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]
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]
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
1979: Talkin' Fiddle Blues (Programme Audio) as Fiddlin' Ronnie Stewart[17]
1982: Walking In The Moonlight (Old Homestead) as Fiddlin' Ronnie Stewart and the Stewart Family
