Ron Stewart
Born (1968-12-11) December 11, 1968 (age 55)
Paoli, Indiana
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin
Years active1977–present
Websiteronniestewart.com

Ron Stewart is an American multi-instrumentalist in the bluegrass tradition. He plays fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and has won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award for Fiddle Player of the Year in 2000 and Banjo Player of the Year in 2011.

Biography

Early years

Ron Stewart was born on December 11, 1968, in Paoli, Indiana. Stewart began playing fiddle at age 3 and at age 9, Stewart made several guest appearances with Lester Flatt, and appeared on one of his live albums.[1] From 1977 until 1990, Stewart ("Little Ronnie Stewart"), played in the Stewart Family Band with his parents.[2]

Recording and performing career

Curly Seckler

Stewart began working with Curly Seckler in 1989, and recorded two albums with him: Tribute to Lester Flatt and Bluegrass Gospel.[3]

Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers

From 1991 until 1994, Stewart was a member of Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers. Other members included Bill Colwell (mandolin) and Dale "Punch" Taylor (bass).[4]

Lynn Morris Band

From 1997 until 2003, Stewart played banjo, guitar, and fiddle with the Lynn Morris Band. The band included Morris (guitar, vocals, banjo), Marshall Wilborn (bass), Jesse Brock (mandolin), and Stewart (fiddle).[5]

Time Stands Still

In 2001, Stewart released Time Stands Still, his first solo album in 22 years. Lynn Morris produced, and guest artists included Dudley Connell (guitar), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Rob Ickes (resophonic guitar), and Marshall Wilborn (bass).[6]

J. D. Crowe and the New South

In 2003, Stewart joined J. D. Crowe and the New South, which also included Rickey Wasson (guitar, vocals), Dwight McCall (mandolin, vocals), and Harold Nixon (bass).[7]

Dan Tyminski Band

Stewart joined the Dan Tyminski Band in 2007 along with Adam Steffey (mandolin), Barry Bales (bass), and Justin Moses (resonator guitar).[8][9]

Longview

2008, Stewart recorded and performed with Longview, along with Marshall Wilborn (bass), Don Rigsby (mandolin), James King (vocals), Lou Reid (guitar), and J. D. Crowe (banjo) for the album Deep In The Mountains.[10]

The Boxcars

In 2009, Stewart formed the Boxcars with Adam Steffey (mandolin), John Bowman (guitar, fiddle, banjo), Keith Garrett (guitar, vocals), and Harold Nixon (bass). 2011 IBMA Emerging Artist and Instrumental Group of the Year.[11]

The Seldom Scene

In 2017, the Boxcars disbanded, and Stewart joined the Seldom Scene, replacing Rickie Simpkins.[12]

Awards

Stewart won the IBMA award for Fiddle Player of the Year in 2000 and the IBMA Award for Banjo Player of the Year in 2011.[13]

Instruments

Warren Yates produces the Ron Stewart Signature Series Banjo, designed to look and sound like a 1933 banjo.[14]

Stewart and his father Frank re-voice, restore, and repair acoustic stringed instruments, and they build violins under the name F&R Stewart Violins.[15]

Personal life

Stewart has a ranch called Sleepy Valley Ranch on which Stewart and his wife built a log house from trees on the ranch in 2000. Stewart also operates Sleepy Valley Barn, a recording studio.[16]

Discography

Solo albums

With Curly Seckler with Willis Spears

With Gary Brewer

The Lynn Morris Band

With J. D. Crowe and the New South

With Longview

With the Boxcars

As producer

Also appears on

1985 - 2001

2002 - 2004

2005 - 2009

2010 - present

Music instruction

References

  1. ^ Scott Anderson (February 1, 2013). "Ron Stewart Interview". Banjo Newsletter. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  2. ^ Godbey, Marty (September 1, 2011). Crowe on the Banjo: The Music Life of J.D. Crowe. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252093531. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  3. ^ Parsons, Penny (May 15, 2016). Foggy Mountain Troubadour: The Life and Music of Curly Seckler. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252040108. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Mark Clark (October 1, 1994). "Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers". Louisville Music News. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  5. ^ Steven Stone. "The Lynn Morris Band: Shape Of A Tear". Enjoy the Music. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  6. ^ Trev Warner (November 1, 2002). "Time Stands Still – Ron Stewart". Country Music Capital News. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  7. ^ Baxter, David (February 28, 2007). "J.D. Crowe & The New South - Lefty's Old Guitar". No Depression. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  8. ^ DeYoung, Bill (July 26, 2011). "Where the Bluegrass Grows". Connect Savannah. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "The Dan Tyminski Band On Mountain Stage". NPR Music. November 18, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  10. ^ Thompson, Richard (January 29, 2008). "Longview – Deep In The Mountains". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  11. ^ "The Boxcars – Looking to Keep On Track". Bluegrass Unlimited. November 1, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  12. ^ David Morris (November 13, 2017). "Ron Stewart lands with Seldom Scene". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  13. ^ "Recipient History". IBMA. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  14. ^ Robinson, Ragan (July 22, 2008). "Strings attached: Banjo maker hits all the right notes". Morganton News Herald. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  15. ^ Lawless, John (January 3, 2014). "F&R Stewart Violins". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  16. ^ Stephens, Larry (October 26, 2010). ""The Boxcars" by The Boxcars". The Lonesome Road Review. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  17. ^ "Ronnie Stewart-Talkin' Fiddle Blues". Bill's Blog. September 17, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  18. ^ Larry Stephens. "Ron Stewart: Time Stands Still". Country Standard Time. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  19. ^ "J.D. Crowe & New South to Release New Album Oct. 10". CMT. August 8, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  20. ^ Baxter, David (April 30, 2008). "Longview - Deep In The Mountains". No Depression. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  21. ^ Keith Lawrence. "The Boxcars, "The Boxcars," Mountain Home Records. 13 tracks". Bluegrass Notes. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  22. ^ Kimmel, Robert (May 7, 2013). "The Boxcars Merge Modesty, Music on It's Just a Road". CMT Edge. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  23. ^ "Croweology: The Study of J.D. Crowe's Musical Legacy by Rickey Wasson". Truegrass. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  24. ^ Lawless, John (July 12, 2011). "Ron Stewart – The Fiddlers of Flatt & Scruggs". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 27, 2017.

External links

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