Lunsford Award

Bobby Hicks, photo courtesy of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Artist Directory

The Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award has been given out since 1980 to individuals who have made significant contributions to the folk, musical, and/or dance traditions of the southern mountain region.

The 2022 Lunsford Award goes to Bobby Hicks. Hicks is an internationally-known fiddler. He played bass and fiddle with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys for many years and appeared on some of the band’s monumental recordings of fiddle tunes, including “Scotland” and “Big Mon.” Hicks also played with Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Earl Scruggs, J. D. Crowe and the New South, and other greats. Among his many recordings are five Grammy-winning releases (one with Bill Monroe and four with Ricky Skaggs), three gold albums, one platinum album (Ricky Skaggs’ Highways and Heartaches), and the legendary Bluegrass Album Band records. He has also influenced countless local musicians as a regular at Zuma‘s Thursday night jams.

Past Winners

2021: David Holt

2020: Festival was held virtually, due to the pandemic, so no award was given
2019 Loretta Freeman

2018 Brian Hunter

2017 Jeff Atkins

2016 Carol Rifkin

2015 Peter Gott

2014 Nick Hallman

2013 George Banks

2012 Boyd Black / Kathryn Parham (Lunsford Youth Award)

2011 Paul Crouch

2010 David Shelton

2009 Leonard Hollifield

2008 Laura Boosinger

2007 Vernon and Ruth Riddle

2007 Doug Phillips

2006 Jerry Sutton

2005 Joe Penland / Donna Ray Norton, Denise Norton O’Sullivan , & Melanie Rice (Lunsford Youth Award)

2004 Bobby McMillon

2004 Loyal Jones (Minstrel of the Appalachians Award)

2003 Marilyn McMinn-McCredie

2003 Mrs. Nelia Hyatt

2002 Terry Freeman

2002 Marvin Faulkner

2001 Ralph Lewis

2001 Vickie Hensley

2000 R. Kirk Randleman

2000 Buddy Davis

1999 Lena Jean Ray

1999 Roger Howell / Josh Goforth (Lunsford Youth Award)

1998 Bailey Mountain Cloggers

1998 Bailey Mountain “Square” Dancers

1998 Don Pedi

1998 Jerry Adams

1997 Sheila Kay Adams

1996 Gary Spence

1996 Hilary Dirlam

1995 Luke Smathers

1994 Johnny Rhymer

1993 Richard Dillingham

1993 Wayne Pressley

1992 Ralph Fox

1991 Danny Johnson

1990 Carroll Best

1989 Arvil Freeman

1988 Ernest “Red” Ivester

1988 Ray Hutchinson

1987 Dellie Norton

1987 Mack Snoderly

1986 Thelma Parham

1986 Chub Parham

1986 Lamar Lunsford

1986 Quay Smathers

1985 Gordon Freeman

1984 Obray Ramsey

1983 Ed Howard

1982 Carl Chandler

1982 Betty Smith

1981 Byard Ray
1980:Tommy Hunter