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MUSIC PEOPLE
NEWS
APRIL 2024 Volume 55 Number 4 Issue 650
Editor Duncan Warwick
Contributors David Allan , Janet Aspley , Donnie Ayers , Craig Baguley , Jonny Brick , Tony Byworth , Larry Delaney , Don Cusic , Julie Flaskett , Michael Hingston , Stan Hitchcock , Tony Ives , Sianna King , Spencer Leigh , John Lomax III , Bryce Martin , Adrian Peel , Paul Riley , Alex Rossi , Chris Smith , Tom Travis , Walt Trott , Jack Watkins New release consultant : Steve Tidbury
Assistant editor Kelly Gregory
Photographers Patricia Presley , Barry Dixon
Advertising Kelly Gregory - kelly . cmpcountry @ gmail . com
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Kaitlin Butts and Summer Dean
Ray Benson
AMERIPOLITAN WINNERS
A fter several years in Memphis and
a pandemic-enforced hiatus , The
Ameripolitan Awards returned to its original ( and spiritual ) home in Austin , Texas for 2024 .
The Ameripolitans have continued to grow since their inception by Dale Watson in response to Blake Shelton ’ s comment referring to fans of classic country as “ old farts and jackasses ” and Watson himself admitted “ I thought it would be a one shot deal … but it ain ’ t ” as he opened this year ’ s event ; its biggest yet .
The venue was a step up as the awards moved to the Moody theatre in downtown Austin ( the home of Austin City Limits ) with showcases hosted at Austin ’ s
HONKY TONK FEMALE KAITLIN BUTTS
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HONKY TONK MALE STERLING DRAKE
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HONKY TONK GROUP TEDDY & THE ROUGH
RIDERS _____
WESTERN SWING FEMALE BRENNEN LEIGH
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WESTERN SWING MALE KYLE ELDRIDGE
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WESTERN SWING GROUP CAROLYN SILLS
COMBO _____
ROCKABILLY FEMALE MOZZY DEE
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ROCKABILLY MALE LES GREENE
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ROCKABILLY GROUP MESSER CHUPS
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OUTLAW FEMALE KELSEY WALDON
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OUTLAW MALE BILLY DON BURNS
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OUTLAW GROUP RECKLESS KELLY
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MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR JASON D WILLIAMS –
PIANO _____
VENUE OF THE YEAR GRUENE HALL , NEW
BRAUNFELS , TX
Wyndham Garden Inn .
A highlight of the awards show was a performance by Monte Warden , Lloyd Maines , and Jamie Lin Wilson paying tribute to Charlie Robison who passed away last year by singing his masterpiece My Hometown . Alvin Crow and Dale Watson also paid tribute to James M White , the late owner of the Broken Spoke .
Other performances included original Texas Tornados members Augie Myers and Flaco Jimenez who received the Founder of the Sound award . Asleep At The Wheel frontman Ray Benson was awarded the “ Master Award ” by steel player and producer Lloyd Maines .
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