The blogosphere is abuzz about Lonesome River Band leader Sammy Shelor, who has won the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music. The prize — which carries a $50,000 cash grant — is chosen by a group of premier bluegrass talents, including Steve Martin, Earl Scruggs, Pete Wernick, Tony Trishchka, Bela Fleck and others. Shelor has been awarded the IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year four times, and has been nominated alongside the Lonesome River Band multiple times. He joined the Lonesome River Band in 1990 and has been the band’s leader since 2000. He has his own signature Sammy Shelor banjo fingerpicks and a signature model banjo produced by Huber Banos.

Congrats Sammy Shelor!