SIDNEY — A local man has been nominated for Songwriter of the Year by members of the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) and other bluegrass music fans.
The Sidney Daily News reported in August that Tim Jamison, of rural Shelby County near Conover, had contracted with Big Country Bluegrass, who recorded Jamison’s song, “Country Livin’,” and titled their album with the same name.
Now, Jamison is one of six nominees in his category of the 2016 Bluegrass Music Awards. “Country Livin’,” the album, has also been honored with a nomination for Bluegrass Album of the Year. Winners will be announced during the annual SPBGMA convention in Nashville, Feb. 4-6.
“(The nomination) seemed to come just out of the blue,” Jamison said Monday. “Eddie Gill, the lead singer of (Big Country Bluegrass) called me (to let me know).”
Stephanie Jones, of SPBGMA, said that the organization mails blank ballots to its members and places advertisements in bluegrass magazines inviting fans to nominate their favorite performers, writers, radio stations and songs.
“The six who get the most nominations are the nominees for the awards,” she said. Winners are selected by popular vote of people at the convention who buy tickets to the full weekend’s or Saturday night’s performances.
“The convention will have 3,000 to 4,500 people,” she noted.
“It’s one of the world’s biggest get-togethers in bluegrass music,” added Jamison. “Just being nominated is pretty exciting, even if you don’t win.”
On Jan. 25, “Country Livin’,” the song, had reached No. 11 on the Billboard charts. By Jan. 27 Bluegrass Unlimited had listed it at No. 9.
“I feel it’ll go higher. Last week it was No. 2 on the Bluegrass Today chart,” Jamison said. He plans to connect with publishers and representatives of record labels at the conventions.
“I’ve got some songs out,” he said. But he’d like to find performers for more.
As was reported in August, Jamison, 55, has been writing old-time country music for as long as he can remember. A graduate of Miami East High School and a plumber by trade, he has worked hard to get his songs heard by recording artists. He records demos by singing them and accompanying himself on guitar. Then, he attends concerts and approaches artists to pitch his music.
“I tell them who I am and what I do. You’re going to have to have good PR. Everywhere I’ve got, it’s from me and my mouth. I’m not bashful,” Jamison said in August. “You don’t just write a song and give it to someone and they do it. For anyone to write a song and have someone record it, it’s almost like winning the lottery. I’m starting to get on CDs with the big boys.”
And soon, bluegrass voters may just name Jamison one of the big boys, himself.
