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 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 ...

(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 Lester Raymond Flatt (June 19, 1914 – May 11, 1979) was an American bluegrass (music), bluegrass guitarist and mandolinist, best known for his collaboration with banjo picker Earl Scruggs in the duo Flatt and Scruggs. Flatt's career spanned ...

, and appeared on one of his live albums. From 1977 until 1990, Stewart ("Little Ronnie Stewart"), played in the Stewart Family Band with his parents.

Recording and performing career

Curly Seckler

Stewart began working with

Curly Seckler John Ray Sechler (December 25, 1919 – December 27, 2017), known professionally as Curly Seckler, was an American bluegrass musician. He played with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in their band, Foggy Mountain Boys, from 1949 to 1962, as well as ...

in 1989, and recorded two albums with him: ''Tribute to Lester Flatt'' and ''Bluegrass Gospel''.

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).

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).

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 Dudley Dale Connell (born February 18, 1956) is an American singer in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, and The Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Connell grew up in Rockville, Mar ...

(guitar), Sammy Shelor (banjo),

Rob Ickes Rob Ickes (; born 1967) is an American dobro (resonator guitar) player in San Francisco, California. Ickes moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined the contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in 1994. He currently collaborate ...

(resophonic guitar), and

Marshall Wilborn Marshall Wilborn is an American bluegrass music bass player and composer best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and the Lynn Morris Band. Biography Early years Wilborn was raised ...

(bass).

J. D. Crowe and the New South

In 2003, Stewart joined

J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and Bluegrass music, bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South ...

and

the New South New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with the ...

, which also included Rickey Wasson (guitar, vocals), Dwight McCall (mandolin, vocals), and Harold Nixon (bass).

Dan Tyminski Band

Stewart joined the Dan Tyminski Band in 2007 along with

Adam Steffey Adam Carter Steffey (born November 24, 1965) is an American mandolin player, best known for playing in the bluegrass and old-time styles. He spent time as a member of bands such as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Mountain Heart, Lonesome Riv ...

(mandolin),

Barry Bales Barry Turner Bales (born August 23, 1969) is an American musician best known as the long time bass player and harmony vocalist for Alison Krauss, Alison Krauss and Union Station. He has been in the band since 1990. The 2012 Grammy was awarded as ...

(bass), and Justin Moses (resonator guitar).

Longview

2008, Stewart recorded and performed with Longview, along with

(bass),

Don Rigsby Donald Glen Rigsby is an American mandolinist, fiddler, guitarist, vocalist, and producer in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo career, and for his work with the Lonesome River Band and Longview. Biography Early years Growing up ...

(mandolin), James King (vocals),

Lou Reid Louis Reid Pyrtle (born September 13, 1954) is an American bluegrass singer and musician, bandleader of The Seldom Scene. Biography Early life Reid grew up on a tobacco farm in Moore Springs, North Carolina. His father also worked as a constr ...

(guitar), and

(banjo) for the album ''Deep In The Mountains''.

The Boxcars

In 2009, Stewart formed the Boxcars with

(mandolin), John Bowman (guitar, fiddle, banjo), Keith Garrett (guitar, vocals), and Harold Nixon (bass). 2011 IBMA Emerging Artist and Instrumental Group of the Year.

The Seldom Scene

In 2017, the Boxcars disbanded, and Stewart joined

the Seldom Scene The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom ...

, replacing

Rickie Simpkins Rickie Hal Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Simpkins was raised in Christ ...

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.

Instruments

Warren Yates produces the Ron Stewart Signature Series Banjo, designed to look and sound like a 1933 banjo. Stewart and his father Frank re-voice, restore, and repair acoustic stringed instruments, and they build violins under the name F&R Stewart Violins.

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.

Discography

Solo albums

* 1979: ''Talkin' Fiddle Blues'' (Programme Audio) as Fiddlin' Ronnie Stewart * 1982: ''Walking In The Moonlight'' ( Old Homestead) as Fiddlin' Ronnie Stewart and the Stewart Family * 2001: ''Time Stands Still'' ( Rounder)

With
Curly Seckler John Ray Sechler (December 25, 1919 – December 27, 2017), known professionally as Curly Seckler, was an American bluegrass musician. He played with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in their band, Foggy Mountain Boys, from 1949 to 1962, as well as ...
with Willis Spears

* 1989: ''Tribute to Lester Flatt'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

) * 1989: ''Bluegrass Gospel'' (Rich-R-Tone)

With
Gary Brewer 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. H ...

* 1996: ''Guitar'' ( Copper Creek) * 1996: ''Nearing Jordan's Crossing'' (Copper Creek)

The Lynn Morris Band

* 1999: ''You'll Never Be the Sun'' (Rounder) * 2003: ''Shape of a Tear'' (Rounder)

With
J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and Bluegrass music, bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South ...
and the
New South New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with th ...

* 2007: ''Lefty's Old Guitar'' (Rounder)

With Longview

* 2008: ''Deep in the Mountains'' (Rounder)

With the Boxcars

* 2010: ''The Boxcars'' ( Mountain Home) * 2012: ''All In'' (Mountain Home) * 2013: ''It’s Just a Road'' (Mountain Home) * 2016: ''Familiar With The Ground'' (Mountain Home)

As producer

* 2004: John Lawless - ''Five & Dime'' (Copper Creek) * 2004: Jeff Parker - ''Two Roads to Travel'' (Lonesome Day) * 2005: Darrell Webb - ''Behind the Scenes'' (Lonesome Day) * 2007: Tommy Webb - ''Eastern Kentucky'' (Kindred) * 2008: Rickey Wasson - ''From the Heart and Soul'' ( Rural Rhythm) * 2009: Tommy Webb - ''Heartland'' (Rural Rhythm)

Also appears on

1985 - 2001

* 1985:

Tony Trischka Anthony Cattell Trischka (born January 16, 1949) is an American five-string banjo player. Sandra Brennan wrote of him in 2020: "One of the most influential modern banjoists, both in several forms of bluegrass music and occasionally in jazz and ...

- ''Hill Country'' (Rounder) * 1997: Chris Jones - ''No One But You'' (Rebel) * 1998:

Hazel Dickens Hazel Jane Dickens (June 1, 1925 – April 22, 2011) was an American bluegrass singer, songwriter, double bassist, guitarist and banjo player. Her music was characterized not only by her high, lonesome singing style, but also by her provoca ...

- ''Heart of a Singer'' (Rounder) * 1999: Chris Jones - ''Follow Your Heart'' (Rebel) * 1999:

- ''Root 5: Bass and Banjo'' ( Pinecastle) * 2000: Front Range - ''Silent Ground'' ( Sugar Hill) * 2000: Chris Jones - ''Just A Drifter'' (Rebel) * 2000:

- ''Empty Old Mailbox'' (Sugar Hill) * 2000: Herschel Sizemore - ''My Style'' (Hay Holler) * 2000:

Dan Tyminski Daniel John Tyminski (born June 20, 1967) is an American bluegrass singer-songwriter and musician. He is a former member of Alison Krauss's band Union Station, and has released four solo albums, ''Carry Me Across the Mountain'' (2000) on the ...

- ''Carry Me Across the Mountain'' ( Doobie Shea) * 2000:

Rhonda Vincent Rhonda Lea Vincent (born July 13, 1962) is an American Bluegrass music, bluegrass singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Vincent's music career began when she was a child in her family's band The Sally Mountain Show, and it has spanne ...

- ''Back Home Again'' (Rounder) * 2001: Audie Blaylock - ''Trains Are the Only Way to Fly'' (self-released) * 2001:

Dale Ann Bradley Dale Ann Bradley is an American bluegrass musician. She is a six-time (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2021) Female Bluegrass Vocalist of the Year, a distinction given by the International Bluegrass Music Association. She has released music bo ...

- ''Cumberland River Dreams'' (Doobie Shea) * 2001: Mike Burns - ''Walk the Water's Edge'' (North Co Music) * 2001: Sally Jones - ''Love Hurts'' (self-released) * 2001: Kathy Kallick - ''My Mother's Voice'' (Copper Creek) * 2001:

- ''Grateful'' (Mountain Home) * 2001: Ginny Hawker - ''Letters From My Father'' (Rounder) * 2001: Rhonda Vincent - ''The Storm Still Rages'' (Rounder)

2002 - 2004

* 2002: Chris Jones - ''Few Words'' (Rebel) * 2002: The Special Consensus - ''Route 10'' (Pinecastle) * 2002: Ernie Thacker - ''Chill of Lonesome'' (Doobie Shea) * 2002: Josh Williams - ''Now That You're Gone'' (Pinecastle) * 2002: Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge - ''Come Along with Me'' (Sugar Hill) * 2002: Ronnie Bowman - ''Starting Over'' (Sugar Hill) * 2002:

Jesse Brock Jesse Davis Brock (born July 18, 1972, in Decatur, Illinois) is an American Bluegrass music, bluegrass artist who plays the mandolin and sings both lead vocals, lead and supporting vocals. He records and tours with the East Tennessee based Authe ...

- ''Kickin' Grass'' (Pinecastle) * 2002: Special Consensus - ''Route 10'' (Pinecastle) * 2003:

Wayne Benson John Wayne Benson is an American mandolinist and songwriter in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his unique approach to the mandolin, and his long-term involvement with Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. History Early years Benson wa ...

- ''An Instrumental Anthology'' ( Pinecastle) * 2003: Jeannie Kendall - ''Jeannie Kendall'' (Rounder) * 2003:

Larry Stephenson Larry Lee Stephenson is an American singer-songwriter. He sings, plays mandolin, and writes songs in the Bluegrass music, bluegrass tradition. Biography Early years Stephenson learned how to play the mandolin as a young boy. At age 13, he rec ...

Band - ''Clinch Mountain Mystery'' (Pinecastle) * 2003:

Jimmy Sturr James W. Sturr Jr. (born September 25, 1941), commonly known as Jimmy Sturr, is an American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra. Media outlets have often dubbed him the " King of Polka," w ...

- '' Let's Polka 'Round'' (Rounder) * 2004: Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz - ''Draw Closer'' (Rounder) * 2004: Josh Williams - ''Lonesome Highway'' (Pinecastle)

2005 - 2009

* 2005: Clay Jones - ''Mountain Tradition'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2005: Blue Moon Rising - ''On the Rise'' (Lonesome Day) * 2005:

- ''Time'' (Lonesome Day) * 2005: Jordan Tice - ''No Place Better'' ( Patuxent Music) * 2006: New River Line - ''Chasing My Dreams'' (Kindred) * 2006:

Bradley Walker Bradley Walker (October 14, 1877 – February 3, 1951) was a Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville attorney who, in his youth, was found to be naturally proficient at virtually any sport he tried, including American football, football, baseball, T ...

- ''Highway of Dreams'' (Rounder) * 2006: Jim VanCleve - ''No Apologies'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2007: Steve Gulley - ''Sounds Like Home'' (Lonesome Day) * 2007: Donna Hughes - ''Gaining Wisdom'' (Rounder) * 2007: Dwight Mccall - ''Never Say Never Again'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2007:

Larry Sparks Larry Eugene Sparks, (born September 25, 1947) is an American Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Yea ...

- ''The Last Suit You Wear'' (McCoury Music) * 2007: Tony Trischka - ''Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular'' (Rounder) * 2008: Blue Moon Rising - ''One Lonely Shadow'' (Lonesome Day) * 2008:

David Parmley David L. Parmley (born February 1, 1959) is a bluegrass vocalist, guitarist, and award-winning bandleader. He is best known for being a co-founder of both the Bluegrass Cardinals and Continental Divide. Biography Parmley was born in White H ...

and Continental Divide - ''Three Silver Dollars'' * 2008: Kenny and Amanda Smith - ''Live And Learn'' (

) * 2008: Dan Tyminski - ''

Wheels A wheel is a rotating component (typically circular in shape) that is intended to turn on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axl ...

'' (Rounder) * 2008: Rhonda Vincent - ''

Good Thing Going ''Good Thing Going'' is the 12th studio album released by Rhonda Vincent. The album was released on January 8, 2008, via Rounder Records. It was her third number-one album on the Top Bluegrass Albums chart, and her second Top 40 album on the T ...

'' (Rounder) * 2009: Lou Reid and Carolina - ''My Own Set of Rules'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2009: Adam Steffey - ''One More for the Road'' (Sugar Hill)

2010 - present

* 2010:

Doyle Lawson Doyle Wayne Lawson (born April 20, 1944) is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducte ...

, and Paul Williams - ''Old Friends Get Together'' (Mountain Home) * 2010: Steve Gulley and Tim Stafford - ''Dogwood Winter'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2010: Brand New Strings - ''No Strings Attached'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2010: Lou Reid and Carolina - ''Sounds Like Heaven To Me'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2011:

Sierra Hull Sierra Dawn Hull (born September 27, 1991) is an American Bluegrass music, bluegrass singer-songwriter, mandolinist, and guitarist. Hull was signed to Rounder Records at the age of 13 and released her debut vocal album, ''Secrets'', in 2008 at ...

- ''Daybreak'' (Rounder) * 2011: Charlie Sizemore - ''Heartache Looking for a Home'' (Rounder) * 2011: Larry Sparks - ''Almost Home'' (Rounder) * 2012: American Drive - ''American Drive'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2012: Richard Bennett - ''Last Train from Poor Valley's'' (Lonesome Day) * 2012: Carrie Hassler - ''Distance'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2012: Lou Reid and Carolina - ''Callin' Me Back Home'' (Kama) * 2012: Kenny and Amanda Smith - ''Catch Me If I Try'' (Farm Boy) * 2012: The Spinney Brothers - ''Memories'' (Mountain Fever) * 2013: James King - ''Three Chords and the Truth'' (Rounder) * 2013: Nu-Blu - ''Ten'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2013: The Spinney Brothers - ''No Borders'' (Mountain Fever) * 2014: Richard Bennett - ''In the Wind Somewhere'' (Lonesome Day) * 2014: Steve Gulley - ''Family, Friends & Fellowship'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2014: Nu-Blu - ''All the Way'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2015: John Bowman - ''Beautiful Ashes'' (Mountain Home) * 2016: Rickey Wasson - ''Croweology - The Study of J.D. Crowe's Musical Legacy'' (Truegrass)

Music instruction

* 2010 ''Ron Stewart: A Bluegrass Banjo Professional'' DVD (

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 ...

) * 2011: ''Ron Stewart: The Fiddlers of Flatt and Scruggs'' DVD (AcuTab) * 2011: ''Ron Stewart: Playing Fiddle in the Bluegrass Style'' DVD (AcuTab)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Ron 1968 births American bluegrass musicians Bluegrass fiddlers American country guitarists American male guitarists American country singer-songwriters 20th-century American fiddlers 21st-century American fiddlers American folk musicians American banjoists Living people American bluegrass mandolinists Guitarists from Indiana 20th-century American guitarists Country musicians from Indiana 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians New South (band) members Longview (American band) members The Seldom Scene members American male singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from Indiana