Ameripolitan Music Awards announce nominees

The Ameripolitan Music Awards acknowledges those Ameripolitan artists whose music honors tradition while demonstrating exceptional originality, creativity, and musicianship. Through their work, Ameripolitan music is now being defined. The Awards also acknowledge Ameripolitan DJs and venues that promote these artists and their music along with honoring a living legend who has kept the tradition alive through their music and perseverance.

Ameripolitan is a new music genre with prominent roots influence. It is broken into four related subcategories: Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly and Outlaw. Artists and bands can fall into one or more of these categories. Musical and lyrical creativity is critical but to be considered Ameripolitan music, it must retain some of these traditional elements as well.

Fans will have 2 ways to vote - via the Ameripolitan 2016 App on iOS and Android devices, as well as online voting.  With the App, fans can watch and listen to 30 second sample videos and mp3s for each nominee, hear a message from Ameripolitan founder Dale Watson, place their vote and more.  Online voting will start on November 26th. Voting will conclude on December 26, 2015.  

Fans may vote in the following categories: Honky Tonk – Female, Male, Group; Western Swing – Female, Male, Group; Rockabilly – Female, Male, Group; Outlaw – Female, Male, Group; Ameripolitan DJ; Ameripolitan Venue; Ameripolitan Festival; and Ameripolitan Musician. 

Winners will be announced live at Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre during the 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at 8 p.m., with music legend and past Ameripolitan winner Ray Benson as host.  Tickets to the 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Awards are available at www.austintheatre.org.  

More info can be found at www.ameripolitan.com.

And the nominees are....

HONKY TONK CATEGORIES
Honky Tonk Group
Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angels
The Country Side of Harmonica Sam
The Starline Rhythm Boys
Jeff Woolsey and the Dancehall Kings
JP Harris and the Tough Choices

Honky Tonk Female
Miss Leslie
Kelsey Waldon
Margo Price
Brennen Leigh
Tara Dunphy

Honk Tonk Male
Jake Penrod
Charlie Thompson
Cale Tyson
Mike Dart
Jason James

WESTERN SWING CATEGORIES
Western Swing Group
Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition
JP Cyr & His Radio Wranglers
Hot Texas Swing Band
Carolyn Sills
Western Swing Authority

Western Swing Female
Carolyn Martin
Kristyn Harris
Mikki Daniel
Stacey Lee Guse
Katie Glassman

Western Swing Male
Jason Roberts
Billy Mata
Doug Moreland
Kelly Spinks
Coby Carter

ROCKABILLY CATEGORIES
Rockabilly Group
The Neon Stars
The Bellfuries
Don Diego Trio
The B-Stars
Nathan Belt & The Buckles

Rockabilly Female
Marti Brom
Sara Dee
Emmy Lou
Lara Hope
BaileyDee

Rockabilly Male
Jinx Jones
Chris Casello
Wayne Hancock
Scotty Baker
Paul Pigat

OUTLAW CATEGORIES
Outlaw Group
The Hillbilly Casino
Dallas Moore Band
The Ponderosa Aces
Jason Boland & The Stragglers
Eric Strickland and the B-Sides

Outlaw Female
Darci Carlson
Rachel Brooke
Bonnie Montgomery
Tommy Ash
Jesse Lafser

Outlaw Male
Whitey Morgan
Roger Alan Wade
Cash O'Riley
Scott Biram
Bloodshot Bill

VENUE
Icehouse Theater, Selma NC
Luckenbach, Luckenbach TX
Sportsmen's Tavern, Buffalo NY
Lil' Red's Longhorn Saloon, Fort Worth TX
Knuckleheads, Kansas City MO
The White Horse, Austin TX
Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn NY
The Thirsty Beaver Saloon, Charlotte NC
The Nashville Palace, Nashville TN
Don the Beachcomber, Huntington Beach CA

FESTIVAL
Bristol Rhythm and Roots
Viva Las Vegas
Nashville Boogie
San Angelo Cowboy Gathering
New England Shake Up

DJ
Woody Adkins, KOPN 89.5 FM Columbia MO
Justin Trevino, KEQX 89.7 FM Dublin TX
Gordon “Big G” Ames KERV 1230 Kerrville, TX
Timothy Benton, KSVY 91.3 FM Sonoma Valley, CA
Johnny Knoxville and Roger Alan Wade Outlaw Country, Sirius/XM Radio
James Riley SURF 97.3 FM Flager Beach FL
Eddie White, 2RRR 88.5 FM Sydney Australia
Ted Branson, KOOP 91.7FM Austin, TX
Elizabeth Cook, Outlaw Country, Sirius/XM Radio
"Cousin" Lynn Joiner, WHRB 95.3 FM, Cambridge, MA

MUSICIAN
Joel Paterson
Chris Casello
Jason Roberts
Paul Pigat
Redd Volkaert
Tjarko Jeen
Rose Sinclair
Richard Helsley
Floyd Domino
Lisa Pankratz
Earl "Pool" Ball
Jim Loessberg
Chris Scruggs
Bobby Trimble
Dave Biller

The musical impact of Johnny Cash lives on

Ten years ago today, the music world lost a huge voice and patriot of traditional country music. When Johnny Cash passed away on September 12, 2003, a large void was placed on the hearts of music fans. No one had made an impact on not only country music, but other genres.

Born in 1932, Johnny Cash was one of seven children to parents Ray and Carrie Rivers Cash. The son of a cotton farmer, he worked alongside his siblings laboring at the hard toil. During those times in the fields, Cash would learn music from his mom who would sing hymns and other songs.

Johnny Cash's journey would lead him to Detroit and then in the U.S. Air Force, where he met his first wife Vivian Liberto. Cash was sent to Germany, where he played in his first band. When he came back to the United States, he and Vivian settled in Memphis. Cash, along with Marshall Grant, Luther Perkins, and Red Kernodle formed The Tennessee Three and recorded in the infamous Sun Records studio.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three would go on to produce hit singles that are still strong memories in country music fans souls. Country music standards were being set with the unique sound made by the group. From "Cry, Cry, Cry" to "Folsom Prison Blues," to "I Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire," there was a certain soulful country sound found nowhere else.

Much has been written and said about Johnny Cash's drug and alcohol induced past, as well as the well-publicized love story between him and June Carter. Carter would marry Cash in 1968 and she would stand by his side until her death just months prior to his own.

There is a hint of mystery in the life and music of Johnny Cash and his popularity, even years after his death. His infamous home would burn down during renovations, as though that no one else could ever life in the house that Cash built. His name would be name checked in songs and new generations are discovering his music. Fans have paid tribute by wearing shirts with his photo, or even getting tattoos of his portrait or simply the word Cash. These days, fans can flock to Nashville and visit the Johnny Cash Museum and Store. They can also pay their respects to Johnny and June Carter Cash.

In honor of his memory, the Cash Family will be holding a candlelight vigil as they honor the memory of Johnny Cash. It will be held at the Hendersonville Memory Gardens at 353 Johnny Cash Parkway in Hendersonville, Tenn. The event will start at 9:00 p.m. central time.