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Hall of Fame

Induction into the Hall of Fame is determined by a committee appointed by the International Bluegrass Music Association (a sister-organization that is wholly independent from this museum). Selection takes place each year in two stages: nomination and election. A nominating committee consisting of music industry leaders creates a slate of 10-15 candidates. From these names, a panel of the candidates' peers in the music industry cast ballots to narrow the nominees to five finalists. There are over 200 electors. To be an elector, one must have personally and actively participated in bluegrass for at least 10 years and have merited respect and recognition for their accomplishments and knowledge in one or more aspects of the field.

After the five finalists have been selected, the panel again votes to select the inductee(s) for that year. The balloting is conducted by an independent accounting firm. The name(s) of the newest IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee(s) are made public immediately following the final stage of balloting. Formal induction takes place each year during the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show in Nashville, TN.

After induction, the Hall of Fame plaques are installed in the International Bluegrass Music Museum's Hall of Fame in Owensboro, Kentucky. An Unveiling Ceremony takes place at the museum on Opening Day of ROMP each year, just prior to The Legends Concert. Thereafter, the plaques are on permanent exhibit.

Learn about Bluegrass Hall of Fame members on this website, or visit the museum and see their plaques, view their documentary films, see their artifacts, and hear their music on our radio station.

 

Members of the IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame

Noted bluegrass historian Fred Bartenstein will be posting 1-2 bios of musicians in the Hall of Fame and in the Pioneers of Bluegrass (1st and early 2nd generation bluegrass musicians) each week until completed. Visit our website often for updates and new content. Thank you!

1991

Bill Monroe - Born September 13, 1911

Earl Scruggs - Born January 2, 1924

Lester Flatt - Born June 19, 1914

1992

The Stanley Brothers
Ralph Stanley
Carter Stanley

Reno & Smiley
Don Reno
Arthur Lee (Red) Smiley

1993

Mac Wiseman

Jim & Jesse
Jim McReynolds
Jesse McReynolds

1994

The Osborne Brothers
Bobby Osborne
Sonny Osborne

1995

Jimmy Martin

1996

Peter V. Kuykendall

The Country Gentlemen
Eddie Adcock
John Duffey
Tom Gray
Charlie Waller

1997

Josh Graves

1998

Chubby Wise

Carlton Haney

1999

Kenny Baker

2000

Lance LeRoy

Doc Watson

2001

The Carter Family
Alvin Pleasant (A.P.) Carter
Sara Carter
Maybelle Carter

2002

The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover
Micheal Burt "Bea" Lilly
Charles E. "Everett" Lilly
Don Stover
David Freeman

2003

J. D. Crowe

2004

Curly Seckler

Bill Vernon

2005

Red Allen

Benny Martin

2006

The Lewis Family

Syd Nathan

2007

"Cedric Rainwater" Howard Watts

Carl Story

2008

Bill Clifton

Charles Wolfe

2009

Lonesome Pine Fiddlers

The Dillards

2010

John Hartford

Louise Scruggs

2011

Del McCoury

George Shuffler