Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

For those of you that need a refresher, Ameripolitan is the moniker given to “real” country music. It encompasses such categories as honky tonk, outlaw, rockabilly, and western swing. All of the four food groups are represented. These awards are very important because this is the ONLY forum to recognize the men and women that have, and are, dedicating their lives to preserving these forms of music. This isn’t a revivalist movement at all because that would mean that these musical genres went somewhere. Not true. They have been here all along, it just needs to be returned back to the people. 

Here are the nominees for Rockabilly Male 2018:

Levi Dexter  Levi’s main influences include Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Elvis Presley, which is reflected in his musicians popular among the 1960s British rocker subculture. Levi went solo in 1979  Levi Dexter went solo and is still performing rockabilly music and was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame.

Bloodshot Bill Bloodshot Bill started in his hometown of Montreal around 1998, with just a guitar and a stomp board. Since then, he’s had over 30 releases throughout Europe and North America. Touring constantly, he has collaborated with such acts as The 5678’s, Jon Spencer, King Khan, beat poet Charley Plymell, Mark Sultan, Deke Dickerson, and Shannon Shaw.

Josh Sorheim  Josh is an exceptionally skilled guitarist, lap steel, and piano player with the added bonus of a superb voice.  Josh plays 1950s rock n roll infused rhythm and blues. Josh and his band released their first album in 2016. Since then, Josh and company have been honing their skills on the road.

Al Dual  Al Dual is a guitarist, composer, songwriter and performer. Al was a session musician and played a side role until 2002 when he traveled to Nashville to study American music, especially country. In October of 2017 he released his first solo album EP 7 ” called “Blue’s Back In Town”.

Art Adams  Cherry Records released Art’s first 45 “Indian Joe” b/w “Rock Crazy Baby” in the late 50’s. Despite the success of these two singles, Adams quit the music business in 1968. Little did he know that during the next 30 years, copies of Rock Crazy Baby would circulate around the world, making him a legend.

Ameripolitan Award Rockabilly Male Playlist