Critically Critically Acclaimed folk artist Dom Flemons wins top honors in the 20th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) with his song \u201cTraveling Wildfire\u201d. He also won Best Folk\/Americana\/Roots Award as well with his song \u201cTraveling Wildfire\u201d. He also made history as the first African American to ever win the top award in IAMA\u2019s 20 year history.<\/p>\n
Chicago, Illinois based Dom Flemons is an American old-time music, Piedmont blues, and neotraditional country multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. He is a proficient player of the banjo, fife, guitar, harmonica, percussion, quills, and rhythm bones. He is known as \u201cThe American Songster\u201d as his repertoire of music spans nearly a century of American folklore, ballads, and tunes. He is a member of the Folk music group \u201cCarolina Chocolate Drops\u201d from their inception in 2005 until 2013. Flemons has released five albums in his own name, although two of those were collaborations with other musicians.<\/p>\n
With Carolina Chocolate Drops, he won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. Dom Flemons also received a Grammy nomination this year\u2019s 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Folk Album for his album \u201cTraveling Wildfire\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a great honor to win the Overall Grand Prize as well as the Best Folk\/Americana\/Roots category at the International Acoustic Music Awards. Over the past 25 years, it has always been my goal to create music that entertains, educates and inspires people of all communities. \u00a0Using a variety of instruments and old-time music styles it has also been my mission to make sure the music that I inherited from my friends and mentors lives on into the present. Thanks to my team and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings for all of their support in making this prize a reality\u201d, said Dom Flemons, this year\u2019s top winner.<\/p>\n
Dom Flemons is signed to Smithsonian Folkways Records. Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian\u2019s Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
Here is the list of winners of the 20th Annual IAMA:<\/p>\n
Overall Grand Prize Winner
\n\u201cTraveling Wildfire\u201d by Dom Flemons<\/p>\n
INSTRUMENTAL
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cAtlas\u201d by Karlijn Langendijk
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cRoll Over O\u2019Carolan Carolan\u2019s Concerto\u201d by Edward EJ Ouellette<\/p>\n
OPEN
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cTeaching Vincent Van Gogh\u201d by SONiA disappear fear
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cWon\u2019t Be Around\u201d by Terry Blade<\/p>\n
AAA\/ALTERNATIVE
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cLisbon\u201d by Luke James Shaffer
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cSoft on the Shoulder\u201d by Arielle Silver<\/p>\n
FOLK\/AMERICANA\/ROOTS
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cTraveling Wildfire\u201d by Dom Flemons
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cMary Dyer\u201d by Todd Hearon<\/p>\n
BEST GROUP\/DUO
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cI am a Wolf\u201d by Violet Bell
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cBreathe!\u201d by Eric Dick & Celleste<\/p>\n
BEST MALE ARTIST
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cBeautiful Universe\u201d by Francois Klark
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cBlue Canadian Rockies\u201d by Christian Parker<\/p>\n
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cThe Well\u201d by Alex Mabey
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cMemphis Moonlight\u201d by Deb Ryder<\/p>\n
COUNTRY\/BLUEGRASS
\nFIRST PRIZE: \u201cBarranco\u201d by Crowes Pasture
\nRUNNER-UP: \u201cChasin\u2019 Indigo\u201d by Carley Arrowood<\/p>\n
ABOUT IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards)
\nIAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) promotes the art and artistry of acoustic music performance and artistry. In its 21st year, IAMA has a proven track record of winners going on to get signed and hit the Billboard Charts.<\/p>\n
Ricky Kej (1st Prize Winner 2018 IAMA, instrumental category) , based out of Bengaluru, India won the Grammy last year for \u2018Divine Tides\u2019, in the best immersive audio album category.<\/p>\n