Doyle Lawson Receives National Heritage Fellowship

Bristol resident Doyle Lawson is named a National Heritage Fellow for 2006.

Doyle Lawson first picked up the mandolin at the age of 11. Now, fifty years later, he’s being recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts for his contributions to bluegrass and gospel music – an honor he never expected.

“I was stunned and speechless,” he said. “It’s still kind of hard for me to think about it.”

Lawson was one of 11 recipients of the National Heritage Fellowships, which the National Endowment for the Arts describes as the “country’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.”

He’ll receive an award of $20,000, something he calls an “added bonus.”

“Just the fact that they would recognize my contributions and award me with that award is something I never thought about,” he said.

Lawson, who grew up near Kingsport, has toured worldwide with his band, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, since they formed in 1979.

His father sang in an a cappella quartet when he was a boy, which was “a great influence on me growing up,” he said.  “Since I can remember, I’ve loved the sound of music,” he said. “I’ve grown up in a region here which is so rich in acoustic music.”

The public nominates fellowship recipients, who are reviewed by a nine-member panel. Lawson was selected out of 217 nominations.

In September, he will head to Washington, D.C., to attend a banquet at the Library of Congress and an awards presentation on Capitol Hill. A concert is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2006.

Article courtesy of Bristol Herald Courier

Learn More About the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship Program

Read a Biography of Doyle Lawson