Gary Brewer is an American guitarist and banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for leading the Kentucky Ramblers, and for staging the annual Strictly Bluegrass festival.

Biography

Brewer was raised in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

. His grandfather Finley J. Brewer Sr. performed with the Carter Family, and his father Finley J. Brewer Jr. (aka Jim Brewer) has played since 1950. Sometimes Jim haa performed with his son Gary and Gary’s sons Wayne and Mason. Brewer played rock music until he began playing acoustic guitar while recuperating from an auto accident. That was when he and two friends formed the bluegrass group Kentucky Ramblers in 1979. In 1994, Brewer was invited to participate in Bill and James Monroe’s “Father and Son” Winter Tour. Released in 1995, Brewer's album ''Guitar'' also features

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, and

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on a set of instrumentals. Brewer released ''Jimmy Martin Songs For Dinner'' in 1999, with assistance from J. D. Crowe,

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, Terry Eldredge, Terry Smith, and Art Stamper. The title song on this tribute to

Jimmy Martin James Henry Martin (August 10, 1927 – May 14, 2005) was an American bluegrass singer and musician, known as the "King of Bluegrass". Early years Martin was born in Sneedville, Tennessee, United States, and was raised in the hard farming l ...

was written by

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specifically for this album.

Strictly Bluegrass Festival

In 1989, Brewer worked with the Louisville mayor's office to launch the Strictly Bluegrass bluegrass festival held at the Iroquois Amphitheater and later moved to

New Albany, Indiana New Albany is a city in New Albany Township, Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River, opposite Louisville, Kentucky. The population was 37,841 as of the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Floyd County. It ...

Awards and recognition

In 2000, Brewer was nominated as a finalist twice by the

International Bluegrass Music Association The International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA, is a trade association to promote bluegrass music. Formed in 1985, IBMA established its first headquarters in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1988 they announced plans to create the International ...

: for Guitar Player of the Year, and his song ''Jimmy Martin Songs for Dinner'' for Song of the Year.

Personal life

Brewer's nickname is "Stretch", and his record label is Stretchgrass Productions.

Discography

Solo recordings

* 1995: ''Guitar'' ( Copper Creek)

Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers

* 1986: ''Thinking of Home'' (Turquoise) as The Kentucky Ramblers * 1990: ''Down Home Memories'' (Copper Creek) * 1992: ''Goin' Back to Kentucky'' (Copper Creek) * 1993: ''Nearing Jordan's Crossing'' (Copper Creek) * 1994: ''Money to Ride the Train'' (Copper Creek) * 1996: ''Live in Europe'' (Copper Creek) * 1997: ''Memories of Home'' (Cowan Creek) * 1998: ''Kentucky Headlines and Heartbreak'' EP (self-released) * 1998: ''Heaven's Jubilee'' (Cowan Creek) * 1999: ''Jimmy Martin Songs For Dinner'' (louisvillemusic.com) * 2001: ''Home Brew'' (Copper Creek) * 2014: ''Homestretch'' (Stretch Grass)

Gary and Jim Brewer

* 1991: ''Two Of A Kind'' (Copper Creek)

Pap Brewer with Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers

* 1994: ''Finley J. Brewer, Sr. from Roan Mountain, TN'' ( June Appal Recordings)

Gary Brewer and Phil Sexton

* 1999: ''The 5th Generation'' (June Appal)

Music instruction

* 1998: ''Gary Brewer, Guitar: Bluegrass Guitar at Its Best'' (

Mel Bay Melbourne Earl Bay (February 25, 1913 – May 14, 1997), known professionally as Mel Bay, was an American musician and publisher best known for his series of music education books. His '' Encyclopedia of Guitar Chords'', first published in 197 ...

)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brewer, Gary 1965 births Living people Country musicians from Kentucky American country singer-songwriters 20th-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from Kentucky