The Academy of Western Artists, based in Gene Autry, Oklahoma, is an organization that honors individuals who have preserved and perpetuated the heritage of the American cowboy, through rodeo, music, poetry, campfire and chuckwagon cooking, and western and ranch clothing and gear.  

In 1996, the academy began making annual awards at a gathering in Fort Worth, Texas, specifically to recognize the performers and artisans active in the contemporary cowboy and western movement. The awards have been received by more than 500 individuals in a variety of categories.[

This years list of the top five nominees contains the name of two local musicians; Kim Blakey and Will Banister.

Congratulations to both of our home grown talented musicians!

 

Academy of Western Artists Top Five Music Nominees

YOUNG ARTIST
TOP FIVE AWA 2017
…Wyatt Aleman
…Hailee Nixon
…Abby Payne
…Jack Phillips
…Leah Sawyer
PURE COUNTRY MALE
…Gary Ash
…Chuck Cusimano
…Bobby Marquez
…Jake Penrod
…Jeff Woolsey
PURE COUNTRY FEMALE
…Leddy Bragg
…Loraine Chavana
…Janice Maynard
…Myra Rolen
…Cathy Whitten
PURE COUNTRY DUO/GROUP
…Rocky King Band
…Brady Honeycutt Band
…Landon Dodd/Dancehall Drifters
…Jeff Woolsey/Dancehall Kings
…Will Banister/Modern Day Ramblers
PURE COUNTRY ALBUM
…Teea Goans-Swing, Shuffle And Sway
…Steve Griggs-Fort Worth To Bakersfield
…Richard Lynch-Mending Fences
…Leslie Tom-Leslie Tom
…Justin Trevino-A Salute To Ray Price And The Cherokee Cowboys
PURE COUNTRY SONG
…Will Banister-What A Way To Live
…Brad Howard-Girls From The Liquor Store
…Dennis Ledbetter-Tell Me I’m Wrong
…Jay Parr-Coming Soon
…Cathy Whitten-Please Blue Moon
WESTERN SWING MALE
…Doug Boggs
…Bobby Flores
…Billy Mata
…Leon Rausch
…Paul Schlesinger
WESTERN SWING FEMALE
…Susie Blue
…Leddy Bragg
…Cheryl Deseree
…Stacey Lee Guse
…Kristyn Harris
WESTERN SWING DUO/GROUP
…Rocky King Band
…Bobby Flores/Yellow Rose Band
…Brady Bowen/Swing Country
…Western Flyers
…Rick & The All Star Ramblers
WESTERN SWING ALBUM
…Hot Texas Swing Band-Off The Beaten Path
…Kim Blakey-Dancin On Daddy’s Boots
…Rick & All Star Ramblers-Welcome To Our Vermont
…Bret Raper-Somewhere Near Austin
…Leon Rausch-Time Changes Everything
WESTERN SWING SONG
…Garry Ash-Swing Me Back Home
…Hot Texas Swing Band-Ain’t Dead Yet
…Kim Blakey-Bucket List
…Susie Blue/Lonesome Fellas-A Thousand Good Nights
…Cherokee Maidens/Sycamore Swing-Longing For Tulsa And You
INSTRUMENTALIST
…Jake Hooker
…Junior Knight
…Joey McKenzie
…Rose Sinclair
…Hank Singer
WESTERN MUSIC MALE
…Rex Allen Jr
…Dennis Jay
…Bob Marshall
…Rick Pickren
…Matt Robertson
WESTERN MUSIC FEMALE
…Almeda Bradshaw
…Mikki Daniel
…Kristyn Harris
…Carol Markstrom
…Jeneve Rose Mitchell
WESTERN MUSIC DUO/ GROUP
…Junction 5-12
…High Country Cowboys
…Hanson Family
…Sisters Of The Silver Sage
…The Cowboy Way
WESTERN MUSIC ALBUM
…High Country Cowboys-Cowboy
…Dan McCorison-Montana Moon
…Donnie Poindexter-Cowboy Life
…Matt Robertson-Makin’ History
…Cowboy Way-Cowboy Way
WESTERN MUSIC SONG
…Panhandle Cowboys-Coyote Swing
…Dennis Jay-A Cowboy Tune
…Dan McCorison-Montana Moon
…Gary/Jean Prescott-He Always Rode Good Horses
…3 Trails West-Silent Trails