Ronnie Bowman (born July 9, 1961) is an American singer and composer of bluegrass music. Besides his solo albums, he is known for his work with the

Lonesome River Band The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame ...

Biography

Early years

A native of

Mount Airy, North Carolina Mount Airy is a city in Surry County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 10,676. As of 2020, the city is the most populous municipality in Surry County. Mount Airy is located within t ...

, Bowman sang gospel music from age three until his late-teens. He sang in his family band with his four sisters, playing churches in North Carolina and Virginia. Bowman joined bluegrass band The Lost and Found in 1988 and performed with them for two years.

Lonesome River Band

From 1990 until 2001, Bowman then was vocalist and bass player in the

, with bandmates Sammy Shelor,

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 ...

, and

Tim Austin Timothy Austin (born April 14, 1971) is an American former professional boxer. He is now a coach at the Cincinnati Golden Gloves gym in Cincinnati. Amateur career Austin had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a record of 113–9. Amateu ...

. Their 1991 album ''Carrying the Tradition'' was named 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) 1991 Album of the Year.

Solo career

Cold Virginia Night, released in 1994, featured appearances by

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer, fiddler and music producer. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of eight and recording for the first time at ...

Del McCoury Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939) is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo resp ...

, and

Tony Rice David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020) was an American bluegrass guitarist and singer. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz. He was inducted into the In ...

. Bowman released ''Starting Over'' in 2003, with

Don Cook Don Kirby Cook (born May 25, 1949) is an American record producer and songwriter whose work is mainly in the field of country music. Artists who recorded Cook's material include Barbara Mandrell, John Conlee, Mark Collie, Wade Hayes and Brooks & ...

producing several songs. Bowman was also assisted byTyminski,

Jerry Douglas Gerald Calvin Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. He is widely regarded as "perhaps the finest Dobro player in contemporary acoustic music, and certainly the most celebrated and prol ...

, and

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 ...

(all from Union Station),

Ron Stewart Ronald George Stewart (July 11, 1932 – March 17, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1952 to 1973, as well as a coach. He spent the first half of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ...

, and Steve Gulley. Bowman 2006's ''It’s Gettin’ Better All The Time'' in Nashville with members of his group The Committee:

Wyatt Rice Wyatt Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is best known for his solo albums and his work in his brother's group the Tony Rice Unit. Biography Rice was born in Long Beach, California but grew up in Florida and other loca ...

(guitar), Andy Hall (resonator guitar), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle, vocals), and Garnet Imes Bowman (vocalist and Ronnie's wife). Special guests included

, Rob McCoury,

Ronnie McCoury Ronald Delano McCoury, known as Ronnie McCoury, (born March 16, 1967) is an American mandolin player, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of bluegrass musician Del McCoury, and is best known for his work with the Del McCoury Band and the Trave ...

, Dan Tyminski,

Don Reno Donald Wesley Reno (February 21, 1926Trischka, Tony, "Don Reno", ''Banjo Song Book'', Oak Publications, 1977, – October 16, 1984) was an American bluegrass and country musician, best known as a pioneering banjo and guitar player who pa ...

, and John Jarvis.

Songwriting

For

Chris Stapleton Christopher Alvin Stapleton (born April 15, 1978) is an American country singer-songwriter and guitarist. Born in Kentucky, Stapleton moved to Nashville in 1996 to study for an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University, but dropped out to pur ...

's ''Traveller'' album, Bowman wrote "

Nobody to Blame "Nobody to Blame" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton. The song was released in November 2015 as the singer's third single overall. Stapleton co-wrote the song with Barry Bales and Ronnie Bowman. It became Stapleton's ...

" with Stapleton and

, and "Outlaw State of Mind" with Stapleton and Jerry Salley.

Lee Ann Womack Lee Ann Womack (; born August 19, 1966) is an American singer and songwriter. She has charted 23 times on the American ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts; her highest peaking single there is her crossover signature song, " I Hope You Dance" ...

included Bowman's song "The Healing Kind" (co-written with Greg Luck) on the album ''

I Hope You Dance (album) ''I Hope You Dance'' is the third studio album by American country music singer Lee Ann Womack. It was released on May 23, 2000, as her first album for MCA Nashville. The title track was a crossover hit in 2000, becoming Womack's only number one s ...

''. Bowman's song " It's Getting Better All the Time" (co-written with Don Cook) was recorded by

Brooks & Dunn Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, both of whom are vocalists and songwriters. The duo was founded in 1988 through the suggestion of songwriter and record producer, Tim DuBois. Before thei ...

. Bowman and Stapleton also wrote " Never Wanted Nothing More" which

Kenny Chesney Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country singer. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, he released his debut, '' In My Wildest Dreams'', in 1994, and has since released 19 follow-ups. His albums spawned 27 singles tha ...

included on his album '' Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates''.

Band of Ruhks

Besides Bowman, the Band of Ruhks includes two other former Lonesome River Bandmates:

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 ...

and

Kenny Smith Kenneth Smith (born March 8, 1965) is an American sports commentator and former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Jet", he played in the NBA from 1987 to 1997 as a member of the Sacramen ...

Ralph Stanley Ralph Edmund Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016) was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. He began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of The ...

provided vocals on the song "Coal Minin' Man." The band got their name from the ancient Persian word for a warrior's chariot. Bowman frequently performs with Dan Tyminski, with whom he played in the Lonesome River Band.

Awards

Bowman has been awarded the following IBMA awards: * Male Vocalist of the Year in 1995, 1998, and 1999 * 1995 Album of the Year for ''Cold Virginia Night'' * 1995 Song of the Year for "Cold Virginia Night" * 1999 Song of the Year for "Three Rusty Nails" * 1999 Gospel Performance of the Year for "Three Rusty Nails."

Discography

Solo albums

* 1994: ''Cold Virginia Night'' (

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; ...

) * 1998: ''The Man I'm Tryin' to Be'' ( Sugar Hill) * 2002: ''Starting Over'' (Sugar Hill) * 2005: ''It's Gettin' Better All the Time'' ( Koch Nashville) * 2019: ‘‘Ronnie Bowman’’ ( Engelhardt Music Group)

With the
Lonesome River Band The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame ...

* 1991: ''Carrying The Tradition'' (Rebel) * 1994: ''Old Country Town'' (Sugar Hill) * 1996: ''One Step Forward'' (Sugar Hill) * 1998: ''Finding The Way'' (Sugar Hill)

With Band Of Ruhks

* 2015: ''Band Of Ruhks'' (101 Ranch) Band of Ruhks by Fred Smith, in ''Country Standard Time'', accessed August 18, 2017 * 2019: ‘’Authentic’’ (Rebel)

As composer

* 2000:

- ''

I Hope You Dance "I Hope You Dance" is a crossover country pop song written by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers and recorded by American country music singer Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert. (Drew and Tim Womack of Sons of the Desert are not related to L ...

'' (

MCA Nashville Music Corporation of America, formerly known as Universal Music Group Nashville, is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. It was officially opened in 1945 as MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville which opened on New Year's Day 1950 a ...

) - track 1, "The Healing Kind" (co-written with Greg Luck) * 2001: Mark Newton Band - ''Charlie Lawson's Still'' (Rebel) - track 2, "It Ain't Happened Yet" (co-written with Tim Stafford) * 2005:

- ''

The Greatest Hits Collection II ''The Greatest Hits Collection II'' is the second compilation album by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is the sequel to the duo's 1997 compilation '' The Greatest Hits Collection''. It is also the second collection of the duo's mos ...

'' (

Arista Nashville Arista Nashville was an American record label that served as a wholly owned division of Sony Music, operated under the Sony Music Nashville division. Founded in 1989, the label specialized in country music artists, including Alan Jackson, Brooks ...

) - track 11, " It's Getting Better All the Time" (co-written with

) * 2007:

- '' Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates'' (

Sony BMG Nashville Sony Music Nashville is the country music branch of the Sony Music Group. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sony Music Nashville includes its three country recording labels Arista Nashville, Columbia Nashville, and RCA Nashville, as well as Chr ...

) - track 1, " Never Wanted Nothing More" (co-written with

) * 2011:

Jake Owen Joshua Ryan Owen (born August 28, 1981), known professionally as Jake Owen, is an American country music singer. Signed to RCA Nashville in 2006, he released his debut studio album, '' Startin' with Me'', that year. This album produced three ...

- '' Barefoot Blue Jean Night'' (

RCA RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded in 1919 as the Radio Corporation of America. It was initially a patent pool, patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Westinghou ...

) - track 7, "The Journey of Your Life" (co-written with Troy Jones) * 2011:

- ''A Mother's Prayer'' (Rebel) - track 5, "A Mother's Prayer" (co-written with

Shawn Lane Shawn Lane (March 21, 1963 – September 26, 2003) was an American musician who released two studio albums and collaborated with a variety of musicians including Ringo Starr, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Reg ...

) * 2012:

The Grascals The Grascals are a six-piece American bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in February 2004, the band has gained a level of fame by playing on the Grand Ole Opry and bluegrass festivals around the country, as well as with Dolly Par ...

- ''Life Finds a Way'' ( Mountain Home) - track 1, "Life Finds A Way" (co-written with

Dierks Bentley Frederick Dierks Bentley (; born November 20, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Bentley moved to Nashville in the late 90s to pursue a career in music, leading up to his releasing the self-funded and independent album Do ...

and Jamie Johnson) * 2014:

Cody Johnson Cody Daniel Johnson (born May 21, 1987) is an American country music singer. He has self-released six albums, including ''Gotta Be Me'', which debuted at number two on ''Billboard''s Country Albums chart, before releasing his first major-label ...

- ''Cowboy Like Me'' (Cojo) - track 9, "(I Wouldn't Go There) If I Were You" (co-written with Cody Johnson and Michael Heeney) * 2015: Chris Stapleton - '' Traveller'' (

Mercury Nashville Music Corporation of America, formerly known as Universal Music Group Nashville, is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. It was officially opened in 1945 as #MCA Nashville, MCA Nashville and #Mercury Nashville, Mercury Nashville wh ...

) - track 6, "

" (co-written with Chris Stapleton and

); track 7, "More of You" (co-written with Stapleton); track 13, "Outlaw State of Mind" (co-written with Stapleton and

Jerry Salley Jerry Salley is an American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter. Salley won SESAC's 2003 "Country Music Songwriter of the Year" award. Salley has been writing and singing in Nashville, Tennessee since 1982. To date, he has had 300 songs r ...

) * 2016: Irene Kelley - ''These Hills'' (Mountain Fever) - track 4, "Johnson's Hardware Store" (co-written with Irene Kelley) * 2016: Josh Williams - ''Modern Day Man'' (Rounder) - track 2, "Modern Day Man" (co-written with Robbie Melton and Thom Shepherd); track 5, "Let It Go" (co-written with

)

As producer

* 1996: Wyatt Rice and Santa Cruz ''Picture in a Tear'' ( Rounder) * 2004:

Melonie Cannon Melonie Cannon is an American singer, blending country and bluegrass on her solo albums and session work. Willie Nelson said, "Melonie Cannon is one of the best singers I know." Biography Early years Cannon was born in Jackson, Tennessee, but he ...

- ''Melonie Cannon'' (Skaggs Family) * 2007: Steep Canyon Rangers ‘’Lovin’ Pretty Women’’ (Rebel)

Also appears on

* 1989: Lost & Found - ''New Day'' (Rebel) * 1997:

John Fogerty John Cameron Fogerty (born May 28, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty, he founded the swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), for which he was th ...

- ''

Blue Moon Swamp ''Blue Moon Swamp'' is the fifth solo studio album by American singer/songwriter John Fogerty, released on May 20, 1997. The Lonesome River Band provided backing vocals on "Southern Streamline" and "Rambunctious Boy". Other vocal backing was p ...

'' (

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

) * 2000:

- ''Carry Me Across the Mountain'' ( Doobie Shea) * 2002:

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 ...

- ''Don't Fret It'' (Doobie Shea) * 2003: Shawn Lane - ''All for Today'' (Rebel) * 2005:

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 ...

- ''40'' (Rebel) * 2006: Jim VanCleve - ''No Apologies'' ( Rural Rhythm) * 2008:

- ''And the Wheel Turns'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2009:

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 ...

- ''One More for the Road'' (Sugar Hill) * 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) * 2013: Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson - ''The Mandolin Chronicles'' (Pinecastle) * 2013:

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He is known for performing a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country", as well as writing many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 21 studi ...

- ''

The Bluegrass Album ''The Bluegrass Album'' is the debut album by bluegrass supergroup, Bluegrass Album Band, released in 1981. It's a collection of bluegrass standards by Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley and others. Ultimately, four volumes ...

'' (

EMI Nashville Music Corporation of America, formerly known as Universal Music Group Nashville, is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. It was officially opened in 1945 as MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville which opened on New Year's Day 1950 as ...

) * 2016:

Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "Hey Loretta", "The Pill (song), The P ...

- '' Full Circle'' (

Legacy Legacy or Legacies may refer to: Arts and entertainment Comics * " Batman: Legacy", a 1996 Batman storyline * '' DC Universe: Legacies'', a comic book series from DC Comics * ''Legacy'', a 1999 quarterly series from Antarctic Press * ''Legacy ...

) * 2016: Loretta Lynn - '' White Christmas Blue'' (Legacy) * 2016: Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice - ''Poor Boy's Pleasure" (Mountain Fever) * 2017:

Mac Wiseman Malcolm Bell Wiseman (May 23, 1925 – February 24, 2019) was an American bluegrass and country singer active for seven decades in the twentieth century. He was part of Bluegrass music's earliest generation, though bluegrass never defined him. ...

- ''I Sang the Song'' (Mountain Fever)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bowman, Ronnie 1961 births Living people American country bass guitarists American country guitarists Bluegrass musicians from North Carolina American bluegrass guitarists 20th-century American singers 21st-century American musicians 20th-century American bass guitarists Country musicians from North Carolina Lonesome River Band members

Biography

Early years

Lonesome River Band

Solo career

Songwriting

Band of Ruhks

Awards

Discography

Solo albums

With the Lonesome River Band The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame ...

With Band Of Ruhks

As composer

As producer

Also appears on

References

External links

With the
Lonesome River Band The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame ...