The scholarship was begun with a Birthplace of Country Music Alliance concert to honor Benny Sims, just three months before the widely loved fiddle player passed away in January, 1997. Bluegrass artists who donated their time and music to the original concert include Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, Curly Seckler, Bonnie Lou and Buster Moore and the late John Hartford.

According to Jack Tottle, Director of the Old-Time, Bluegrass and Country Music Program at ETSU, by the beginning of April 2003, subsequent annual concerts by the Kiser Tribute Committee brought the endowment to $28,447. “With the $3009 check presented by the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance and the Kiser Tribute Committee today, the amount will surpass the $30,000 mark at $31,456,” he said.

Bill Hartley, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, echoed those comments, noting that both the Leon Kiser series and Benny Sims scholarship have been great successes for the organization. He noted that for each of the past seven years, the Leon Kiser Tribute show has been a sell out. He added that, “This one project - the Leon Kiser Tribute - encapsulates the BCMA’s mission by honoring the pioneers who helped create and preserve our region’s musical legacy, providing opportunities for musicians to perform displaying the legacy that remains today, and to provide educational opportunities for the next generation to learn and continue that legacy.”

Proceeds for the scholarship fund are derived from the Annual Leon Kiser Tribute Show held at the Paramount Theater in February of each year. The Leon Kiser Tribute show honors area musicians and supporting persons who have long been instrumental in promoting and preserving Old-Time and Bluegrass music throughout our region. In its seven-year history, the Kiser Tribute Committee has honored eighteen individuals from our region.

“We are truly pleased to support the great efforts of ETSU in developing the talents of our young people” said Phil Shiplett, Chairman of the Leon Kiser Tribute Committee, “One of the primary missions of the BCMA is to keep the music alive and growing, and we can think of no better way than to help Dr. Jack Tottle, Raymond McClain and ETSU with funding for their students.”

Previous recipients of the Benny Sims Scholarship include:

Robby Spencer (Tennessee), old time style banjo player. In 2000 Robby traveled with the Tri-Cities delegation to Philadelphia for the national All-America Cities competition. He and other ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music students and alumni led the delegation its theme song "Strength In Numbers" (composed for the occasion by ETSU Bluegrass alumna, Katie Doman). Their performance was felt by many to have played a significant role in the region’s winning of the coveted All-America Cities title. His album, Tribute To Grandpa Jones, was released in 1999.

Abe Spear (North Carolina), bluegrass banjo player and singer. Currently a member of the Charlottesville, Virginia based group, King Wilkie, Abe has toured from Nashville to New England with the band. While at ETSU he exhibited his limitless appetite for music by playing with four different university bands--both bluegrass and old time--playing banjo, mandolin, bass and guitar.

Becky Buller (Minnesota), fiddler player, singer and songwriter. Winner of the annual Chris Austin songwriting competition at MerleFest 2000, honors graduate Becky Buller has performed and recorded with Appalachian Trail, and, currently with the Nashville-based group, Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike. While still a student she performed with other ETSU bluegrass musicians in a tour of France, which included a major festival, a recording session, and workshops in a number of schools. In 2000 she released her own solo compact disc album, Rest My Weary Feet, and is currently in the studio working on a new recording project. Becky also appears, singing songs of her own composition, on the CD, ETSU Bluegrass Pride.