Gary Ruley and Mule Train

Last updated
Gary Ruley and Mule Train
Gary Ruley 3.jpg
Gary Ruley playing at The Southern Inn in Lexington, Virginia
December 26, 2008
Background information
Origin Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States
Genres Folk, Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Jazz
MembersGary Ruley
Danny Knicely
Will Lee
Brennan Gilmore
David Knicely
Ann Marie Calhoun (née Simpson)
Mary Simpson
Ronald "Rooster" Ruley
Jeremiah Ruley
Larry Keel
Jenny Keel
Nate Leath
Shannon Wheeler
Website Official Site

Gary Ruley and Mule Train is an acoustic bluegrass band based in Lexington, Virginia who also play New Grass and Jazz music.

Contents

Early

Gary Ruley was born into a musical family in Lexington, Virginia, and first performed publicly at ten. He has performed with his father, Pat Ruley, his brother, Ronald "Rooster" Ruley, and his son, Jeremiah Ruley. "Sisters Sandy, Sue and Kathy . . were strong musicians in their own rights." [1] The strong musical tradition of his hometown rooted the musical Ruley family in bluegrass and mountain music. The Ruleys were "ahead of the curve that became the explosion of bluegrass popularity commencing in the mid-1970s." [1] Gary's musical journey was launched by many performances at a young age singing and flatpicking in and around Lexington, which was at the time a "hotbed of nightly entertainment of live acoustic music. Many nights would feature four or five different bands performing at various venues." [2]

He grew up performing with diverse musicians for functions at Washington and Lee University, Virginia Military Institute, The University of Virginia, and various weddings and socials. [2]

Performance

Gary Ruley's flat picking has earned him honors and awards at numerous festivals, and made him much sought-after regionally.

Gary Ruley and Mule Train at Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington, Virginia on June 7, 2008. Image by Suzie Kelly. Gary Ruley and Mule Train Lime Kiln Theater Lexington VA June 2008.jpg
Gary Ruley and Mule Train at Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington, Virginia on June 7, 2008. Image by Suzie Kelly.

He has played with many of the greats of the bluegrass genre—including those associated with the "first-generation" bluegrass legends, such as Bill Monroe's fiddle player, Bobby Lester, as well as Buddy Pendleton who performed with Monroe, and Mac Wiseman who played with both Monroe and Earl Flatt and Lester Scruggs. He's also played with Ricky Lee—Will Lee's father—who played with Ralph Stanley, as well as Doc Watson's partner Jack Lawrence. He's appeared with John Starling of Seldom Scene, Mike Seeger, Tony Rice, and the late Vassar Clements. He has also picked with some of the newer generation bluegrass greats such as Darol Anger, two-time Grammy Winner Curtis Burch of New Grass Revival, and opened for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder [3] (Skaggs himself joined Ralph Stanley's band as a teenager).

Ruley has performed at major regional venues and music festivals, including: Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington, The Homestead in Hot Springs, Garth Newel Music Center in Warm Springs, The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, and FloydFest in Floyd County. In North Carolina he's appeared at Black Mountain and Union Grove

He has also toured out West with the Keels in California and Utah and performed in Amsterdam. He has appeared on PBS radio.

Mule Train

Gary Ruley and Mule Train serves as a vehicle for bringing together the best musicians in the area for specific shows (or recordings). As Gary states, "There's so many great pickers who live in or near Rockbridge County that it's not difficult to get a bunch of friends together and make music." [1] The musicians who appear with Ruley come with long musical pedigrees and from a number of other groups they've formed themselves. Will Lee's father joined the legendary Stanley Brothers as lead guitarist after playing with Bluegrass Tar Heels, special protégées of Bill Monroe. [4] David and Danny Knicely's grandfather, A. O. Knicely, played old time guitar, mandolin, and fiddle as leader of the Knicely Family Band. [5] Danny and Will perform as a duo. Larry Keel, "arguably one of the greatest flat-picking guitarists in the world", [1] has headed up The Larry Keel Experience—now renamed Larry Keel & Natural Bridge—and also performs in Keller and the Keels with his wife Jenny. Will Lee, Larry Keel, and Danny Knicely were all founders of legendary Magraw Gap, a band that took first place at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1995. [4] Brennan Gilmore originated Walker's Run, Kantara, and most recently Borden Grant. Ann Marie Calhoun (née Simpson) has toured with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson and performed with Ringo Starr. Her sister Mary Simpson also plays fiddle and sings with the group when not performing with her own Whisky Rebellion. She joined Yanni in September 2010, for his South American tour, also performing with the composer in Puerto Rico.

They are known for Thanksgiving and Christmas shows at the Southern Inn in Lexington, Virginia. [6] Their latest release, The Southern Inn and Out (2010), is a recording of the 2009 Christmas show there. [1] Since the Southern Inn burned in July 2010 other locations are used. [6] The 2010 Christmas show, on December 30, takes place at the Southern Inn's new temporary location across town, and will feature regulars Danny Knicely, Will Lee, David Knicely, and Brennan Gilmore (with others).

They were the 2010 winners of the Rockbridge County, Virginia Chamber of Commerce Rockbridge Community People's Choice Awards "Group Arts/Entertainer of the Year". [7] Individual members have won a number of performance awards at music festivals through the years; some as a part of other groups.

Recordings

Shenandoah Bluegrass was the group's first recording. Gary Ruley & Muletrain was released in 2002 with Ruley on guitar and performing lead vocals, Daniel Knicely on mandolin, Larry Keel on guitar, and Jenny Keel on upright bass (all three providing harmony vocals). It also featured Will Lee on banjo, Ann Marie Simpson-Calhoun on fiddle, Jeremiah Ruley, Brennan Gilmore, Mark Shimmick, and Mitchell Davis. [8] Their next recording was Pickin' Tradition also features Ruley, Knicely, and the Keels, but brings in Ronald "Rooster" Ruley on banjo, and Steve Hoke on fiddle. Then came Live at the Troubadour Vol. 1 and Live at the Troubadour Vol. 2 in 2005, recordings made from a live performance at the Troubadour Theater in Lexington, "which served Washington and Lee University as its campus theater for decades." [1] These recordings feature Ruley, Will Lee, the Keels again, but this time with the Simpson sisters—Ann Marie and Mary—adding fiddle and vocals. [8] Most recently they've released a live recording of their 2009 Christmas show titled Southern Inn And Out in 2010. In addition to Ruley, Keel, Lee, and Knicely, it also features brother David Knicely on bass. It also features fiddle player Nate Leath of Old School Freight Train, and Shannon Wheeler (with The Churchmen and The Blinky Moon Boys). [1]

Musical style

Known as one of the finest acoustic flat pickers, Gary Ruley plays mostly vintage Martin guitars. He was born in western Virginia and raised on bluegrass and old-time mountain music. Influences include Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Don Reno and Red Smiley, as well as the Beatles. [2]

. . even if the programs from these two volumes of live recordings mix bluegrass standards with the likes of Ellington, Grisman, and the Beatles, they are all delivered with drive and precision, while the vocals project an informal geniality." [9]

— review of Live at the Troubadour, Volumes One & Two, Bluegrass Unlimited

Distinctions, honors, and awards

Personnel

Discography

Video

Reviews, interviews, articles

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stanley Brothers</span> American bluegrass duo

The Stanley Brothers were an American bluegrass duo of singer-songwriters and musicians, made up of brothers Carter Stanley and Ralph Stanley. Ralph and Carter performed as The Stanley Brothers with their band, The Clinch Mountain Boys, from 1946 to 1966. Ralph kept the band name when he continued as a solo artist after Carter's death, from 1967 until his own death in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dillards</span> American bluegrass band

The Dillards are an American bluegrass and country rock band from Salem, Missouri. The band is best known for introducing bluegrass music into the popular mainstream with their appearance as "The Darlings" on The Andy Griffith Show.

Blue Highway is an American contemporary bluegrass band formed in 1994 and based in Tennessee. The band's albums include Wondrous Love (2003), Marbletown (2005), and Original Traditional (2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Lawson</span> American bluegrass and gospel musician

Doyle Wayne Lawson 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 inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old School Freight Train</span>

Old School Freight Train (OSFT) was a Charlottesville, Virginia-based band that combined bluegrass, jazz, Latin, and Celtic sounds to create their music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Marie Calhoun</span> American violinist

Ann Marie Calhoun is an American classically trained violinist who has performed as a bluegrass and rock musician in a number of prominent acts, including Jethro Tull, Steve Vai, Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews Band, Ringo Starr, A.R. Rahman and Mick Jagger's SuperHeavy. She has closely collaborated with Hans Zimmer on numerous film scores, including Sherlock Holmes, Interstellar, 12 Years a Slave, The Lone Ranger, The Little Prince, Man of Steel, and Captain Phillips. She is the sister of violinist Mary Simpson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Grascals</span> American bluegrass band

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 Parton.

<i>Buzz</i> (Keller Williams album) 1996 album by Keller Williams

Buzz is the second album by Keller Williams, released in 1996. It covers many genres of music such as world beat, reggae, bluegrass and rock.

<i>The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo</i> 2009 studio album by Steve Martin

The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo is a 2009 album by Steve Martin, featuring Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Tim O'Brien, Tony Trischka and Mary Black. It contains 15 songs and is the first album focusing on Martin as a musician. Martin's 1977 comedy recording Let's Get Small, however, did feature him briefly playing the banjo during some of the comedy bits, and The Steve Martin Brothers devotes one side to banjo playing, including earlier renditions of some of the music presented here. It was first released on January 27, 2009, as an Amazon.com exclusive and then released to retail stores everywhere on May 19, 2009. On January 31, 2010, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker's Run</span> Acoustic bluegrass band in Virginia, US

Walker's Run is an acoustic bluegrass band based out of Lexington, Virginia who also play New Grass and Jazz music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brennan Gilmore</span> American bandleader, musician; diplomat; political activist

Brennan Gilmore is a musician and former United States Foreign Service Officer. As a musician and bandleader he has originated and performed in a number of musical groups. He was raised in Lexington, Virginia and attended the University of Virginia, studying international relations as an Echols Scholar, graduating in 2001. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Benjamin Horace Williams was an American bluegrass musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he sang and played fiddle, guitar, banjo, autoharp, and mandolin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Simpson (violinist)</span> American violinist

Mary Ellen Simpson is an American violinist, mostly noted for her work with Yanni, Gary Ruley and Mule Train and Walker's Run. She is a founding member of The Whiskey Rebellion band.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for bluegrass music presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Awards are voted based on professional membership in the IBMA.

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.

Patuxent Music is an independent record label in Rockville, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Knicely</span> American country and bluegrass musician (born 1975)

Daniel Shane Knicely, known as Danny Knicely, is an American country and bluegrass musician. In addition to singing, he plays guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. His album releases include: The Evenin' News, Chop, Shred & Split, Waltz for Aimee, The Melody Lingers, Roots and Branches, and Murders, Drownings and Lost Loves (2006) — which he recorded with Will Lee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Keel</span> Musical artist

Larry Dwayne Keel is an American bluegrass musician from Southwest Virginia who has been performing since 1976. He was a founding member of Magraw Gap in 1990. He also performs with his wife, bassist Jenny Keel, in The Larry Keel Experience. He has released over a dozen albums.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "'Southern Inn And Out' Offers Musical Magic: Ruley And Mule Train's Latest CD Captures 2009 Christmas Show" by Doug Chase, review, The News-Gazette online edition; November 24, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Official Bio". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  3. ↑ Gary Ruley and Mule Train website Biography.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Will Lee biography". Archived from the original on 2008-05-04. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  5. 1 2 "Danny Knicely's bio". Archived from the original on 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  6. 1 2 "Gary Ruley & Mule Train Thanksgiving Show at Lexington Golf and Country Club Archived 2010-11-29 at the Wayback Machine " in rockbridgeweekly.com & The Alleghany Journal; 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Gary Ruley & Mule Train Pull Into VMI Parade Grounds July 3rd Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine " in Rockbridge Weekly and The Alleghany Journal
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Entry: Gary Ruley, Larry Keel & Mule Train", Bluegrass Discography
  9. ↑ Live at the Troubador, (sic) Volumes One & Two
  10. ↑ State Magazine July/August 2007.
  11. ↑ Kantara Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine Press section.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Maury River Fiddler's Convention Winners". Archived from the original on 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  13. ↑ 17th Annual Maury River Fiddler's Convention winners 2010.
  14. ↑ Maury River Fiddler Convention Results Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine Rockbridge Weekly & The Alleghany Journal, 2009.

Further reading


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.