arm, and we are thrilled to have her serve as our Agent. I can assure you, if you’re talking to Sherri, you have the ear of this band.” </p>
<p>“She is our eyes, our ears, and our good right arm. I’d trust Sherri with anything,” echoes Shawn Lane, heralded high tenor and lead vocalist, explosive on both fiddle and mandolin, and a highly respected songwriter nominated as 2015 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. </p>
<p>It would appear the Sports Industry-trained PR pro won Blue Highway’s trust from day one, as remarkably she’s the first Publicist the band has hired in 23 years. </p>
<p>When it came time for a vote in the infamous Blue Highway democracy regarding booking, the band’s newest member, Dobro phenom Gaven Largent, reportedly exclaimed, “Shoot, yeah!” Largent's official statement was more formal, but still glowing: “I think Sherri is one of the hardest working, most polite and driven people I’ve ever been around, and I’m looking forward to what she’ll do as our Agent! We’re all proud of the way Sherri represents us, and it was a unanimous decision.” </p>
<p>Famous as the Blue Highway democracy is its sometimes slow decision making, but supersonic speed might best describe a literally overnight decision to bring booking in house and expand their tour manager’s role in the band. Why? </p>
<p>Glance at her resume … Sherri’s first position was with the NBA League Office in New York within the marketing arm of the league, in a year that lucrative arm brought in a cool $1.2 billion. Fast forward from there to University of Kentucky Athletics, where she created what then UK Associate AD Kyle Moats called a model program throughout the country, adding Sherri had wonderful people skills coupled with "a relentless pursuit of perfection and ability to succeed." The Celebrity Guest Coach Program at UK brought in over $70,000 in corporate sponsorships in three months, increased overall event attendance by 55%, and secured international publicity for Lady Kat Basketball. George also created and taught one of the first Sports PR courses of its kind in the nation while in grad school at Utah State University. </p>
<p>Her Bluegrass resume sparkles just as bright, as her first role was as publicist for beloved Hall of Fame member Doyle Lawson. George created the Children’s Hospital and Arena Tour for the bluegrass legend, sending Lawson and his band to visit children’s hospitals throughout the Southeast, touching hearts of kids and parents with their signature harmony and kindness. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver’s visibility also skyrocketed on the tour, as they performed the National Anthem from nationally televised NASCAR races to center court on the glistening hardwood of both NBA and NCAA Men’s Basketball games. </p>
<p>Blue Highway’s accolades have also sparkled over the past three years, with a sample including: </p>
<ul> <li>Blue Highway's IBMA Album and Song of the Year Nominee ‘The Game’ was #1 for 7 consecutive months on <em>Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart</em>. <em>June-Dec 2014</em>. </li> <li>Tim Stafford was honored as 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year and 2015 SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year. Shawn Lane was nominated as 2015 IBMA Songwriter of the Year, while Gaven Largent was nominated as 2016 SPBGMA Dobro Player of the Year. </li> <li>Blue Highway was voted the ‘Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time’ by readers of <em>Bluegrass Today. April 2016. </em>
</li> <li>Wayne Taylor was the 2016 Inductee into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. <em>Oct 2016. </em>
</li> <li>Blue Highway’s #1 album 'Original Traditional' was nominated for a 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album. </li>
</ul>
<p>Thinking of booking Blue Highway? Add to that list of accolades the dollar signs which accompany Blue Highway, as Sold Out shows accounted for half their concerts in 2015. </p>
<p>Also add to the list, a new agent inside the band with a goal of ensuring promoters feel like VIP family. </p>
<p>“One of the reasons Blue Highway is so loved and respected is the way they treat others,” said Sherri George. “When promoters book Blue Highway, we want them to be treated like family and the valued VIP’s they truly are. Blue Highway’s goal is a Win-Win scenario every time a contract is signed, and we’ll back it up with one of the best bands in Bluegrass and all we can do from a promotion standpoint, with Blue Highway social media, e-blasts, and even press releases if needed.” </p>
<p>“I like how promoters will have a one-stop shop with Sherri booking our shows,” said Gaven Largent. “She has her hands in all of Blue Highway’s cookie jars, so she can book a show AND advertise that show heavily in Blue Highway social media. She can do it all.” </p>
<p>Often the voice of the band, the Grammy-winning, highly respected vocalist, guitarist, producer, teacher, and author Tim Stafford summed up the band’s enthusiasm as it embarks on a new phase in Blue Highway history: “We are excited about our new booking agent! Sherri George is a wonderful person, top-notch, professional and hard-working. Entering its 23rd year, the band couldn't be happier, and we look forward to seeing everyone out on the road!” </p>
<p>To book the award-winning supergroup Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Mgt-Booking" data-link-label="Mgt & Booking" data-link-type="page" href="/mgt-booking" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Mgt-Booking</a> for contact info for Blue Highway's new in house agent, Sherri George.<br><br>###<br><br> </p>
<p><a contents="Ready to book Blue Highway?" data-link-label="Mgt & Booking" data-link-type="page" href="/mgt-booking" style="" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span class="font_large"><strong>Click Here to book Blue Highway!</strong></span></span></a></p>
<p> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/45024752016-12-08T13:30:00-05:002020-09-22T10:28:14-04:00Blue Highway Announces Fan Appreciation Concert<p>BRISTOL, VA (December 8, 2016) -- Premier award-winning bluegrass band Blue Highway will host a first of its kind All Request <a contents="Fan Appreciation Concert" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com/news/blog/grammy-nominated-blue-highway-announces-fan-appreciation-concert" target="_blank"><span style="color:#B22222;"><strong>Fan Appreciation Concert</strong></span></a> on <span style="color:#B22222;"><strong>Saturday, April 15, 2017</strong></span>, at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia. </p>
<p>One the heels of a <strong>GRAMMY Award Nomination</strong> for <strong>Best Bluegrass Album</strong> earlier this week, Blue Highway announced a new date today for the much anticipated event, postponed earlier this year due to illness.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/f6a5fec67c467217255c52ae9a58db72c48e2711/medium/emory-henry-mca-balcony-view.jpg?1457580518" class="size_m justify_left border_" />The concert will be held at Emory & Henry's new McGlothlin Center for the Arts, an elaborate new $20 million luxurious facility set amidst the rolling hills of Virginia just east of Bristol. </p>
<p>Blue Highway fans have a choice of two show times on <strong>Saturday, April 15</strong> -- <strong>2:00 pm Matinee</strong> and <strong>7:00 pm Evening.</strong> </p>
<p>The elaborately produced event is a Thank You from the members of Blue Highway to their friends and fans who have loyally supported the 22-year strong powerhouse group. </p>
<p>Fans who buy tickets to the concert will vote for their favorite Blue Highway songs spanning the band's 22 years and 11 studio albums, including the new Grammy nominated 'Original Traditional.' Blue Highway will perform the Top 20 Songs chosen by their fans. </p>
<p>Fans will choose from seating sections with names reflecting Blue Highway's biggest hits: </p>
<p><strong>* Marbletown</strong> - Front Row <br><strong>* V-Bottom Boat</strong> - Orchestra <br><strong>* Sycamore Hollow</strong> - Mezzanine <br><strong>* Keen Mountain</strong> - Balcony <br><strong>* In the Gravel Yard</strong> - Floor Box Seats </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/40b19367fb0a88915bc6b002775b22c8fe3de3c3/medium/new-2017-fan-appreciation-concert-blue-highway.jpg?1481212603" class="size_m justify_left border_" />With only 461 seats in the spectacular venue, all seat views are potentially fantastic from Floor Box Seats to Balcony. </p>
<p>Fan-centered options abound, from collectible programs to fans voting for their favorite Blue Highway songs, to four fans winning a chance to introduce their favorite songs at the concerts, to All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Lunches and Dinners for only $6 and $8 served on April 14-15 at the beautiful Van Dyke Center overlooking the duck pond on Emory & Henry's campus. All fans attending the concerts are eligible to win door prizes, including one-of-a-kind Grand Prizes: a Blue Highway festival chair with carry bag, and a specially designed Blue Highway Box Set of the band's albums. </p>
<p>The band will also be recording their first LIVE album during the two concerts! </p>
<p><span style="color:#B22222;"><strong>Workshops</strong></span> with Blue Highway band members will also be offered in <strong>Banjo, Dobro, Fiddle / Mandolin</strong>, <strong>Guitar</strong>, and <strong>Songwriting</strong> on the day prior to the concerts: <strong>Friday, April 14</strong>, at<strong> 6:00</strong> and <strong>7:30 pm. </strong></p>
<p>TICKETS GO ON SALE on <span style="color:#B22222;"><strong>Friday, December 9</strong></span>, at <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="Fan Appreciation Concert" data-link-type="page" href="/fan-appreciation-concert" style="" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>. A special <span style="color:#B22222;"><strong>Launch Week Promotion</strong></span> will give fans who purchase tickets <u>during the first week</u> -- from <strong>December 9-18</strong> -- a special Holiday Card signed by Blue Highway announcing they have tickets to the show. The special card can be used as a stocking stuffer if tickets are purchased as a holiday gift. Or fans can keep the card as a collectible item from this first-of-its-kind Blue Highway Fan Appreciation event. </p>
<p>Tickets, Workshop Registration, Concert Video Intro, and full details all await at <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="Fan Appreciation Concert" data-link-type="page" href="/fan-appreciation-concert" style="" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>! </p>
<p>### <br><br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release Courtesy of:</em></span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_small">Sherri George </span></strong><br><span class="font_small">Tour Manager and Publicist, Blue Highway </span><br><br>________________________<br><br> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/45011412016-12-06T12:00:00-05:002020-07-04T12:55:17-04:00Blue Highway Nominated for 2017 Grammy Award<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/43b9a627a19e658a18b305260b287050a582d545/medium/59th-annual-grammy-awards-2.jpg?1481150892" class="size_m justify_left border_" />LOS ANGELES, CA (December 6, 2016) -- Blue Highway is honored to be nominated for a <strong>2017 GRAMMY Award</strong> for <strong>Best Bluegrass Album</strong> for their newly released album<em> "Original Traditional"</em> on Rounder Records. </p>
<p>Nominees were announced today, with other nominees in the Best Bluegrass Album category including Doyle Lawson, Laurie Lewis, Claire Lynch, and Mark O'Connor. </p>
<p>The <strong>59th Annual Grammy Awards</strong> will be held on Sunday, February 12, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and will be aired nationally on CBS.</p>
<p>Released on September 9, <em>"Original Traditional"</em> has already charted <u>two #1 songs</u>, with the <u>album soaring to #1 on national charts</u> in early November. </p>
<p>Blue Highway have earned 26 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and three Grammy nominations as a band to date. Wayne Taylor was recently honored as the 2016 Inductee into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. </p>
<p>The 22-year strong powerhouse Blue Highway is based in East Tennessee, debuting in Kingsport on New Year's Eve 1994.</p>
<p>Blue Highway's next concert appearance will be in Abingdon, VA, this Sunday, December 11, at Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church at 3:00 pm, as part of the VHCC Spencer-Miller Concert Series. </p>
<p>Blue Highway members include <strong>Jason Burleson</strong> (banjo, vocals), <strong>Shawn Lane</strong> (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), <strong>Gaven Largent</strong> (dobro, vocals),<strong> Tim Stafford</strong> (guitar, vocals), and <strong>Wayne Taylor</strong> (bass, vocals). </p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>. </p>
<p>Complete listing of 2017 Grammy Nominees is here: <a contents="www.Grammy.com/Nominees" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Grammy.com/Nominees" target="_blank">www.Grammy.com/Nominees</a>. </p>
<p>###<br><br><br><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release Courtesy:</em><br>Sherri George<br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway<br><br>_____________________</span><br> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/45014392016-11-30T13:00:00-05:002016-12-07T22:05:36-05:00Blue Highway on Track By Track with Kyle Cantrell<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/d00823e77bcdd093dabb203dfba0ef0fc1294784/medium/track-by-track-bluegrass-junction-2017-highway.jpg?1480570066" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br>NASHVILLE, TN (December 1, 2016) -- Blue Highway is honored to be on Track By Track with Kyle Cantrell on Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction the following times:<br><br>* Thursday Dec 1 @ 9 pm<br>* Saturday Dec 3 @ 8 am<br>* Sunday Dec 4 @ 12 Noon<br><br>All Times are Eastern.<br><br>Also available On Demand!<br><br><br><span class="font_small">Graphic by Sherri George</span>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/44413262016-10-20T13:00:00-04:002017-01-12T10:21:28-05:00Blue Highway's 'Original Traditional' on First Round Ballot of 59th Annual Grammy Awards<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/47a46acb16cb5bf2593fc2958d751c52704a5425/small/blue-highway-original-traditional-album-cover.jpg?1470836565" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />BRISTOL, VA (October 20, 2016) -- Blue Highway is honored to be included on the First Round Ballot of the 59th Annual GRAMMY AWARDS in four categories: </p>
<p>(1) Best Bluegrass Album - 'Original Traditional' (2) Best American Roots Performance - "Top of the Ridge" (3) Best American Roots Song - "Top of the Ridge" (4) Best Gospel Song - "Hallelujah." </p>
<p>"Top of the Ridge" is written by Shawn Lane and Gerald Ellenburg. "Hallelujah" is arranged by Blue Highway.<br><br>After voting is cast on the First Round Ballot, the nominations come in the second round of voting, with the winners chosen in the third round. </p>
<p>The 2017 Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2017. CBS television network will broadcast The Grammys Live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.<br><br>###</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/44181842016-10-13T17:37:51-04:002017-01-12T10:21:27-05:00Blue Highway's Wayne Taylor Newest Member of Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/25287c79e09fdebecbe462c9064b490153b07693/large/wayne-w-yvon-jackson-hall-of-f-by-tom-n-compressed.jpg?1476385264" class="size_xl justify_center border_" />CHESTERFIELD, VA -- Blue Highway’s beloved bass player, songwriter, and vocalist Wayne Taylor was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame in a ceremony held on Saturday, October 8, in Chesterfield, VA. </p>
<p>One artist or band who has significantly contributed to country or bluegrass music is chosen annually by a board sanctioned by the Governor of Virginia, with past inductees including legends like Patsy Cline, the Statler Brothers, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Dean, Mother Maybelle Carter, and Roy Clark. </p>
<p>On Saturday, Wayne Taylor's name was added to the list of beloved legends honored in the Hall of Fame. </p>
<p>The Executive Board of the Virginia Folk Music Association (VFMA) selected Wayne Taylor as the 2016 Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee, with Governor Terry McAuliffe signing a congratulatory letter framed for Taylor, along with a formal induction proclamation. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/9bb445793dc319b073377413ac269c31776fef0d/medium/wayne-sharon-2016108-by-courtney-austin-jpg.jpg?1476385842" class="size_m justify_left border_" /> In a warm acceptance speech, Taylor relayed his thanks to God, his cherished wife of nearly 39 years, Sharon; their beloved neighbor who has become like family, Francis Lee; and sincere appreciation for his band brothers past and present in the internationally respected supergroup Blue Highway for the 22 year strong ensemble which helped bring him into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame on Saturday. Taylor co-founded Blue Highway along with Tim Stafford, Shawn Lane, Jason Burleson, and Rob Ickes. Young 19-year old Dobro phenom Gaven Largent joined the Blue Highway family in January 2016 following the departure of Ickes, and has become not only a respected member of the band, but also like a cherished younger brother to Taylor. </p>
<p>“I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet that I’ve been able to do this and travel all over the world,” Taylor said. “I can’t make it clear enough how much I appreciate this honor, and the fact that I’ve been able do what I love for the last 22 years.” </p>
<p>Taylor overcame early years in a wheelchair to drive a coal truck for 18 long years in the mountains of southwest Virginia, playing in small bands on the side, until a golden door opened to become a founding member of one the most influential and respected bluegrass bands in modern history, Blue Highway. </p>
<p>The gifted songwriting and pure vocals of Taylor, Stafford, and Lane have been like rocket fuel for Blue Highway, helping skyrocket each of their 10 studio albums to #1, with their last album <em>'The Game'</em> reigning at #1 for 7 consecutive months on the <em>Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart</em>. With powerful songs from <em>'The Game,'</em> Blue Highway charted the Most Radio Airplay of Any Bluegrass Artist in 2014. </p>
<p>Blue Highway was also recently voted the Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time in April 2016 in a reader poll by <em>Bluegrass Today. </em></p>
<p>Blue Highway's newest album <em>'Original Traditional'</em> released on September 9, with their first #1 song from the album <em>"Wilkes County Clay" </em>soaring to #1 just three short weeks after the album's release (<em>Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay Chart</em> - week of September 24). </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/553a826cc4b2afa035bf584525507c750bbd74c1/medium/wayne-taylor-in-savannah.jpg?1470499734" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Nashville entertainment writer Craig Havighurst has credited Wayne Taylor's voice with giving Blue Highway an "inimitable sound," and that sound has earned Blue Highway a rich share of fans, friends, and awards since the band's first show on New Year's Eve 1994 in Kingsport, TN. Blue Highway has earned a collective 25 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, plus two Grammy nominations as a band. Wayne was individually honored as SPBGMA Bass Performer of the Year in 2001. </p>
<p>Marian Levy of the band's label Rounder Records also recently praised Wayne's talent and contribution to Blue Highway, writing: "Taylor’s resonant lead voice is one of the wonders of the bluegrass world." </p>
<p>Wayne has remained humble through all the awards and praise, always quick to convey his appreciation and praise for those around him, and above all give his thanks to God. </p>
<p>“All the talent that anybody has is a gift from God,” Taylor said. “I tell people, if I have any talent, it has to be from Him.” </p>
<p>Highly respected freelance writer Tom Netherland eloquently wrote of Wayne earlier this year: "For 18 years he drove the snaking roads of Southwest Virginia by day and played bluegrass on the side by night. Blue Highway gave him a way out of the truck. Their fans made them stars." </p>
<p>Blue Highway's stars were all shining brightly on Saturday, with proof the American dream is still alive and perhaps shining brightest in Virginia's newest Hall of Fame member, Wayne Taylor. </p>
<p>### <br><br>_________________ <br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small">For Wayne Taylor Bio, please go to: <br><a contents="http://www.bluehighwayband.com/news/blog/blue-highway-s-wayne-tyalor-to-be-inducted-into-virginia-country-music-hall-of-fame " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com/news/blog/blue-highway-s-wayne-tyalor-to-be-inducted-into-virginia-country-music-hall-of-fame" style="" target="_blank">http://www.bluehighwayband.com/news/blog/blue-highway-s-wayne-tyalor-to-be-inducted-into-virginia-country-music-hall-of-fame </a></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">_________________ </span><br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release Courtesy: </em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><strong>Sherri George</strong> <br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway </span><br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small">_____________________ </span><br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small"><u><em>Photo Credits:</em></u> </span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">(1) Wayne accepting his framed Hall of Fame Induction Certificate from VFMA Board Member Yvon Jackson. By <strong>Tom Netherland</strong>. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">(2) Wayne Taylor and wife Sharon. By <strong>Courtney Austin</strong>. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">(3) Wayne Taylor, 2016. By <strong>Sherri George.</strong> </span><br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small">____________________</span><br><br> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/44063712016-10-05T16:00:00-04:002020-09-08T03:43:38-04:00Blue Highway's Shawn Lane Introduces Space Age I-Tone Pick<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/10daa4d92b9eae2f579c5a4ca8116ece9d857315/small/shawn-lane-by-sherri-george-4469.jpg?1475697965" class="size_s justify_left border_" />WALHALLA, SC (October 5, 2016) -- Blue Highway’s heralded vocalist, instrumentalist, and songwriter <strong>Shawn Lane</strong> and Clemson University engineer associate <strong>Brad Poore</strong> have unveiled a game-changing new flat pick called the <a contents="I-Tone Pick" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ITonePicks.com" target="_blank">I-Tone Pick</a>. </p>
<p>The I-Tone Pick is made from the same material used by NASA in construction of the Space Shuttle. The almost indestructible material has one of the highest wear and temperature ratings known to man, and delivers crystal clear tone and clarity when it strikes the strings. </p>
<p>The rare material is almost ivory-like, and dramatically increases the volume, tone, and clarity musicians get from their stringed instruments. Remarkably, it also creates little to no pick noise. <br> </p>
<p>Shawn Lane praised the I-Tone Pick, saying: </p>
<p><em>“One of the first things that made me a fan of the pick, besides the huge sound it brings out of an instrument, is when I dropped it on a hard surface, it sounded like ivory when it hit. It has a crystal clear tone to it, even when dropped against something that doesn’t resonate. It gets the absolute best tone, volume, and clarity out of my mandolin and guitar. As a professional musician for 27 years, I’ve always been looking for something to make my instrument more connected to me. These picks do just that. If you want to bring out the most powerful, most natural, clear tone from your instrument, you are going to love I-Tone Picks!” </em><br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/330a69aa669adfe39f60c2bf41bf904f538db639/small/i-tone-pick-shawn-lane-by-sherri-george-5389.jpg?1475698517" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Professional musicians are heralding the I-Tone Pick for the sound it brings from their instrument: </p>
<p><em>"The I-Tone Pick has solved the problem of how to get the brightest tone with the least pick noise! These things rock!"</em> -- <strong>Cory Piatt</strong>, of the band Mountain Faith. </p>
<p><em>"Crystal clear highs and warm woody lows -- with no pick noise! What else could you ask for?! I love these picks!"</em> -- <strong>Harry Clark</strong>, of the band Volume Five <br> </p>
<p>Shawn Lane and Jacob Burleson of the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band are featured in a video, showcasing the I-Tone Pick’s sound on mandolin and guitar: <a contents="https://youtu.be/6_FfqDa0Lko" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/6_FfqDa0Lko" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/6_FfqDa0Lko</a> </p>
<p>I-Tone Picks are available at <a contents="www.ITonePicks.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ITonePicks.com" target="_blank">www.ITonePicks.com</a> and <a contents="www.ShawnLaneMusic.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ShawnLaneMusic.com" target="_blank">www.ShawnLaneMusic.com</a>. </p>
<p>A Launch Week Promotion will enter all orders placed Oct 4-11 on the Official I-Tone Website at <a contents="www.ITonePicks.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ITonePicks.com" target="_blank">www.ITonePicks.com</a> to win an autographed set of Shawn Lane’s solo albums. </p>
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<p><span class="font_small">Press Release courtesy: <br>Sherri George <br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway </span></p>
<p>____________________________</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/44064072016-09-30T18:00:00-04:002020-07-02T07:16:45-04:00Blue Highway Soars to #1 with First Song from New Album<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/20731b05a29fe6df8f52e11c85cb9d1bab358296/medium/first-1-song-from-orig-trad-b-highway-wllkes-county-clay.jpg?1475356789" class="size_m justify_left border_" />BRISTOL, VA (September 30, 2016) -- Multi-award winning bluegrass band <strong>Blue Highway</strong> soared to # 1 today with the first song from their newly released album, <em>Original Traditional</em>. </p>
<p>"Wilkes County Clay" written by <strong>Tim Stafford</strong> and <strong>Bobby Starnes</strong> went to #1 on the <em>Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay Chart</em> released today, September 30, 2016. Stafford is a Grammy Award winner who co-founded Blue Highway, while Bobby Starnes owns Hat Creek Recording Company in Johnson City. </p>
<p>Blue Highway's new album <em>Original Traditional</em> released on September 9 on Rounder Records. </p>
<p>The 22-year strong powerhouse Blue Highway has taken each of their 10 prior studio albums to #1 on multiple charts, but this is the first song to go #1 from their newest album released just 3 weeks ago today. The song debuted last week and skyrocketed to #1 today. </p>
<p>Also charting today at #17 was Blue Highway's "The Story of My Life" written by Wayne Taylor. </p>
<p>Blue Highway's last album "The Game" reigned at # 1 for <u>seven consecutive months</u> on the <em>Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart</em>, and was nominated for 2014 IBMA Album of the Year. </p>
<p>Blue Highway will appear on <em>News 5 at Noon</em> on WCYB-TV in Bristol, VA, on Thursday, October 6, at 12 Noon ET to perform songs from their new album. The show may be watched via Live Stream at <a contents="www.wcyb.com/news/live-stream" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.wcyb.com/news/live-stream" target="_blank">www.wcyb.com/news/live-stream</a>. </p>
<p><br>### <br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release Courtesy:</em><br>Sherri George<br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</span><br><br>____________________________________</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/44090402016-09-30T09:00:00-04:002017-01-12T10:21:27-05:00Blue Highway Releases "Original Traditional"<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/47a46acb16cb5bf2593fc2958d751c52704a5425/medium/blue-highway-original-traditional-album-cover.jpg?1470836565" class="size_m justify_left border_" />NASHVILLE, TN (September 9, 2016) -- <em>Original Traditional</em> is a record that Blue Highway has been intending to make for years, and it’s well worth the wait: a combination of unique concept album and a continuation of the band’s songwriting legacy. According to Tim Stafford, speaking on behalf of the band, they had more than enough material for their next record, and tried to figure out a way of choosing and organizing what tunes they wanted to record. Then the light bulb went on, bringing to mind the “missing record” they had thought about doing, off and on, and they realized this was it! </p>
<p>There is not another record so conceived, partially because it’s hard to think of another contemporary bluegrass band that could pull it off, with roots deep enough in traditional bluegrass, and the songwriting chops to make it work. But here it is: an entire album that has the sound of an earlier time, both musically and thematically, but that is comprised entirely of new, previously unrecorded originals from Blue Highway itself. As such, it is unique not only in Blue Highway’s recorded output, but among records from their peers. </p>
<p>Blue Highway is a remarkable band in so many ways that it’s daunting to even know where to begin. First, there are few bands that have achieved the stature, respect, and awe with which they are viewed both by fans and by members of the bluegrass community generally. Granted, they have endured while others have faltered, and have only grown stronger and more acclaimed with each record. Yet still they possess the power to surprise, which is indeed precisely what they have done in spades on <em>Original Traditional. </em></p>
<p>Beloved by progressives and purists alike, a rare quality among bluegrass bands today, Blue Highway set out to do an album of original songs. . . but within a more traditional framework than is often associated with them. Known for their “bend it, don’t break it” approach, the band has delivered an album that will set standards for years to come. Music writer Dan Mullins, who wrote the liner notes for the album, enthused, “Blue Highway’s self-containing goal of creating original music within a more traditional framework than ever before, produced a beautiful album filled with personality and passion.” </p>
<p>If any Blue Highway album perfectly exemplifies “the essence of bluegrass music,” this one is it, combining the spirit, themes, and topics of traditional bluegrass but through a set of all-new originals from the band and co-writers, <em>Original Traditional</em> may well be the record that everyone has been waiting for from Blue Highway. From callous killings to struggling with sobriety to the majesty and magic of the mountains, the songs evoke the timeless quality of bluegrass past, but with the voices and instrumental prowess of Blue Highway present, capturing a contemporary group at its creative peak. </p>
<p>During their years together, Blue Highway has maintained an unusually high level of excellence in their music, consistently turning out bluegrass that’s characteristically true to the principles of the genre while remaining both memorable and original. Amazingly, the original personnel from the band (which formed in 1994) remains intact, a remarkable achievement in itself, given the frequent mixing and matching of personnel that is more the norm (banjo player Jason Burleson did leave for a short period early on, but soon returned to the band). The only exception to that is the substitution on Dobro of talented newcomer Gaven Largent, already doing an inspiring job of stepping into Rob Ickes’s big shoes, and indeed making his own mark. He makes his Blue Highway debut recording with <em>Original Traditional</em>, doing it seamlessly. </p>
<p>The band’s remarkable chemistry was, according to the individual band members, evident from the start, and accounts in large part for their longevity. From a somewhat haphazard beginning—the band initially formed primarily to play weekend gigs, but quickly grew into something else— developing into a powerful and popular group with a compelling, immediately recognizable sound. </p>
<p>Guitarist Tim Stafford, a native of Kingsport, Tennessee, smack in the middle of one of the cradles of country music, had just left Alison Krauss and Union Station. He was road weary, a new father, and unsure of the next step in his personal evolution. Searching for ways to remain connected to the music, Tim consented to do an article on a band for Bluegrass Unlimited, met Wayne Taylor, a member of that band, and was impressed enough with Taylor’s talents as a bassist and singer to begin thinking about some day forming a band with him. That band became Blue Highway in relatively short order. </p>
<p>At East Tennessee State University at the time of its famed bluegrass curriculum, though he was a history major, Stafford was and is a historian of the music in a very real sense. He brings that sensibility to every Blue Highway recording. His amazingly fluid guitar style is much admired as well, as is his lead and harmony singing and songwriting chops. For this album, Tim has as usual come up great songs, “She Ain’t Worth It,” “Wilkes County Clay,” and “If Lonesome Don’t Kill Me,” which feature his bluesy attitude that is both laidback and compelling. “Last Time I’ll Ever Leave This Town” is in a long tradition of leaving behind a coal mining town, where there is no future but more heartbreak. </p>
<p>Blue Highway is also fairly unique in being one of the very few bands with three lead singers, each contributing his own distinctive voice and personality to each song, each of them being a songwriter as well. In addition to Tim Stafford’s lead singing, that of Shawn Lane is equally well-respected and acclaimed. On <em>Original Traditional,</em> he has brought “Don’t Weep For Me,” “What You Wanted,” “A Long Row to Hoe,” and “Top of the Ridge.” “Don’t Weep For Me” could well be an old-timey murder ballad, complete with retribution and hanging. “A Long Row to Hoe” is an ode ti the farmer, and “Top of the Ridge,” a song of redemption, “no need to worry about the things I miss/I’ll see a whole lot better from the top of the ridge,” lovely in its simplicity. </p>
<p>Shawn’s “lonesomeness” is showcased on them all, but perhaps even more, on “Don’t Weep For Me,” a song that sounds so Ralph Stanley-ish in its traditionalism that it was in fact previously recorded a cappella by Stanley himself. Here, it’s given the full band treatment that brings the song to life in new ways. A veteran of both Doyle Lawson’s and Ricky Skaggs’s bands, prized for his voice as well as his mandolin and fiddle virtuosity, Lane has been a key component of the Blue Highway sound, and has contributed many outstanding original songs to the band’s oeuvre. </p>
<p>Jason Burleson, from rural North Carolina, rounds out Blue Highway with his powerful banjo playing, though he also is a noted multi-instrumentalist, not limited to bluegrass. His knowledge of string band jazz and other forms of music runs deep, and his musical sophistication is reflected in his original tunes in the band’s repertoire, a wonderful example of which is the new instrumental, “Alexander’s Run,” on this album. </p>
<p>The band collectively mentions their fondness for the music of progressive bluegrass giants Tony Rice, David Grisman, JD Crowe, and Bela Fleck, among others. Burleson says that one secret to the band’s success is </p>
<p>that it is a democratic outfit, without a single leader. Tim Stafford points out that with a truly democratic five-member band, there is a built-in tiebreaker in every vote. ”We are very much like a little family,” Tim goes on, ”just one that doesn’t see each other all the time.” </p>
<p>The band is scattered over the southeast, from Virginia to South Carolina to North Carolina to east Tennessee to Nashville. They have never felt the necessity of being road dogs, to the extent that they hit it for 200 days a year. “We decided early on that we’d rather own our own homes than own a bus together,” says Burleson, laughing. </p>
<p>In discussing the reasons why the band has lasted for more than twenty years now, one is struck by the unanimity in the names mentioned as influences by the band’s members. Wayne Taylor, originally from Virginia and familiar early on with the traditional bluegrass sound, turned away from the music for a time, but was brought back upon hearing the Seldom Scene. Taylor says he tells the Scene’s Ben Eldridge that he is at least partially responsible for whatever he has become musically, when after eighteen years of driving a coal truck, he joined the fledgling Blue Highway. Taylor’s resonant lead voice is one of the wonders of the bluegrass world, the perfect instrument for expressing his own songs. On this album, his directness and emotional power come through loud and clear on “Water From the Stone,” “Last Time I’ll Ever Leave This Town,” and “The Story of My Life. As dependable and solid as ever, his strong bass playing nails the band’s pulse in place. </p>
<p>Every member of the band expresses in one way or another the importance of having a band full of writers. “The original material is a huge asset for the group,” says Stafford, “and it is always fun to come together and see what everyone has. I do enjoy those times. There has never been a bluegrass band with this many writers and singers that does mostly all original material, so it’s special.” Additionally, this is a band that has been known for its gospel repertoire as well, with this album featuring another sacred harp classic given Blue Highway’s stellar vocal harmony treatment, destined to be a modern day masterpiece for the band. As liner notes writer Daniel Mullins summed it up, With ‘<em>Original Traditional</em>,’ Blue Highway chose to look ahead by looking back.” In so doing, they have never sounded better!<br><br>###<br><br><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release Courtesy:</em><br>Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group.</span><br><br>___________________________</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/43799882016-09-19T16:21:45-04:002020-10-29T20:48:29-04:00Blue Highway's Wayne Taylor to be Inducted into Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/358a808ac34f862bf3db33c9370416321271eab5/small/wayne-in-asheville.jpg?1470498364" class="size_s justify_left border_" />BRISTOL, VA (September 19, 2016) – Blue Highway’s highly respected bass player, songwriter, and vocalist Wayne Taylor will be honored as the 2016 Inductee into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds at 10300 Courthouse Road in Chesterfield, VA, on Saturday, October 8, at 7:00 pm. </p>
<p>One artist or band who has significantly contributed to country or bluegrass music is chosen annually by a board sanctioned by the Governor of Virginia, with past inductees including legends such as Patsy Cline, the Statler Brothers, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Dean, Mother Maybelle Carter, and Roy Clark. </p>
<p>The Executive Board of the Virginia Folk Music Association (VFMA) selected Wayne Taylor as the 2016 Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee, and Governor Terry McAuliffe will sign a congratulatory letter to accompany the induction proclamation, according to board member Yvon Jackson. </p>
<p>The VFMA was founded in 1947, with the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame being created in 1972, and the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame Museum being dedicated in 2011. </p>
<p>Wayne Allan Taylor, the Virginia native honored with the 2016 Hall of Fame Induction, epitomizes the pure American dream. </p>
<p>A child of humble parents, Wayne overcame four early years spent on crutches and in a wheelchair to become a coal truck driver in the mountains of southwest Virginia for 18 long years before a golden door opened for him to become a founding member of one the most influential and respected bluegrass bands in modern history, Blue Highway. </p>
<p>Wayne’s musical path started when his cousin taught him two chords on a guitar as a teenager. As an adult, Taylor played in garage bands at night, in a gospel group called The Christian Heirs, and in several regional bluegrass bands, which led to his friendship with Tim Stafford. Tim and Wayne, along with Shawn Lane, Jason Burleson, and Rob Ickes, formed Blue Highway in 1994. </p>
<p>The 22-year strong, internationally heralded Blue Highway has earned 25 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two prestigious Grammy Nominations as a band. </p>
<p>The gifted songwriting and pure vocals of Taylor, Stafford, and Lane have been like rocket fuel for Blue Highway, helping skyrocket each of their 10 studio albums to #1, with their last album 'The Game' reigning at #1 for 7 consecutive months on the Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart. With powerful songs from 'The Game,' Blue Highway charted the Most Radio Airplay of Any Bluegrass Artist in 2014. </p>
<p>Blue Highway was also recently voted the Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time in April 2016 by the readers of Bluegrass Today. </p>
<p>“I want to thank the Virginia Folk Music Association for this honor,” Taylor said. “This took me completely by surprise. I never imagined I’d be named in that group, with people like Patsy Cline – that’s the greatest honor in the world.” </p>
<p>Taylor’s formal induction will be on October 8 during the 18th Annual Jumping Bluegrass Festival, an October event created by the VFMA in 1998 to host each year’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and help preserve the heritage of country, bluegrass and gospel music. Wayne will be inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame at 7:00 pm, followed by a performance by Taylor and Blue Highway. </p>
<p>Tickets for the four-day Jumping Bluegrass Festival are $40 prior to October 1, with single-day tickets ranging from $10-$20. Single-day tickets for Saturday, October 8, the day of Taylor’s induction, are $20 each. For more ticket info, please go to www.VAFolkMusic.org, or call 804-832-0950. <br> </p>
<p>### <br> </p>
<p>For more information on the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame, please go to: <a contents="www.vafolkmusic.org/Page8.html" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.vafolkmusic.org/Page8.html" target="_blank">www.vafolkmusic.org/Page8.html</a> </p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>.<br><br><br><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release Courtesy:</em><br><strong>Sherri George</strong><br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway<br><br><em>Special Research Thanks to Lisa De Maio Brewer</em></span><br><br>__________________________<br><br><br><span class="font_large"><strong>BIOGRAPHY</strong></span><br><br><span style="color:#FF0000;"><strong>Wayne Allen Taylor</strong></span></p>
<p>Wayne Allan Taylor was born on January 2, 1955, in Richmond, Virginia, the first child of Dallas and Freda Taylor. Dallas was a hard-working farmer and truck driver, while Freda was a devoted housewife and mother. </p>
<p>When Wayne was two years old, the Taylor family moved to the heart of the coal fields in Richlands, VA. Shortly after, Wayne's father moved his family to the small farming community of Butler in central Ohio, where Wayne’s paternal grandfather lived. </p>
<p>At age seven, Wayne started school at Butler Elementary as the smallest student in the class. After 11 years in Ohio, when Wayne was 13 years old, the Taylors moved back to the coal country of Richlands, VA. </p>
<p>Due to health issues, young Wayne spent four years alternating between a wheel chair and crutches. During this difficult time, he spent numerous months in hospitals in Bluefield, WV, Durham, NC, and Charlottesville, VA. It was during this time, one of Wayne’s cousins taught him two chords on the guitar. The rest as they say is history. </p>
<p>In 1972, Wayne graduated from Honaker High School in Honaker, VA. Wayne started working at Honaker's Modern Chevrolet in the Parts Department where he stayed for a couple of years. He then went to work as a Dispatcher for the Honaker Police and Fire Departments and Rescue Squad, where he worked for 2 1/2 years. Wayne went on to drive a coal truck in the coal fields of southwest Virginia for the next 18 years. </p>
<p>During this period, Wayne played in several garage bands in his spare time, as well as playing in a gospel group called The Christian Heirs. </p>
<p>Hearing the original Seldom Scene for the first time was a turning point for Wayne. He had never heard Bluegrass sound like that. After playing in several local and regional Bluegrass bands, he became friends with Tim Stafford. Tim and Wayne, along with Shawn Lane, Jason Burleson, and Rob Ickes, formed Blue Highway in 1994. </p>
<p>Blue Highway went on to become a 22-year strong, internationally heralded band, known perhaps as much for their humility and character as for their instrumental, vocal, and songwriting prowess. </p>
<p>One of the most respected and awarded bands in the Bluegrass genre, Blue Highway has earned 25 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two prestigious Grammy Nominations as a band. </p>
<p>The gifted songwriting and pure vocals of Taylor, Stafford, and Lane have been like rocket fuel for Blue Highway, helping skyrocket each of their 10 studio albums to #1, with their last album <em>'The Game</em>' reigning at #1 for 7 consecutive months on the Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart. With powerful songs from 'The Game,' Blue Highway charted the Most Radio Airplay of Any Bluegrass Artist in 2014. </p>
<p>Blue Highway was also voted the Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time in April 2016 by the readers of <em>Bluegrass Today.</em> <br><br>Some of the most popular songs Taylor has written for Blue Highway include <em>Lonesome Pine</em>, <em>Danville Pike</em>, <em>Keen Mountain Prison</em>, <em>Only Seventeen</em>, <em>No Home to Go Home To</em>, and <em>Talk Is Cheap</em>. Wayne also co-wrote heart-touching songs for the band with Larry Shell and the late legendary songwriter Kim Williams such as <em>Seven Sundays in a Row</em> and <em>My Heart Was Made to Love You</em>.</p>
<p>From overcoming a wheelchair and emerging from driving a coal truck, to having one of the most beloved voices and bands in the Bluegrass genre, Wayne has also been blessed to emerge victorious over both colon cancer in 2002, and heart attacks in 2000 and 2016. Recently returning to touring with Blue Highway following heart surgery in May 2016, he is still out on the road doing what he loves, a feat he humbly credits to the grace of God. <br><br>Wayne Taylor is genuinely honored to be the 2016 Inductee into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.<br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small">### End Bio ###</span><br><br>__________</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/43182602016-08-10T10:28:45-04:002017-01-12T10:21:27-05:00Blue Highway to Release New Album on September 9, 2016<p><strong><span class="font_regular">Blue Highway to Release <em>Original Traditional</em> on September 9, 2016</span><br><br><span class="font_regular">Bluegrass Superstars Announce Fall Tour</span></strong><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/47a46acb16cb5bf2593fc2958d751c52704a5425/small/blue-highway-original-traditional-album-cover.jpg?1470836565" class="size_s justify_left border_" />NASHVILLE, TN (August 10, 2016) – Beloved bluegrass supergroup Blue Highway will release its 11th studio album, <em>Original Traditional</em>, September 9, 2016, on Rounder Records. The 22-year strong powerhouse band was recently voted “Favorite Bluegrass Band Of All Time”’ by the readers of <em>Bluegrass Today</em>. </p>
<p>If any Blue Highway album perfectly exemplifies “the essence of bluegrass music,” this is it, combining the spirit, themes, and topics of traditional bluegrass, but through a set of 12 all-new originals from the band and co-writers. <em>Original Traditional</em> may well be the record that everyone has been waiting for from Blue Highway. From callous killings to struggling with sobriety, to the majesty and magic of the mountains, the songs evoke the timeless quality of bluegrass past, but showcase the voices and instrumental prowess of Blue Highway present, capturing a contemporary group at its creative peak. </p>
<p>Blue Highway is fairly unique in being one of the very few bands that boasts three lead singers – Shawn Lane, Tim Stafford, and Wayne Taylor – who are also accomplished songwriters, each of whom brings his own distinctive voice and personality to each of the songs. </p>
<p>On <em>Original Traditional</em>, Shawn Lane’s contributions include “Don’t Weep For Me,” “What You Wanted,” “A Long Row to Hoe,” and “Top of the Ridge.” “Don’t Weep For Me” could well be an old-timey murder ballad, complete with retribution and hanging. “A Long Row to Hoe” is an ode to the farmer, and “Top of the Ridge,” a song of redemption, “no need to worry about the things I miss/I’ll see a whole lot better from the top of the ridge,” lovely in its simplicity. </p>
<p>A veteran member of the bands of both Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs, prized for his voice as well as his mandolin and fiddle virtuosity, Lane has been a key component of the Blue Highway sound, and has contributed many outstanding original songs to the band’s oeuvre.<br> <br>Tim Stafford, the band’s resident music historian, is admired for the depth and breadth of his knowledge, his amazingly fluid guitar style, and his prowess as a singer and songwriter. Stafford penned “She Ain’t Worth It,” “Wilkes County Clay,” the bluesy, laid-back “If Lonesome Don’t Kill Me,” and the heartbreaking ballad “Last Time I’ll Ever Leave This Town.” </p>
<p>Wayne Taylor’s resonant voice is one of the wonders of the bluegrass world, the perfect instrument for expressing his own songs. On this album, his directness and emotional power come through loud and clear on “Water From the Stone” and “The Story of My Life.” As dependable and solid as ever, his strong bass playing nails the band’s pulse in place. </p>
<p>Jason Burleson, who hails from rural North Carolina, rounds out Blue Highway with his powerful banjo playing, though he also is a noted multi-instrumentalist, not limited to bluegrass. His knowledge of string band jazz and other forms of music runs deep, and his musical sophistication is reflected in his original tunes in the band’s repertoire, a wonderful example of which is the new instrumental, “Alexander’s Run.” </p>
<p>Blue Highway recently welcomed a new addition to their lineup: abundantly gifted Dobro player Gaven Largent, a 20-year old dobro phenom who has more than risen to the challenge, earning show-stopping applause consistently during Blue Highway performances this year, and garnering a 2016 SPBGMA Dobro Performer of the Year nomination. </p>
<p>As music scribe Daniel Mullins summed up in the album’s liner notes, “With Original Traditional, Blue Highway chose to look ahead by looking back.” In so doing, they have never sounded better. </p>
<p>Blue Highway will perform songs from <em>Original Traditional</em> exclusively for the first time on stage at the following two upcoming shows: August 13 for the Mountain Stage concert and live performance radio program in Elkins, WV, and August 17 at Music City Roots at The Factory in Franklin, TN. For tickets and more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> <br><br>The album may be Pre-Ordered beginning August 10 at the following link: <a contents="http://smarturl.it/BHOriginalAmz" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Music-Store" style="" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Music-Store</a></p>
<p>Upcoming Fall Tour dates include the following:</p>
<p><u>Blue Highway Fall 2016 Tour</u><br>8/13/2016, <em>Mountain Stage</em> at the Augusta Heritage Festival, Elkins, WV <br>8/17/2016, <em>Music City Roots</em>, Franklin, TN <br>8/20/2016, <em>Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival</em>, Gettysburg, PA <br>8/21/2016, <em>Headquarters Live</em>, Salisbury, MD <br>9/3/2016, <em>SamJam Bluegrass Festival</em>, Piketon, OH <br>9/11/2016, <em>Evangelical Lutheran Church</em>, Frederick, MD <br>9/16/2016, <em>Mohican Bluegrass Festival</em>, Glenmont, OH <br>9/17/2016, <em>ETSU Culp Auditorium</em>, Johnson City, TN <br>9/23/2016, <em>Lawrenceburg Fall Fest</em>, Lawrenceburg, IN <br>9/30/2016, <em>Sellersville Theater</em>, Sellersville, PA <br>10/1/2016, <em>Bluegrass by the Bay Festival</em>, Berlin, MD <br>10/2/2016, <em>AMP by Strathmore</em>, North Bethesda, MD <br>10/7/2016, <em>The Strand at 38 Main, </em>Waynesville, NC <br>10/8/2016, <em>Jumping Bluegrass ’16</em> at Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, Chesterfield, VA <br>10/22/2016, <em>2nd Annual BBQ & Bluegrass Festival</em>, Greeneville, TN<br><br>For complete Tour details, please go to: <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Tour " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Tour" style="" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Tour</a><br><br>###<br> </p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Original Press Release Issued in conjunction with Rounder Records.</em><br><br>Regina Joskow, rjoskow@rounder.com<br>Ashley Moyer, ashley.moyer@concordmusicgroup.com<br>Sherri George, BlueHighwayPR@hotmail.com</span><br><br><em>____________________</em><br> </p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/43128292016-08-06T10:45:39-04:002020-08-20T17:19:29-04:00Blue Highway Announces Return of Wayne Taylor to Full-Time Touring<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/b43637272b7a39d7bc8b2b9e2f8f187ea17fa7ab/small/wayne-taylor-3-by-sherri-george.jpg?1470486701" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><span class="font_regular">BRISTOL, VA (August 6, 2016) – Wayne Taylor is primed to return to full-time touring with Blue Highway on Saturday, August 13, 2016, for the prestigious <em>Mountain Stage</em> concert and Live Performance Radio Program at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV. <br> <br>Wayne is proverbially chomping at the bit to perform with the powerhouse band he co-founded for his first show after an almost three-month hiatus following successful quadruple bypass heart surgery. The beloved vocalist and bass player for multi-award winning Blue Highway has been working hard in post-surgery physical therapy, and has just been cleared by doctors to return to full-time touring. <br> <br>“I couldn't be happier to get back on the road with the band and see all the fans,” said Taylor. “I could never thank everyone enough for their kind words and support while I was recovering, and I'm excited to see everyone back out on the road! Let me tell you, Saturday in Elkins can't come fast enough for me!" <br> <br>West Virginia Public Broadcasting's <em>Mountain Stage with Larry Groce</em> and <a contents="NPR Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.npr.org/series/mountain-stage/" target="_blank"><em>NPR Music</em></a> present Saturday’s performance at the Harper-McNeeley Auditorium at Myles Center for the Arts at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV, as part of the Augusta Heritage Festival. <br> <br>Blue Highway, Flatt Lonesome, Dori Freeman, Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and the Davis & Elkins Appalachian Ensemble will appear on the <em>Mountain Stage</em> program on Saturday, August 13, as part of its 33rd season. <br> <br>"Wayne Taylor is one of the best singers in all of bluegrass, and we’re thrilled to be part of his return," said <em>Mountain Stage</em> Web Producer Josh Saul. <br> <br>The <em>Mountain Stage</em> performance recording on Saturday is tentatively scheduled for release to over 170 NPR stations in early October 2016. <br> <br>Show time in Elkins on Saturday, August 13, is 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 6:30 pm. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 304-637-1255, or <a contents="online" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://apps.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=b51403dd21f06f17be508492584bb97c&vqitq=f63d3213-888b-4527-8687-6bbc80cf6d6f&vqitp=eef9c9b9-9196-4fd4-9906-fa9aab9a2ace&vqitts=1470494143&vqitc=vendini&vqite=itl&vqitrt=Safetynet&vqith=2d5cc16b872f987edab469901913868d" target="_blank">online</a> with links on various websites including <a contents="Augusta Heritage Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://augustaheritagecenter.org/augusta-festival/" target="_blank">Augusta Heritage Festival</a>, <a contents="Mountain Stage" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.mountainstage.org/shows/Pages/seeuslive.aspx?seeusliveid=91" target="_blank">Mountain Stage</a>, and <a contents="Blue Highway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Tour" target="_blank">Blue Highway</a>.</span></p><span class="font_regular">###</span><br> <p><span class="font_small">Press Release courtesy: </span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Sherri George <br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</span></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/41982222016-05-26T14:32:29-04:002017-01-12T10:21:27-05:00Tim Stafford to Perform at Prestigious Songwriters Festival in Abingdon<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/f214c11dc5822606865d5424429e90487beaf8c8/medium/tim-stafford-and-steve-gulley.jpg?1464287711" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>ABINGDON, VA (May 26, 2016) - Blue Highway's Tim Stafford will perform at the 4th Annual <strong>Richard Leigh Songwriters Festival</strong> this Saturday, May 28, at 6:00 pm at Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) in Abingdon. </p>
<p>Stafford was named <strong>2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year</strong>, <strong>2015 SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year</strong>, and is a co-founding member of the multi-award winning <a contents="Blue Highway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com">Blue Highway</a>, a band with 25 IBMA Awards who was recently voted the<strong> Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time</strong> by the readers of <em>Bluegrass Today</em>. </p>
<p>Stafford will perform along side elite songwriters Richard Leigh ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"), Tony Arata ("The Dance"), Wayland Holyfield ("Could I Have This Dance"), and Even Stevens ("Drivin' My Life Away") on Saturday evening.<br><br>Stafford's solo set begins at 6:00 pm, with a songwriters round featuring the four prestigious Nashville writers at 7:00 pm. </p>
<p>The festival incorporates a Songwriting Contest, with 2015 top winners performing this year, in addition to performances by Stafford and Nashville's elite. </p>
<p>Proceeds from the festival benefit a VHCC program for foster care students called <a contents="Great Expectations" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.richardleighsongwritersfestival.com/#!great-expectations/c25v" target="_blank"><em>Great Expectations</em></a>. <br><br>Richard Leigh, the Grammy-winning, Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame inductee and VHCC graduate for whom the festival is named, lost his parents at a young age and was later adopted, so the cause benefiting foster care is one genuinely close to his heart. </p>
<p>The Richard Leigh Songwriters Festival runs Friday-Saturday, May 27-28, in Abingdon, with tickets and info at <a contents="www.RichardLeighSongwritersFestival.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.RichardLeighSongwritersFestival.com" target="_blank">www.RichardLeighSongwritersFestival.com</a>. Tickets range from $10-$25, with all performances on the campus of Virginia Highlands Community College at 100 VHCC Drive, in the Heartwood and the Higher Education Center buildings. </p>
<p>###</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/41797352016-05-13T13:22:52-04:002016-05-25T19:14:09-04:00Official Statement from Blue Highway<span class="font_large"><strong>Wayne Taylor Hospitalized with Surgery and Complete Recovery Expected</strong></span>
<p>May 13, 2016 </p>
<p>Blue Highway's highly respected and much loved bass player, songwriter, and vocalist <strong>Wayne Taylor</strong> has been hospitalized on Friday, May 13, with heart surgery impending on Monday. </p>
<p>Wayne experienced chest pain on Thursday evening, leading him to an Emergency Room visit where a heart attack has been diagnosed. Open heart surgery has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 16. </p>
<p>Taylor's wife Sharon relayed that Wayne is resting comfortably, but we would ask you to please remember our band brother Wayne and his wife Sharon in your thoughts and prayers. </p>
<p>Our brother Wayne is as kind and strong a man as has ever been made, who has been blessed to emerge triumphant over both cancer and prior heart issues. We have all faith that Wayne will emerge from this surgery successfully and kicking hard to get back on tour with Blue Highway at the end of the mandatory four-week rest period the doctor has ordered following surgery. Our new young dobro player Gaven Largent has been elected to carry Wayne's bass and amp during the weeks following while lifting restrictions are in place. </p>
<p>Blue Highway concerts are expected to be on-going, as we continue to cheer on Wayne in his recovery! </p>
<p>Updates will be released as available via <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a contents="www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>. </p>
<p>### <br><br><br><br><span class="font_small"><em>Statement courtesy of:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Sherri George<br>Tour Manager and Publicist, Blue Highway <br><br><br>In behalf of:<br><br><strong>Tim Stafford, Shawn Lane, Jason Burleson, Wayne Taylor, and Gaven Largent</strong></span><br>___________________________________________</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/41536032016-04-26T07:15:00-04:002020-08-18T08:08:50-04:00Official Statement from Blue Highway<p><span class="font_large"><strong>Shawn Lane's Father Hospitalized ~ Fan Appreciation Concert Postponed </strong></span></p>
<p><strong>April 26, 2016 </strong></p>
<p>"It is with great sadness that we relay that Shawn Lane's dad has suffered a massive stroke. Shawn's dad was airlifted via Life Flight helicopter last Wednesday, April 20, and is still in ICU on a ventilator / life support. </p>
<p>Shawn has been by his dad's side for the past six days, and we praise and support Shawn in his unwavering loyalty to his father and his family. We would appreciate asking for the continued kind prayers of our good friends and faithful fans for Shawn, his dad, and the Lane family. </p>
<p>We stand united as a Blue Highway family in strong support of our band brother Shawn. As a result of that support and the seriousness of this medical situation, we have made the decision to postpone our band's upcoming Fan Appreciation Concert. </p>
<p>The <a contents="Blue Highway Fan Appreciation Concert" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com/fan-appreciation-concert" target="_blank">Blue Highway Fan Appreciation Concert</a> scheduled for April 30 at Emory & Henry College is being postponed to a new date which we hope to announce by the first of next week (the week of May 2). </p>
<p>Fans who have already purchased tickets will receive a complimentary upgrade to Reserved Seating if they choose to keep their tickets intact for the new show date. Ticket holders should receive an email today with an update and instructions. </p>
<p>We hope that our friends and fans will stand with us, as you have loyally stood for 22 years, as we do all within our power to give full support to our brother Shawn and his dad. </p>
<p>We express appreciation in behalf of the Lane family for the kind outpouring of well wishes which have flooded in via social media since last week. </p>
<p>Our gratitude is with each of you for your understanding and your much appreciated support of Shawn Lane and Blue Highway! </p>
<p>We look forward to an exciting Fan Appreciation Event later this year, and invite everyone to stay tuned to <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a contents="www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a> for updates as they will be coming shortly!"</p>
<p><br><br><span class="font_small"><em>Statement courtesy of:</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Sherri George<br>Tour Manager and Publicist, Blue Highway<br><br>In behalf of <strong>Tim Stafford</strong>, <strong>Wayne Taylor,</strong> <strong>Jason Burleson</strong>, <strong>Shawn Lane</strong>, and <strong>Gaven Largent</strong></span><br><br>_________________________________________</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/41535602016-04-22T17:00:00-04:002016-04-25T22:51:29-04:00Cheers Roar for Blue Highway with Gaven Largent on 2016 Tour<p>BRISTOL, VA (April 22, 2016) -- Cheers are greeting award-winning supergroup Blue Highway this Spring as they have taken their new young dobro phenom Gaven Largent on the road for the first tour dates of 2016. </p>
<p>Blue Highway's young dobro sensation turned 20 today, and the band celebrated by releasing new video footage of the band with Largent on fire performing the Shawn Lane-penned '<em>Sycamore Hollow</em>' in Savannah. Additional footage showcases the band's a cappella vocal chops on their Dove Award-winning <em>'Wondrous Love</em>' in Cincinnati. </p>
<p>The show-stopping applause heard following Largent's solo introduction to '<em>Sycamore Hollow</em>' in the video footage isn't a random occurrence. </p>
<p>"Every time Gaven has kicked off '<em>Sycamore Hollow</em>,' we have to stop the song until the applause die down," said Wayne Taylor. "It's happened every single time we've played that song. It's amazing to see that consistent crowd reaction." <br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="KsKUPNhaEjI" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/KsKUPNhaEjI/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KsKUPNhaEjI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="300" width="420" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>The much appreciated cheers for Blue Highway and Largent are a clear testament each time the show-stopping applause roar that the new kid on the block who stepped in for his idol has passed muster. </p>
<p>"It must be awful tough to step in there with the inevitable comparisons and skeptics," said Matthew Gordon. "But Gaven is making great music that stands on its own, and shuts that whole line of approach down quick." </p>
<p>Largent is impressing fans and Music Critics alike, as Benjamin Charles of the <em>Palm Beach Daily News</em> wrote of Blue Highway's recent Sold Out performance on April 10 in Palm Beach, FL: </p>
<p>"Another standout member of the ensemble was the newest addition to Blue Highway, the 19-year-old dobro phenomenon Gaven Largent. His technical abilities on the instrument are astonishing, paralleled only by his musical sensibility. He provided musical introductions for <em>Sycamore Hollow</em> and <em>Nothing But a Whippoorwil</em>l, and solos on several of the numbers, all of which received rousing applause from the audience... " </p>
<p>The hardest audience to impress may be the members of Blue Highway, and the boys in blue are sold on the Gravy Man, too. </p>
<p>"He's put some fire under us!" said Shawn Lane. </p>
<p>"Gaven never ceases to amaze me," said Jason Burleson. "He's a hoss cat on the resophonic guitar!" </p>
<p>Speaking of Largent's recent nomination as 2016 SPBGMA Dobro Player of the Year, Tim Stafford shared, "I have a feeling this is just the beginning of many accolades for Gaven. He's a real hoss and we are proud to have him in Blue Highway." </p>
<p>Wayne Taylor relayed the band knew they had a winner from their first meeting with Gaven. The first song that Blue Highway members asked Largent to play was <em>Still Climbing Mountains</em>, and Taylor recalls of Gaven's performance: "It was Rob's kick off, note for note. It was perfect. Gaven amazed all of us. It honestly couldn't have been any better." <br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="evp_7ekNCUA" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/evp_7ekNCUA/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/evp_7ekNCUA?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="300" width="420" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Amidst the cheers, the down to earth young man from the heart of the Shenandoah Valley continues to impress his heroes in Blue Highway with more than just his music. </p>
<p>"Gaven is just an exceptional young man," said Wayne Taylor. "He's one of the most polite people I've ever encountered of any age. He'll go out of his way to help people, and it's not just on rare occasions. I just don't see a lot of kids his age these days who do that, and it's just refreshing to see that and be around him. Gaven is not only an exceptional musician, he's also an exceptional person." </p>
<p>With their 11th studio album on the horizon and a winning team intact, Blue Highway rolls on into their 2016 tour schedule, with a handful of their upcoming performances including: <br><br>Sat May 7 - <a contents="Circa Blue Fest" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/event/1450268/224951990/circa-blue-fest" target="_blank">Circa Blue Fest</a> - Martinsburg, WV <br>Sun May 8 - <a contents="Court Square Theater" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/event/1519621/246421629/court-square-theater" target="_blank">Court Square Theater</a> - Harrisonburg, VA <br>Thurs May 19 - <a contents="Isis Restaurant &amp; Concert Hall" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/event/1552246/257892160/blue-highway-in-asheville" target="_blank">Isis Restaurant & Concert Hall</a> - Asheville, NC <br>Fri May 20 - <a contents="Dollywood" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/event/1526698/248936055/dollywood-barbeque-bluegrass-festival" target="_blank">Dollywood</a> - Pigeon Forge, TN <br>Sun May 22 - <a contents="The Neighborhood Theatre" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.neighborhoodtheatre.com/event/1165055-blue-highway-charlotte/" target="_blank">The Neighborhood Theatre</a> - Charlotte, NC <br>Fri Jun 10 - <a contents="Festival of the Bluegrass" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/event/1450283/224952017/festival-of-the-bluegrass" target="_blank">Festival of the Bluegrass</a> - Lexington, KY <br>Sat Jun 11 - <a contents="HoustonFest" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/event/1450294/224952028/houstonfest" target="_blank">HoustonFest</a> - Galax, VA <br>Wed Jun 15 - <a contents="Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/event/1399328/204199646/50th-annual-bean-blossom-bluegrass-festival" target="_blank">Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival</a> - Bean Blossom, IN </p>
<p>For additional news and tour details, please visit <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a contents="www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>. <br> </p>
<p>### <br> </p>
<p><em><span class="font_small">Press Release courtesy: </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_small"><strong>Sherri George </strong><br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway<br><br>____________________________________</span></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/40826552016-03-10T19:27:25-05:002017-01-12T10:21:27-05:00Blue Highway to Host Fan Appreciation Concert<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com/fan-appreciation-concert" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/06f105eb3bd8a030d52f4519f66bea4454103ed3/medium/blue-highway-fan-appreciation-concert-2.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></a>EMORY, VA (March 10, 2016) -- Premier award-winning bluegrass band Blue Highway will host a first of its kind All Request Fan Appreciation Concert on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia. </p>
<p>The concert will be held at Emory & Henry's new $20 million <a contents="McGlothlin Center for the Arts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ehc.edu/mca" target="_blank">McGlothlin Center for the Arts</a>, the first outside event to be held in the elaborate new facility. The Main Theater has six luxury boxes, a four-row balcony and four-row mezzanine, with a total capacity of 461 luxurious seats in the stunning new benchmark facility on Emory & Henry College's pristine campus set amidst the rolling hills of Virginia just east of Bristol. </p>
<p>Blue Highway will offer fans a choice of two show times on April 30: Matinee - 2:00 pm and Evening - 7:00 pm ET. </p>
<p>The elaborately produced event is a Thank You from the members of Blue Highway to their friends and fans who have loyally supported the 22-year strong powerhouse group's music since the band's inception in 1994. </p>
<p>Fans who buy tickets to the concert will get to vote for their favorite Blue Highway songs spanning the band's 22 years and 10 studio albums. Blue Highway will perform the Top 25 Songs chosen by their fans. </p>
<p>Fans will choose their seats from sections named after some of Blue Highway's biggest hits: </p>
<p>* <strong>Marbletown</strong> - Front Row <br>* <strong>V-Bottom Boat </strong>- Orchestra <br>* <strong>Sycamore Hollow</strong> - Mezzanine <br>* <strong>Keen Mountain</strong> - Balcony <br>* <strong>In the Gravel Yard</strong> - Floor Box Seats </p>
<p>Tickets within the various sections are general admission, with the 'In the Gravel Yard' Floor Box Seats Section offering a special package of items such as a VIP Laminated Lanyard in addition to luxury box seating. </p>
<p>With only 461 seats in the spectacular venue, all seat views are potentially fantastic from Box Seats to Balcony. </p>
<p>Fan-centered options abound, from fans voting for their favorite songs from Blue Highway's ten studio albums as they purchase their tickets to determine the concert's official set list, to opportunities for four fans to introduce their favorite song on stage at the event, to 200 special all-you-can-eat buffet meals being made available for purchase for both the Lunch and Dinner meals on the day of event on April 30 at the beautiful Van Dyke Center overlooking the duck pond on Emory & Henry's campus. All fans attending the concerts are eligible to win various door prizes to be given away throughout the show, including two one-of-a-kind Grand Prizes: a Blue Highway festival chair with carry bag, and a specially designed Blue Highway Box Set of the band's albums. </p>
<p>The concert event will also feature special surprise guests who will perform with Blue Highway. Workshops with Blue Highway band members will also be offered on Friday, April 29, the day prior to the concerts. </p>
<p>A <a contents="Concert Video Announcement" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/eFZMc6aIRZM" target="_blank"><span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Concert Video Announcement</strong></span></a> is available for viewing at <a contents="https://youtu.be/eFZMc6aIRZM" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/eFZMc6aIRZM" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/eFZMc6aIRZM</a>, and a vibrant <strong><a contents="Fan Appreciation Concert Page" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com/fan-appreciation-concert" target="_blank"><span style="color:#8B4513;">Fan Appreciation Concert Page</span></a></strong> featuring all the exciting details of the event is now Live on the band's website at www.bluehighwayband.com/fan-appreciation-concert. </p>
<p>Tickets go on sale on <strong>Friday, March 11, 2016</strong>, with a special segment of the <a contents="Blue Highway Website Store" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Music-Store" target="_blank"><span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Blue Highway Website Store</strong></span></a> going Live with the vibrant seating and meal options at approximately 10:00 AM ET at <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Music-Store" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Music-Store" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Music-Store</a>. <br>. </p>
<p>Additional details will be announced in the days ahead via the band's website at <a contents="www.BlueHighwayBand.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and via the band's Facebook page at <a contents=" www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" target="_blank"> www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>. </p>
<p>### </p>
<p><span class="font_small"><em>Press Release courtesy:</em> </span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Sherri George<br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</span></p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/39564002015-12-09T09:49:36-05:002018-07-14T07:37:58-04:00Blue Highway Announces Gaven Largent as Newest Member<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/be607c8fe3fa931b270801cfd3f5cd619f12eadd/medium/gaven-largent-pic-1-img-2411.jpg?1449546251" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />KINGSPORT, TN (December 9, 2015) -- Blue Highway has influenced two decades of musicians since the band premiered in December 1994 -- from “The Voice” contestant and Knoxville teen Emily Ann Roberts who recently cited <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bluehighway/photos/a.10150723378423126.452741.8391908125/10153777321508126/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Blue Highway as one of her first musical influences</a>, to the 19-year old phenom the respected powerhouse band has just announced as its new member.<br><br>Blue Highway announced today the addition of <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Gaven Largent</strong></span> as dobro player, filling the spot which opened when founding member <a href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com/news/blog/blue-highway-announces-departure-of-rob-ickes" target="_blank">Rob Ickes departed</a> three weeks ago. <br><br>Gaven grew up in a musical family spanning five generations in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, the hometown of legendary Patsy Cline.<br><br>Gaven worked on his great grandparents’ farm from the time he was a youngster. The high value his family placed on music, honesty, and hard work enabled him to become a fine and multi-talented young man, gifted with most anything his hands touch, from playing dobro, guitar, bass, banjo, and mandolin, to fine-tuning the engines of vintage tractors like McCormick Farmalls and Minneapolis Molines.<br><br>Largent began playing guitar at age 8, resophonic guitar at age 9, and at age 13 was honored to be invited to perform with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry.<br><br>Since 2012 Largent has performed in several bands including Bud’s Collective, Lonesome Highway, and most recently Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper.<br><br>“Gaven is a true find for Blue Highway,” said <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Wayne Taylor</strong></span>. “He’s a great person and the perfect person to fill this spot in the band!”<br><br>“I’m so excited to have Gaven in the band!” said <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Jason Burleson</strong></span>. “He's an amazing dobro player and an all around great musician and good guy. I can't wait for everyone to hear this cat!”<br><br>“Gaven has really impressed me in the short time I've known him, both as a musician and person,” said <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Tim Stafford</strong></span>. “He's a natural, and his talent and dedication to his instrument and the music is inspiring. We're very excited to have him in the group!”<br><br>“We couldn't have found a better musician for this spot than Gaven,” echoed <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Shawn Lane</strong></span>, who summed it all up, relaying, “Gaven rocks!!”<br> <br>Gaven grew up listening to Blue Highway, but came to meet the members of the band through his good friend, Jacob Burleson, son of Blue Highway banjo player, Jason Burleson. <br><br>Largent expressed his excitement to be invited join Blue Highway:<br><br>“I’d first like to say it's my extreme honor to join a band that has been such a huge influence on the way I think about bluegrass music and the way that I play. Tim, Shawn, Wayne, and Jason are all huge heroes of mine, and as a young dobro player, Rob Ickes has always been one of my idols! He is one of the best, and it's going to be tough for me to try to follow such a respected and talented musician. But that said, I am very excited for the challenge of learning all these tunes (even though I've listened to Blue Highway for years!) and thankful for the opportunity to join the ranks and share the stage with this band. Playing music full time has been a goal and dream for me since I was eight years old when I started, and to do it now seems surreal. I hope I can make all the family, friends and fans proud!”<br> <br>Fans will have their first opportunity to hear the new Blue Highway line-up in January 2016 in <strong>Jekyll Island, GA</strong>, at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on Friday, January 1, at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., with tickets at <a href="http://www.adamsbluegrass.com/new-year-s-bluegrass-festival.html" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link">www.adamsbluegrass.com/new-year-s-bluegrass-festival.html</a>; and in <strong>Kingsport, TN</strong>, at the Renaissance Center on Friday, January 15, at 7:30 p.m., with tickets at <a href="http://www.EngageKingsport.com" target="_blank">www.EngageKingsport.com</a>.<br> <br><span style="font-size:1em">Stafford, Lane, and Taylor of Blue Highway will also take the hardwood at Time-Warner Cable Arena to perform the National Anthem at the NBA's Charlotte Hornets - Miami Heat game in Charlotte with tip-off at 7:00 p.m. TONIGHT (Wednesday, December 9). The game will be aired on FOX Sports Southeast and WFNZ 610 AM Radio in Charlotte.</span><br><br>Blue Highway is welcoming Gaven with a celebration on the band's website featuring a 25% off discount on everything in the Blue Highway store with code "WELCOME" through Sunday, December 13, at <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>.<br> <br>To read more about Blue Highway and Gaven Largent, please visit <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.<br> <br>###<br><br><span class="font_small">Photo by Michelle Berardinelli<br><br>Press Release Courtesy:<br><br>Sherri George<br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway<br>BlueHighwayPR@hotmail.com</span><br> <br>________________________________________<br><br> Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/39258652015-11-18T16:53:31-05:002017-01-12T10:21:26-05:00Blue Highway Announces Departure of Rob Ickes<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/6a6899cd433da0cf06ebee515959bdbbe899a72e/medium/blue-highway-cover-screenshot-copy.jpg?1447884275" class="size_m justify_left border_" />BRISTOL, TN (November 18, 2015) – Twenty-one years ago on December 31, 1994, five young men came together in Kingsport for a performance which launched one of the most respected and influential bands in modern Bluegrass. <br><br>As Blue Highway gears up for a new album and an exciting new touring season, the powerhouse band will go forward without one founding member, <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Rob Ickes</strong></span>.<br><br>Blue Highway announced today the departure of their band brother and dobro player, Rob Ickes, who skyrocketed over 21 years into a celebrated dobro legend and the most awarded instrumentalist the IBMA has ever known. <br><br>Rob explained his departure and relayed a heartfelt good-bye to the band and fans:<br><br>“In 1994, I had the tremendous good fortune of being invited to join Blue Highway as a founding member. I can't imagine a better opportunity for a young dobro player, and Blue Highway has been a stellar creative home for me for 21 years. So it is truly with a heart full of gratitude -- and more than a little sadness -- that I announce my departure from the band.<br><br>There are many reasons that have led me to this decision, but it all boils down to the fact that 21 years is a long time, and I'm ready to put my energy into other musical projects. In recent years, I have done some touring in smaller ensembles. Those experiences really made me recognize how much more difficult it is for a larger band to deal with the complexities of travel, scheduling, recording, etc. The music is great, but everything that has to happen to get to that moment of creating great music is more complex and consuming.<br><br>So I am taking this step to simplify things. It is just so much easier to travel and perform on stage with a smaller group, and that is where I'm planning to focus my energy for most of my upcoming live performances.<br> <br>To the guys in Blue Highway, words can't express my gratitude, and how proud I am of the deep and rich repertoire of music we have created together. To our fans, I can only say that you made our 21+ years not only possible, but also immeasurably rewarding. I hope you will continue to support both Blue Highway and myself in the future.”<br> <br>The four remaining founding Blue Highway members wished Rob the best while expressing their excitement for the upcoming tour season and new studio album.<br> <br>“Rob is my brother till the end of time,” said <strong><span style="color:#8B4513;">Shawn Lane</span></strong>. “Nothing can change that. I couldn't be prouder of the work we've been blessed to do together and what we've accomplished together. I wish him the very best in everything he does.”<br><br>“Rob is the most dedicated musician I know, and he will thrive in whatever musical path he chooses to take,” said <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Jason Burleson</strong></span>. “"I’ll miss his musicianship and the unique sound he brought to the band, but most of all, I'll miss him. Thanks Rob, for the all years of music, laughs and friendship.” <br> <br> “While we’ll miss Rob, we wish him nothing but the best as he moves forward,” said <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Tim Stafford</strong></span>, “and we look forward to rolling on with Blue Highway!”<br> <br>“We love Rob,” said <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Wayne Taylor</strong></span>. “We also love what we do, and we’re pumped to get in the studio and bring a new Blue Highway album to the fans! Bluegrass has the most dedicated fans in the world. Thanks to everyone who has supported this band through the years. You are the reason we’re still here, and that means everything!”<br> <br>Blue Highway charted the most radio airplay of any bluegrass artist in 2014, and will head into the recording studio as the New Year dawns in 2016 to create another piece of Blue Highway magic.<br> <br>Their most recent album <em>The Game</em> topped multiple charts at #1 including reigning at #1 for 7 consecutive months on the <em>Bluegrass Unlimited </em>Album Chart, and was named the #1 Bluegrass Album of the Year by critic Daniel Mullins in his end of the year Top 20 Albums of 2014 list in <em>Bluegrass Today</em>.<br> <br>Blue Highway has been praised by fans, peers, and media alike, with one of the most powerful descriptions of the band being shared by <em>Country Standard Time:</em><br> <br>“Wayne Taylor sings with the emotion of a man who escaped the coal mines and ain't planning on going back. Tim Stafford continues to craft songs with depth .. The instrumentation is perfect. From the get go, Jason Burleson opens with the unique style that defines Blue Highway banjo.. Shawn Lane exemplifies modern mandolin, yet nods to the Monroe legacy. Three lead singers.. rich harmony .. songs of forgotten homeless veterans, fallen heroes, and heartbroken families. Blue Highway personifies modern acoustic music with respect for tradition. Highly recommended, highly respected."<br><br>With an announcement of a new fifth member to come in the weeks ahead, Blue Highway will roll on with a rich legacy carried on by three powerhouse songwriters and vocalists in <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Tim Stafford</strong>, <strong>Wayne Taylor</strong></span>, and <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Shawn Lane</strong></span>, whose harmonies soar over the dynamic and explosive banjo of <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Jason Burleson</strong></span>.<br><br>Stay tuned to Blue Highway news via <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.<br><br>###<br><br><span class="font_small">Press Release Courtesy: <br>Sherri George<br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway<br>BlueHighwayPR@hotmail.com</span><br><br>_______________________<br> Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/38733852015-09-29T01:25:17-04:002017-01-12T10:21:26-05:00Jason Burleson Announces New Signature Banjo by Prucha<span class="font_large"><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style=""><strong>Offical Unveil at IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh</strong></font></span><br><br><span class="font_regular"><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/f77bb8257c5a74f2c093eb8b7a2db6effee4f5a5/medium/jason-prucha-banjo-0502.jpg?1440552517" class="size_m justify_left border_" />NEWLAND, NC (September 28, 2015) -- Jason Burleson, heralded banjo player of award-winning band <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluehighwayband.com" target="_blank">Blue Highway</a>, is honored to announce the introduction of the <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://en.pruchabanjos.cz/banjo.php?banjo=spirit-jason-burleson-signature-model" target="_blank"><span style="color:#993300;"><b>Jason Burleson Signature Banjo</b></span></a> by Prucha Bluegrass Instruments. <br><br>The <i>Jason Burleson Signature Banjo</i> is part of the Spirit Line of the Czech Republic-based Pruscha Bluegrass Instruments, joining Alison Brown and Brandon Green as bluegrass artists with banjos in the exquisitely crafted signature Spirit Line.<br><br>Prusha is the premier manufacturer of banjos and mandolins in the Czech Republic, and is the only banjo manufacturer internationally known to produce all parts of their banjo hardware in their own production facility.</font><br><br><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style="">North Carolina native <span style="color:#993300;"><strong>Jason Burleson</strong></span> is the founding banjo player in the 21-year strong powerhouse band, Blue Highway. With a genuine gift for vocals, picking, and songwriting, Jason's finesse and skill on the five make him one of the most explosive and dynamic banjo players in the Bluegrass genre.</font><br><br><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style=""><font style="">"I'm excited to have the Jason Burleson Signature Banjo added to the Spirit Line of Prucha Bluegrass Instruments," said Burleson. "It's an honor to work with Jarda Prucha and have my signature banjo as part of the Prucha family of fine instruments."<br><br>The Jason Burleson Signature Banjo is handmade in Prucha's Prague workshop, and features a radiused, 24-fret, standard width extended fingerboard and a "speed neck" with a massive resonator and Prucha's new one-piece flange. The finish on the metal parts is half shiny / half matte. Sand-blasted nickel-plated parts are engraved with patterns corresponding with the mother of pearl peghead and neck inlays. The mahogany banjo is fitted with a sand-blasted, engraved Kershner tailpiece. The maple bridge with ebony plate is also radiused. Custom upgrate options include premium curly maple and cherry wood, abalone inlays, top tension construction, black nickel, gold plating, and copper flash patina.</font></font></span>
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<div><span class="font_regular"><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style=""><font style="">The Official Unveil of the <em>Jason Burleson Signature Banjo</em> will be during IBMA World of Bluegrass Week, September 29-October 3, in Raleigh, NC. The banjo will be on display at the <strong>Prucha Booth</strong> in the <strong>Exhibit Hall </strong>of the <strong>Raleigh Convention Center.</strong> <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>World of Bluegrass Expo</strong></span> will open to the public Friday, October 2 - Saturday, October 3, 2015.<br><br><span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Jason Burleson will appear at the Prucha Booth on Friday, October 2, from 1:30-3:00 pm. He'll talk with fans and media, and be available for photos with the new <em>Jason Burleson Signature Banjo</em>.</strong></span></font></font></span></div>
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<br><br><span class="font_regular"><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style="">Jason's signature banjo is available now on Prucha's website at:</font><br><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" size="3" style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://en.pruchabanjos.cz/banjo.php?banjo=spirit-jason-burleson-signature-model" target="_blank">http://en.pruchabanjos.cz/banjo.php?banjo=spirit-jason-burleson-signature-model</a></font><br><br><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style="">Prucha have nine handcrafted mandolin models and 13 categories of intricately created banjos.<br><br>Blue Highway and its members are nominated for eight <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluehighwayband.com/news/blog/blue-highway-honored-with-eight-ibma-award-nominations" target="_blank">IBMA Awards</a> in the upcoming 26th Annual IBMA Awards to be held on Thursday, October 1, at 7:30 pm, at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, NC. <br><br>Blue Highway received the Most Airplay of any Bluegrass Artist for 2014, per the <em>Bluegrass Today </em><a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bluegrasstoday.com/2014-bluegrass-radio-airplay-chart/" target="_blank">2014 Bluegrass Radio Airplay Chart</a>, with three songs in the Top 15 for the year and 12,115 spins.</font><br><br><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style="">For more information on Prucha Bluegrass Instruments, please go to: <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://en.pruchabanjos.cz" target="_blank">en.pruchabanjos.cz</a></font><br><br><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style=""><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif" style="">For more information on Blue Highway and Jason Burleson, please go to: <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a><br><br>###</font></font></span>
</div>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/38328192015-08-18T21:45:00-04:002017-01-12T10:21:26-05:00Blue Highway Honored with Eight IBMA Award Nominations<span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/425872e9d9ce95261a6499ffc447d5cdf6597348/medium/blue-highway-high-res-1.jpg?1433798428" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span><span class="font_regular">BRISTOL, TN – Highly respected supergroup Blue Highway is honored to be nominated for a cumulative eight IBMA Awards in the upcoming 26<sup>th</sup> Annual International Bluegrass Music Association Awards.<br> <br>The 2015 IBMA Awards will be held at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m., in Raleigh, NC.<br> <br>Blue Highway received nominations as a band for <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Vocal Group of the Year</strong> </span>and<span style="color:#8B4513;"> <strong>Instrumental Group of the Year</strong></span>.<br> <br>Band members nominated for individual awards include Shawn Lane (<span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Songwriter of the Year</strong></span>), Tim Stafford (<span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Guitar Performer of the Year</strong></span>) and Rob Ickes (<span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Dobro Performer of the Year</strong></span>). <br> <br>Rob Ickes also received three nominations for songs from his collaborative dobro album “Three Bells” with the incomparable Jerry Douglas and the late great Mike Auldridge. The song “Three Bells” is nominated for <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year</strong></span>, while both “Three Bells” and “For Buddy” received nominations as <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Recorded Event of the Year</strong></span>. <br> <br>“It's truly an honor and privilege to be nominated for awards at any stage in a band or musician's career, especially when we've been at it over 20 years,” said Tim Stafford. “Makes us feel like folks still really appreciate what we do, and that's an incredibly special feeling. Thanks to everyone who voted for us and to those who think enough of our music to keep on spending a few dollars and a few hours listening. It truly means the world to us.”<br> <br>Nominated as IBMA Guitar Performer of the Year,<span style="color:#8B4513;"> <strong>Tim Stafford</strong></span> is a gifted guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, producer, session musician, author, and collegiate instructor who co-founded Blue Highway and is a former member of world-renowned Alison Krauss & Union Station. Tim was recently honored as 2015 SPGMA Guitar Player of the Year and 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. Stafford was also named 2015 Distinguished Alumnus in the Arts by the East Tennessee State University National Alumni Association.<br> <br><span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Shawn Lane</strong></span> is a fan-favorite vocalist, instrumentalist, and songwriter who toured over the past year with the Grammy-winning Earls of Leicester playing mandolin and contributing his heralded high tenor vocals when his schedule allowed. Lane has penned songs such as the high octane title track of Blue Highway’s most recent album, “The Game,” a song co-written with Barry Bales which sent Blue Highway soaring to #1 atop multiple Bluegrass charts, including seven consecutive months on the national <em>Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart</em> and three consecutive months at #1 on the <em>Bluegrass Unlimited Song Chart</em>. Shawn also wrote ten tracks on his solo album “Mountain Songs,” which was named the #19 Bluegrass Album of the Year by critic Daniel Mullins in his <em>Top 20 Albums of 2014 </em>list published in <em>Bluegrass Today.</em><br><br>“Sincere thanks to the International Bluegrass Music Association for the honor of being nominated as IBMA Songwriter of the Year,” said Shawn Lane. “It's a privilege to be nominated with Brink Brinkman, Becky Buller, Bill Castle, and Donna Ulisse. Congratulations to each of these fine songwriters! It’s a privilege to enjoy their work, and be considered worthy for nomination alongside them. I thank God for the gift He gave me to write, and thank the IBMA again for such a great honor. I feel blessed beyond words.”<br> <br><span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Rob Ickes</strong></span> is a two-time Grammy winner with Alison Krauss and the Most Awarded Instrumentalist in the history of IBMA with 15 Dobro Performer of the Year Awards. His collaborative project “Three Bells” with Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge has been heralded with much critical acclaim and as a labor of love, as it was the final recording of Ickes’ hero, dobro legend Mike Auldridge. Rob Ickes began playing dobro at age 13 after hearing Mike Auldridge, and often dedicates his dobro solos on stage with Blue Highway in memory of his hero.<br><br>“It’s a joy to see Mike Auldridge’s last recording shine in reflection of his great influence on our generation,” said Ickes. “It’s a great personal gift to be part of that recording.”<br> <br>Winners of the 2015 IBMA Awards will be announced on Thursday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m., at Raleigh’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, with tickets and additional details available at <a href="http://www.ibma.org">www.ibma.org</a>.<br> <br>Blue Highway will perform at IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass on the main stage at the Red Hat Amphitheater on Friday, October 2, along with Alison Kruass, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, and the Gibson Brothers, among others. Tickets and details for the two-day concert event are available at <a href="http://www.WorldofBluegrass.org">www.WorldofBluegrass.org</a>.<br> <br>Blue Highway has earned a collective 24 IBMA Awards, six SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations. Blue Highway received the Most Radio Airplay of any Bluegrass Artist for 2014, per the <em>Bluegrass Today</em> 2014 Bluegrass Radio Airplay Chart<em>, </em>with three songs in the year’s Top 30 and 12,115 spins. <br> <br>The 21-year strong powerhouse band has all five founding members still intact, including: <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Jason Burleson</strong></span> (banjo, vocals), <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Rob Ickes</strong></span> (dobro, vocals), <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Shawn Lane</strong></span> (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Tim Stafford</strong></span> (guitar, vocals), and <span style="color:#8B4513;"><strong>Wayne Taylor</strong></span> (bass, vocals).<br> <br>For a full list of 2015 IBMA Awards Nominees, please go to: <a href="https://ibma.org/node/989">https://ibma.org/node/989</a><br> <br>For more information on Blue Highway, please visit <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.<br> <br>###</span>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/37830442015-04-21T13:55:00-04:002017-01-12T10:21:26-05:00Blue Highway Honored with Six-show Series on The Bluegrass Mix<span dir="ltr"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/7dae4ed21510a3624ae897ec3f679bde3d5fd11a/small/bluegrass-mix-2.jpg?1437267039" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />BRISTOL, TN (April 21, 2015) -- Powerhouse bluegrass band Blue Highway will be featured in a six-part series beginning April 22 on "Bluegrass From the Country Store." The Ron Cornett-hosted weekly show airs on Wednesdays from 5:00-8:00 pm ET on<a contents=" www.BluegrassMix.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BluegrassMix.com"> www.BluegrassMix.com</a>.<br><br>"It's an honor to do this series of interviews with all the members of Blue Highway," said Ron Cornett. "Being able to cover their new individual projects, their newest #1 album "The Game," and ending with a special program "Twenty Years with Blue Highway" will be a highlight of my career."<br><br>"Blue Highway Wednesdays" will feature music and interviews with Blue Highway and its members on the fourth Wednesday of each month from April to September.<br><br>"Ron is very good, nice, and knowledgeable," said Tim Stafford. "We're having a great time doing this series with him! Hope all our friends and fans will tune in!"<br><br>The Blue Highway series launches on Wednesday, April 22, with a show featuring the band's dynamic mandolin player and gifted songwriter Shawn Lane. Lane's newest album "Mountain Songs" released in August 2014 and was named #19 on the Top 20 Albums of 2014 list by music critic Daniel Mullins of "Bluegrass Today."<br><br>The "Blue Highway Wednesdays" show schedule for the fourth Wednesday of each month at <a contents="www.Bluegrass Mix.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BluegrassMix.com">www.BluegrassMix.com</a> is as follows:<br><br><strong>April 22</strong> - Shawn Lane - "Mountain Songs"<br><strong>May 27</strong> - Tim Stafford - "Just to Hear the Whistle Blow"<br><strong>June 24</strong> - Wayne Taylor - "It's About Time"<br><strong>July 22</strong> - Rob Ickes - "Three Bells"<br><strong>August 26</strong> - Blue Highway - "The Game"<br><strong>September 23</strong> - "Twenty Years with Blue Highway"<br><br>For more information on The Bluegrass Mix, or to Listen Live on-line, please go to <a contents="www.BluegrassMix.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BluegrassMix.com">www.BluegrassMix.com</a>.<br><br>For daily photos and news from Blue Highway, please go to <a contents="www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.<br><br>###</span><br><span dir="ltr"><font face="Times New Roman,sans-serif"> </font></span>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/39419782015-01-12T15:00:00-05:002020-10-23T11:45:32-04:00Blue Highway to Perform National Anthem for Top NBA and NCAA Games<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/cd15e63446d798405f65357f0069177fecc50464/large/blue-highway-national-anthems-2015.jpg?1448923763" class="size_l justify_left border_" />KINGSPORT, TN (January 12, 2015) -- Powerhouse bluegrass band Blue Highway will perform the National Anthem for the biggest pro basketball game of the season in Charlotte as the Charlotte Hornets take on the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs at Time-Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, January 14, 2015. Tip off will be at 7:00 PM, with coverage by SportsSouth television network and WFNZ 610 AM Radio.<br><br>"Blue Highway is excited and honored to be asked to perform the National Anthem at one of the biggest NBA games of the season in Charlotte on Wednesday night," said Tim Stafford, the band's co-founder and 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. "This ranks right up there with singing the Anthem for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Bristol in 2007, one of our career highlights."<br><br>Charlotte isn't the band's only high-profile National Anthem performance this season, as Blue Highway will also be taking the hardwood at Thompson-Boling Arena to perform for Tennessee's biggest game of the year on February 17 as the Vols go head to head with the # 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. Tip off in Knoxville will be 7:00 PM, with coverage by ESPN and the Vol Radio Network.<br><br>"We're always honored to do this song anytime, anywhere," said lead vocalist and bass player Wayne Taylor. "But it's even more of an honor to do it at major events such as these. Looking forward to being in Charlotte and Knoxville representing our country and our music."<br><br>Blue Highway's heralded high tenor singer Shawn Lane, who shines on mandolin and fiddle for the band, may be the most excited to perform at center court for two of the top games of the NCAA and NBA seasons. Lane's love of basketball enables him to carve out time amidst a busy Spring tour schedule with both Blue Highway and the Earls of Leicester to be a youth basketball coach in his current hometown of Walhalla, SC.<br><br>"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to sing American-made music for a game of my favorite sport in the USA, basketball," said Lane. "It's going to be a blast!"<br><br>Blue Highway also kick off their first shows of 2015 this weekend with a sold out concert at the Renaissance Theater in Kingsport, TN, this Friday, January 16. A concert at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium in South Carolina follows on Saturday, January 17.<br><br>Blue Highway have earned 24 collective IBMA Awards, 5 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations. As the band embarks on their 21st year of touring in 2015, Blue Highway is just coming off an impressive 7 consecutive months at No. 1 on the national Bluegrass Unlimited album chart with their newest Rounder Records release, "The Game." The album's title track also held the No. 1 spot on the national Bluegrass Unlimited song chart for 3 consecutive months from August to October 2014.<br><br>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.<br><br>###<br><br><span class="font_small">Press release courtesy:<br>Sherri George<br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</span>
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<p>Kingsport, TN -- Powerhouse bluegrass band Blue Highway will perform the National Anthem for the biggest pro basketball game of the season in Charlotte as the Charlotte Hornets take on the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs at Time-Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, January 14. Tip off will be at 7:00 PM, with coverage by SportsSouth television network and WFNZ 610 AM Radio.</p>
<p>"Blue Highway is excited and honored to be asked to perform the National Anthem at one of the biggest NBA games of the season in Charlotte Wednesday night," said Tim Stafford, the band's co-founder and 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. "This ranks right up there with singing the Anthem for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Bristol in 2007, one of our career highlights."</p>
<p>Charlotte isn't the band's only high-profile National Anthem performance this season, as Blue Highway will also be taking the hardwood at Thompson-Boling Arena to perform for Tennessee's biggest game of the year on February 17 as the Vols go head to head with the # 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. Tip off in Knoxville will be 7:00 PM, with coverage by ESPN and the Vol Radio Network.</p>
<p>"We're always honored to do this song anytime, anywhere," said lead vocalist and bass player Wayne Taylor. "But it's even more of an honor to do it at major events such as these. Looking forward to being in Charlotte and Knoxville representing our country and our music."</p>
<p>Blue Highway's heralded high tenor singer Shawn Lane, who shines on mandolin and fiddle for the band, may be the most excited to perform at center court for two of the top games of the NCAA and NBA seasons. Lane's love of basketball enables him to carve out time amidst a busy Spring tour schedule with both Blue Highway and the Earls of Leicester to be a youth basketball coach in his current hometown of Walhalla, SC.</p>
<p>"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to sing American-made music for a game of my favorite sport in the USA, basketball," said Lane. "It's gonna be a blast!"</p>
<p>Blue Highway also kick off their first shows of 2015 this weekend with a sold out concert at the Renaissance Theater in Kingsport, TN, this Friday, January 16. A concert at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium in South Carolina follows on Saturday, January 17.</p>
<p>Blue Highway have earned 24 collective IBMA Awards, 5 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations. As the band embarks on their 20th year of touring in 2015, Blue Highway is just coming off an impressive 7 consecutive months at No. 1 on the national Bluegrass Unlimited album chart with their newest Rounder Records release, "The Game." The album's title track also held the No. 1 spot on the national Bluegrass Unlimited song chart for 3 consecutive months from August to October 2014.</p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.</p>- See more at: http://www.cybergrass.com/node/4317#sthash.L9JWXQY9.dpuf</div>
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<p>Kingsport, TN -- Powerhouse bluegrass band Blue Highway will perform the National Anthem for the biggest pro basketball game of the season in Charlotte as the Charlotte Hornets take on the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs at Time-Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, January 14. Tip off will be at 7:00 PM, with coverage by SportsSouth television network and WFNZ 610 AM Radio.</p>
<p>"Blue Highway is excited and honored to be asked to perform the National Anthem at one of the biggest NBA games of the season in Charlotte Wednesday night," said Tim Stafford, the band's co-founder and 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. "This ranks right up there with singing the Anthem for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Bristol in 2007, one of our career highlights."</p>
<p>Charlotte isn't the band's only high-profile National Anthem performance this season, as Blue Highway will also be taking the hardwood at Thompson-Boling Arena to perform for Tennessee's biggest game of the year on February 17 as the Vols go head to head with the # 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. Tip off in Knoxville will be 7:00 PM, with coverage by ESPN and the Vol Radio Network.</p>
<p>"We're always honored to do this song anytime, anywhere," said lead vocalist and bass player Wayne Taylor. "But it's even more of an honor to do it at major events such as these. Looking forward to being in Charlotte and Knoxville representing our country and our music."</p>
<p>Blue Highway's heralded high tenor singer Shawn Lane, who shines on mandolin and fiddle for the band, may be the most excited to perform at center court for two of the top games of the NCAA and NBA seasons. Lane's love of basketball enables him to carve out time amidst a busy Spring tour schedule with both Blue Highway and the Earls of Leicester to be a youth basketball coach in his current hometown of Walhalla, SC.</p>
<p>"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to sing American-made music for a game of my favorite sport in the USA, basketball," said Lane. "It's gonna be a blast!"</p>
<p>Blue Highway also kick off their first shows of 2015 this weekend with a sold out concert at the Renaissance Theater in Kingsport, TN, this Friday, January 16. A concert at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium in South Carolina follows on Saturday, January 17.</p>
<p>Blue Highway have earned 24 collective IBMA Awards, 5 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations. As the band embarks on their 20th year of touring in 2015, Blue Highway is just coming off an impressive 7 consecutive months at No. 1 on the national Bluegrass Unlimited album chart with their newest Rounder Records release, "The Game." The album's title track also held the No. 1 spot on the national Bluegrass Unlimited song chart for 3 consecutive months from August to October 2014.</p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.</p>- See more at: http://www.cybergrass.com/node/4317#sthash.L9JWXQY9.dpuf</div>
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<p>Kingsport, TN -- Powerhouse bluegrass band Blue Highway will perform the National Anthem for the biggest pro basketball game of the season in Charlotte as the Charlotte Hornets take on the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs at Time-Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, January 14. Tip off will be at 7:00 PM, with coverage by SportsSouth television network and WFNZ 610 AM Radio.</p>
<p>"Blue Highway is excited and honored to be asked to perform the National Anthem at one of the biggest NBA games of the season in Charlotte Wednesday night," said Tim Stafford, the band's co-founder and 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. "This ranks right up there with singing the Anthem for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Bristol in 2007, one of our career highlights."</p>
<p>Charlotte isn't the band's only high-profile National Anthem performance this season, as Blue Highway will also be taking the hardwood at Thompson-Boling Arena to perform for Tennessee's biggest game of the year on February 17 as the Vols go head to head with the # 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. Tip off in Knoxville will be 7:00 PM, with coverage by ESPN and the Vol Radio Network.</p>
<p>"We're always honored to do this song anytime, anywhere," said lead vocalist and bass player Wayne Taylor. "But it's even more of an honor to do it at major events such as these. Looking forward to being in Charlotte and Knoxville representing our country and our music."</p>
<p>Blue Highway's heralded high tenor singer Shawn Lane, who shines on mandolin and fiddle for the band, may be the most excited to perform at center court for two of the top games of the NCAA and NBA seasons. Lane's love of basketball enables him to carve out time amidst a busy Spring tour schedule with both Blue Highway and the Earls of Leicester to be a youth basketball coach in his current hometown of Walhalla, SC.</p>
<p>"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to sing American-made music for a game of my favorite sport in the USA, basketball," said Lane. "It's gonna be a blast!"</p>
<p>Blue Highway also kick off their first shows of 2015 this weekend with a sold out concert at the Renaissance Theater in Kingsport, TN, this Friday, January 16. A concert at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium in South Carolina follows on Saturday, January 17.</p>
<p>Blue Highway have earned 24 collective IBMA Awards, 5 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations. As the band embarks on their 20th year of touring in 2015, Blue Highway is just coming off an impressive 7 consecutive months at No. 1 on the national Bluegrass Unlimited album chart with their newest Rounder Records release, "The Game." The album's title track also held the No. 1 spot on the national Bluegrass Unlimited song chart for 3 consecutive months from August to October 2014.</p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.</p>- See more at: http://www.cybergrass.com/node/4317#sthash.L9JWXQY9.dpuf</div>
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<p>Kingsport, TN -- Powerhouse bluegrass band Blue Highway will perform the National Anthem for the biggest pro basketball game of the season in Charlotte as the Charlotte Hornets take on the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs at Time-Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, January 14. Tip off will be at 7:00 PM, with coverage by SportsSouth television network and WFNZ 610 AM Radio.</p>
<p>"Blue Highway is excited and honored to be asked to perform the National Anthem at one of the biggest NBA games of the season in Charlotte Wednesday night," said Tim Stafford, the band's co-founder and 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. "This ranks right up there with singing the Anthem for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Bristol in 2007, one of our career highlights."</p>
<p>Charlotte isn't the band's only high-profile National Anthem performance this season, as Blue Highway will also be taking the hardwood at Thompson-Boling Arena to perform for Tennessee's biggest game of the year on February 17 as the Vols go head to head with the # 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. Tip off in Knoxville will be 7:00 PM, with coverage by ESPN and the Vol Radio Network.</p>
<p>"We're always honored to do this song anytime, anywhere," said lead vocalist and bass player Wayne Taylor. "But it's even more of an honor to do it at major events such as these. Looking forward to being in Charlotte and Knoxville representing our country and our music."</p>
<p>Blue Highway's heralded high tenor singer Shawn Lane, who shines on mandolin and fiddle for the band, may be the most excited to perform at center court for two of the top games of the NCAA and NBA seasons. Lane's love of basketball enables him to carve out time amidst a busy Spring tour schedule with both Blue Highway and the Earls of Leicester to be a youth basketball coach in his current hometown of Walhalla, SC.</p>
<p>"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to sing American-made music for a game of my favorite sport in the USA, basketball," said Lane. "It's gonna be a blast!"</p>
<p>Blue Highway also kick off their first shows of 2015 this weekend with a sold out concert at the Renaissance Theater in Kingsport, TN, this Friday, January 16. A concert at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium in South Carolina follows on Saturday, January 17.</p>
<p>Blue Highway have earned 24 collective IBMA Awards, 5 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations. As the band embarks on their 20th year of touring in 2015, Blue Highway is just coming off an impressive 7 consecutive months at No. 1 on the national Bluegrass Unlimited album chart with their newest Rounder Records release, "The Game." The album's title track also held the No. 1 spot on the national Bluegrass Unlimited song chart for 3 consecutive months from August to October 2014.</p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.</p>- See more at: http://www.cybergrass.com/node/4317#sthash.L9JWXQY9.dpuf</div>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/37487922014-10-04T13:55:00-04:002017-01-12T10:21:26-05:00Tim Stafford and Rob Ickes Honored with IBMA Awards<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/8e65ba93f0a5ad75e0e9268ded8e3e238fcf1749/medium/rob-ickes-tim-stafford-of-blue-highway.jpg?1434768540" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />RALEIGH, NC (October 4, 2014) -- Powerhouse band Blue Highway members Tim Stafford and Rob Ickes were among the award winners as the brightest stars in Bluegrass gathered on Thursday evening for the 25th Annual IBMA Awards at Raleigh's Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. </p>
<p>Tim Stafford took home the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association Songwriter of the Year Award. Rob Ickes and Claire Lynch were special guests on a Special Consensus recording of Wild Montana Skies which was named 2014 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year. </p>
<p>Tim Stafford co-founded Blue Highway, and is a gifted songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, producer, session musician and collegiate instructor, who added author to his list of accolades with the recent release of an acclaimed Tony Rice biography which he co-authored with Caroline Wright. A former member of world-renowned Alison Krauss and Union Station, Tim released his second solo album, Just to Hear the Whistle Blow, in July to rave reviews and immediate chart action, and was also a nominee in this year's IBMA Awards for Guitar Player of the Year. </p>
<p>Of his award win, Tim shared: "I'm deeply honored to receive the IBMA Songwriter of the Year Award. Songwriters are a huge part of Bluegrass music, and I'm just proud to be part of that vital and growing scene." </p>
<p>Rob Ickes is the most awarded instrumentalist in the history of IBMA, with a staggering 15 honors as Dobro Player of the Year. Rob has played on recordings with artists from Merle Haggard to Dolly Parton, and David Lee Roth to Mary Chapin Carpenter. When Alan Jackson assembled his dream team for his acclaimed <em>Bluegrass Album</em>, he wanted Rob Ickes on dobro, and Rob played in Jackson's all-star band from Nashville's famed Station Inn all the way to Carnegie Hall. The Grammy-winning Ickes just released a hot-selling collaborative dobro album entitled <em>Three Bells</em> in mid-September with IBMA Awards co-host Jerry Douglas and the beloved late Mike Auldridge. </p>
<p>Of his IBMA Award win on Special Consensus' special team, Rob shared: "Very happy for Greg (Cahill) and Special Consensus! Greg has dedicated his life to this music, and it was great to see him honored Thursday night. It was a fun session, and I was tickled to be a part of the recording!" </p>
<p>Blue Highway, as an Entertainer of the Year nominee among their 9 nominations, performed near the close of the Awards Show, with Shawn Lane lending lead vocals to the poignant Just to Have a Job from Blue Highway's #1 chart-topping IBMA Album of the Year nominated Rounder Records release, The Game. Shawn Lane was also invited to sing and play fiddle with Awards Show co-host Lee Ann Womack in her performance on the program. </p>
<p>The multi-award winning Blue Highway is 20 years strong with all original members still intact with Jason Burleson on banjo, Rob Ickes on dobro, Shawn Lane on mandolin and fiddle, Tim Stafford on guitar, and Wayne Taylor on bass. </p>
<p>Blue Highway currently sits at #1 atop three prominent Bluegrass Airplay Charts: Bluegrass Unlimited Monthly Airplay Chart with The Game, Bluegrass Unlimited Monthly Song Chart with the The Game, and Roots Music Report Weekly Top 50 Song Chart (released September 29) with Reminds Me of You. </p>
<p>###<br><br>Press Release Courtesy: <br>Sherri George<br>Publicist and Tour Manager, Blue Highway</p>Blue Highwaytag:www.bluehighwayband.com,2005:Post/38224802014-07-26T18:40:00-04:002020-03-05T06:02:03-05:00Jason Burleson Recovering Well in France<font face="Garamond"><strong>Blue Highway's Burleson Suffered Ulcer Episode while on Tour in Europe</strong><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/170285/d514c7c5a86bf4444e8f7b75d280df08f100a227/small/jason-burleson-by-sherri-george-3129.jpg?1439833552" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />LE PUY, FRANCE (July 26, 2014) -- Powerhouse Bluegrass group Blue Highway is currently in France for a two-week tour with stops at the Country Rendezvous Festival in Craponne and the La Roche Bluegrass Festival in La Roche. Following a high octane first night's performance by the band, reflecting their energized current #1 album "The Game," Blue Highway's heralded banjo player and vocalist Jason Burleson awoke ill this morning with what has been diagnosed by physicians in Le Puy as a stomach ulcer. </font><br><br><font face="Garamond">Blue Highway's Rob Ickes writes this update from France:</font><br><br><font face="Garamond"><span style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We just got back from visiting Jason, and he is doing much better! The doctors think he had a stomach ulcer after being on an anti-inflammatory medication from an elbow issue he's been dealing with for a week or so. Jason woke up violently ill early this morning and was taken to the hospital, thankfully right around the corner form our hotel. They quickly stopped the bleeding, and he appears to be mending quickly! Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers! Jason and his family -- and everyone in our Blue Highway family -- truly appreciate your support!</span></font><font face="Garamond">"</font><br><br><font face="Garamond">Rob additionally relayed that Jason should just need a few days to get his strength back, but in the meantime, concerts continue in France for Blue Highway featuring the remainder of the award-winning band members including Rob Ickes, Tim Stafford, Wayne Taylor and Shawn Lane. </font><br><br><font face="Garamond">Blue Highway appeared this weekend at the Country Rendezvous Festival in Craponne, and will appear at the La Roche Bluegrass Festival in La Roche on August 1-2, 2014. </font><br><br><font face="Garamond">For more information about the festivals where Blue Highway will appear in France, please visit: </font><font face="Garamond"><span class="ecxfbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="ecxfbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="ecxhasCaption"><a href="http://festivaldecraponne.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://</span><wbr></wbr>festivaldecraponne.com/</a> and </span></span></font><font face="Garamond"><span class="ecxfbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="ecxfbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="ecxhasCaption"><a href="http://www.larochebluegrass.fr/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://</span><wbr></wbr>www.larochebluegrass.fr/</a></span></span></font><span class="ecxfbPhotoTagList" id="ecxfbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="ecxfcg"><font face="Garamond"> </font><br><br><font face="Garamond">For more info on Blue Highway, please go to: <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com" target="_blank">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>.</font><br><br><font face="Garamond">For daily news and photos of Blue Highway, please visit the band on Facebook at: <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway" target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a>.</font><br><br><font face="Garamond">###<br><br>Press Release courtesy:<br>Sherri George<br>Publicist, Blue Highway</font></span></span>
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<p>Nashville, TN -- Blue Highway's Tim Stafford was named Guitar Player of the Year at the 41st Annual SPBGMA Awards held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel on Sunday night in Nashville. The award marks two Guitar Player of the Year honors for Stafford and a total of six cumulative SPBGMA honors for Blue Highway. The honor comes on the heels of Stafford earning the 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year Award last October in Raleigh.</p>
<p>“It's an honor to be nominated for any award, and it was quite a shock to win this!” said Stafford. “I'm thankful to all the folks who voted and would like to offer congratulations to all the nominees.”</p>
<p>A gifted songwriter, vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, author, and teacher, Stafford has won more than awards in over two decades in the music industry. Tim has garnered respect industry-wide from his students, fans and peers, for both his musical ability and his character.</p>
<p>As social media lit up following Tim's win, fellow artist Shannon Slaughter weighed in, "If I had to choose just one guitar man to listen to, I believe it'd be him..."</p>
<p>Blue Highway lead vocalist and bass player Wayne Taylor shared: “We the members of Blue Highway have known for years what an innovative player Tim is. In this day and time, it's hard to develop a style, but Tim has done that. When you hear him play you know who you are listening to.”</p>
<p>Stafford's appeal may be summed up best and most simply by fan Dennis Smalley of Virginia as he relayed of Tim's win: "Very deserving of this award. He is a player's player, and one heck of a nice guy!"</p>
<p>Blue Highway have SOLD OUT half their concerts to date in 2015, and have been honored with a career cumulative 24 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations.</p>
<p>Upcoming appearances for Blue Highway include performing the National Anthem for the biggest game of the year at Knoxville's powerhouse Thompson-Boling Arena for the Tennessee Vols game with the undefeated #1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in SEC Men’s Basketball action on Tuesday, February 17, at 7:00 pm EST. Concert performances include February 27-28 in Harrisonburg and Tysons Corner, VA, as well as West Coast stops at the Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne, CA, on March 5, and the Bluegrass on the Beach Festival in Lake Havasu City, AZ, on March 6-7, 2015.</p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a> and <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>.</p>- See more at: http://www.cybergrass.com/node/4395#sthash.1YBGu95P.Tmne03LM.dpuf</div>
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<p>Nashville, TN -- Blue Highway's Tim Stafford was named Guitar Player of the Year at the 41st Annual SPBGMA Awards held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel on Sunday night in Nashville. The award marks two Guitar Player of the Year honors for Stafford and a total of six cumulative SPBGMA honors for Blue Highway. The honor comes on the heels of Stafford earning the 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year Award last October in Raleigh.</p>
<p>“It's an honor to be nominated for any award, and it was quite a shock to win this!” said Stafford. “I'm thankful to all the folks who voted and would like to offer congratulations to all the nominees.”</p>
<p>A gifted songwriter, vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, author, and teacher, Stafford has won more than awards in over two decades in the music industry. Tim has garnered respect industry-wide from his students, fans and peers, for both his musical ability and his character.</p>
<p>As social media lit up following Tim's win, fellow artist Shannon Slaughter weighed in, "If I had to choose just one guitar man to listen to, I believe it'd be him..."</p>
<p>Blue Highway lead vocalist and bass player Wayne Taylor shared: “We the members of Blue Highway have known for years what an innovative player Tim is. In this day and time, it's hard to develop a style, but Tim has done that. When you hear him play you know who you are listening to.”</p>
<p>Stafford's appeal may be summed up best and most simply by fan Dennis Smalley of Virginia as he relayed of Tim's win: "Very deserving of this award. He is a player's player, and one heck of a nice guy!"</p>
<p>Blue Highway have SOLD OUT half their concerts to date in 2015, and have been honored with a career cumulative 24 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, and two Grammy nominations.</p>
<p>Upcoming appearances for Blue Highway include performing the National Anthem for the biggest game of the year at Knoxville's powerhouse Thompson-Boling Arena for the Tennessee Vols game with the undefeated #1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in SEC Men’s Basketball action on Tuesday, February 17, at 7:00 pm EST. Concert performances include February 27-28 in Harrisonburg and Tysons Corner, VA, as well as West Coast stops at the Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne, CA, on March 5, and the Bluegrass on the Beach Festival in Lake Havasu City, AZ, on March 6-7, 2015.</p>
<p>For more information on Blue Highway, please go to <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway">www.Facebook.com/BlueHighway</a> and <a href="http://www.BlueHighwayBand.com">www.BlueHighwayBand.com</a>.</p>- See more at: http://www.cybergrass.com/node/4395#sthash.1YBGu95P.Tmne03LM.dpuf</div>Blue Highway