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Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers

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Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers is a six-generation Bluegrass family band that currently tours with three generations of Brewers.[1] The band assembled in 1980 and is located in West Point, Kentucky. They are rooted out of Roan Mountain, TN. Gary, his dad, and his 2 sons perform Bluegrass originals, Bluegrass-Gospel, and Old-time Mountain music. Their style of music is referred to as "Brewgrass".[2]

Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers currently have 48 recordings, have toured all 50 US states, 11 countries in Europe, and have performed encores at the Grand Ole Opry and the Lincoln Center.[3][4][5]

Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers
From left to right, Finley J. Brewer, Gary Brewer, Mason Brewer, and Wayne Brewer
From left to right, Finley J. Brewer, Gary Brewer, Mason Brewer, and Wayne Brewer
Background information
Also known asGBKR
OriginWest Point, Kentucky.
GenresBluegrass, Bluegrass-Gospel, Old-Time Mountain Music
Years active1980 to present
LabelsSGM Records
MembersGary Brewer
Finley J. Brewer
Gary "Wayne" Brewer Jr.
Mason Brewer
Websitehttps://www.brewgrass.com

Members

Gary Brewer – Lead Guitar/Old-time Banjo/Vocals

Finley J. Brewer – Rhythm Guitar/Vocals

Wayne Brewer – Upright bass/Fiddle/Vocals

Mason Brewer – Mandolin/Upright Bass/Vocals

Gary Brewer (5th Generation of Brewers)

Gary Brewer comes by what he does honestly. Finley J. "Pap" Brewer (Gary's Grandfather) was featured all the time on radio (in Knoxville) and, in his younger days, was included on many shows with the original Carter Family. Gary formed Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers at the young age of 14 years old. Most of his time as a child and young adult was devoted to playing music with his father.

He started out his musical interest in Rock N' Roll, and even participated in his high school talent show with a group of friends doing some Rock N' Roll Classics. Being raised by a couple of Bluegrass musicians, he was surrounded by Bluegrass music and Old-time Mountain Music. He realized just how much they had influenced him once he was in a difficult accident, breaking his leg and putting him in the hospital. He was laid up with nothing much he could do. Since his electric guitar was out of the question, his dad brought him an acoustic guitar to play. Gary played his guitar and before too long, he was playing songs Finley J. had been listening to all of Gary's life; songs by such notable stars as Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers. After Gary healed, he went to jam at a buddy's house. While he planned to jam strictly Rock N' Roll, he saw a mandolin, banjo, and an acoustic guitar. They jammed Bluegrass tunes instead. Once he got home, he decided to form a band of his own.[4]

All these years later, Gary has released nearly 50 recordings including Bluegrass artists such as Bill Monroe, J.D. Crowe, Uncle Josh Graves, Doyle Lawson, Larry Sparks, Dave Evans, and many more.[6]

Gary had Bill Monroe on his Guitar[7] CD along with Uncle Josh Graves.[8] He took pride in knowing he was the only one to ever get Bill Monroe and Uncle Josh Graves into the studio together. Because of Gary's Guitar album, he was a nominee and finalist for Guitar Player of the Year at the IBMAs in 2000.[3]

Gary also did an all-star tribute album to the King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin, before he passed. He titled it Jimmy Martin Songs for Dinner[9] in correlation with the song, Jimmy Martin Songs for Dinner (written by Tom T. Hall) which made Gary a nominee and finalist at the IBMAs for Song of the Year in 2000.[3][10]

Finley J. Brewer (4th Generation of Brewers)

Finley J. (Jim) Brewer is Gary Brewer's father. He was born into Bluegrass and raised by Finley J. Brewer Sr. Jim started his music career in the 1950s.[3] Now, he tours and performs with Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers singing harmony vocals, lead vocals, and playing rhythm guitar.[11]

Gary "Wayne" Brewer Jr. (6th Generation of Brewers)

Gary "Wayne" Brewer Jr. is Gary Brewer's older son. Performing most of his life with his dad,[2] Wayne now is part of Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers singing harmony vocals, and playing Upright Bass and Fiddle.[12] Wayne was featured on the band's most recent release Homestretch.[13] He stars in both music videos off of Homestretch: Derby City Flash and Brownlo.

In 2016, Wayne released his debut fiddle album featuring such notable guests as Steve Day, Michael Cleveland, Dan Boner, Dan Kelly, and Raymond McLain. He included 10 tracks of Old-time fiddle tunes.[14] He titled his CD The Kentucky Fiddler.[15] He included Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers on his CD as well (Gary Brewer, Finley J. Brewer, and Mason Brewer).

On October 3, 2015, Wayne Brewer married his wife Alyssa Brewer. Now, they work together in the music and live on the family farm.[16]

Wayne, along with Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers, traveled to Nashville, TN to the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate the late Dr. Ralph Stanley at "The Dr. Ralph Stanley Forever Tribute".[17]

Mason Brewer (6th Generation of Brewers)

Mason Brewer is Gary Brewer's younger son. Like his brother, music is in his blood. He has spent most of his life performing with his family. Today, Mason performs with Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers as his mandolin player, part-time upright bass player,[18] and singing harmony vocals. Mason was featured on the most recent album, Homestretch.[19] He stars in both music videos off of Homestretch: Derby City Flash and Brownlo.[20][21] Mason was on Wayne Brewer's debut fiddle album playing mandolin and upright bass in 2016.[14]

Mason, along with Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers, traveled to Nashville, TN to the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate the late Dr. Ralph Stanley at "The Dr. Ralph Stanley Forever Tribute".[18]


Friday Night Bluegrass Concert Series

After many different hosts had let the show go down, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers took over hosting the Friday Night Bluegrass concert series back in 2014.[22] Currently located in Shepherdsville, KY, they bring in local, national, and regional acts each week. Gary Brewer's goal was to give the people of Kentucky a show barn to attend for Live Bluegrass music. He wanted to give them the full experience while performing each show themselves and featuring a guest band as well. Now an annual occurrence, the shows run from November to April.[23]

Bluegrass Summer Nights Concert Series

Already hosting a winter concert series, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers connected with the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass and created a summer concert series called Bluegrass Summer Nights. Free concerts are offered during the summer months for shoppers.[24] Just like the Friday Night Bluegrass show, Gary Brewer brings in local, national, and regional touring bands to guest on the Bluegrass Summer Nights lineup.[25]

"Vintage Country Revival" CD (2018)

Gary Brewer is a bluegrass artist who released an acoustic Country album including 13 tracks of some of the top classic Country hits (all performed by Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers). Among Bye Bye Love, Good Hearted Woman, T For Texas, Oh Lonesome Me, and various others, John Prine's Paradise is performed as a duet by Gary and teen country prodigy, EmiSunshine.[26] Vintage Country Revival received 2 Grammy Award nominations for Best Americana Album and Best American-Roots Performance.[27][28]

Shin-dig in the Park Music Festival

Among producing other events, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers host a bi-annual music festival called Shin-dig in the Park. It's located in Shepherdsville, KY at the Shepherdsville City Park. The music festival takes place in Spring and Fall, and the lineup includes artists of multiple genres (Bluegrass, Country, Americana, Rock, Gospel, and more).[29] It is a free community event.

Brewgrass Entertainment

Due to the success of their Winter and Summer concert series, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers partnered with the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass transforming a former retail space into a live music venue inside of Kentucky's largest outlet mall (Brewgrass Entertainment).[30] Running from November 2019 – April 2020[31], it's an artist residency; and is the official kick-off to Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers 40th Anniversary celebration tour.[32] Keeping live music in their home state of Kentucky is important to them for now and future generations. Brewgrass Entertainment is an intimate style venue offering guest groups from various genres (Bluegrass, Country, Americana, Gospel, and more).

References

  1. ^ "I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky No. 69 – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. December 8, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Extreme Makeover: Bluegrass Edition – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. January 11, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Gary Brewer | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers -". www.louisvillemusicnews.net. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  5. ^ "Gary Brewer – Homestretch on AirPlay Direct". www.airplaydirect.com. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Gary Brewer – Homestretch on AirPlay Direct". www.airplaydirect.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  7. ^ Guitar, Copper Creek, January 30, 1996, retrieved August 30, 2018
  8. ^ "Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers -". www.louisvillemusicnews.net. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  9. ^ Jimmy Martin Songs For Dinner, CD Baby, August 2, 2016, retrieved August 30, 2018
  10. ^ Praguefrank (June 2, 2015). "Praguefrank's Country Discography 2: Gary Brewer – Kentucky Ramblers". Praguefrank's Country Discography 2. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Gary Brewer and crew get Mapes deal – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "Gary Brewer working on family bluegrass CD – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. December 16, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers, Homestretch, retrieved August 30, 2018
  14. ^ a b "Kentucky Fiddler from Wayne Brewer – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. April 1, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  15. ^ ♫ The Kentucky Fiddler – Wayne Brewer. Listen @cdbaby, retrieved August 30, 2018
  16. ^ "Congratulations Wayne and Alyssa – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. October 5, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  17. ^ "Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers at the Opry". kentuckymonthly.com. October 16, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers (October 20, 2017), Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers at the Grand Ole Opry (2017), retrieved February 7, 2018
  19. ^ "Homestretch – Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. June 26, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  20. ^ "Derby City Flash video from Gary Brewer – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. October 24, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "Brownlo video from Gary Brewer – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. January 27, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  22. ^ "Friday Night Bluegrass returns to Music Barn". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  23. ^ "Friday Night Bluegrass starts up this week in KY – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. November 1, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  24. ^ "Gary Brewer to host Bluegrass Summer Nights in Simpsonville, KY – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. June 28, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  25. ^ "Free music at Bluegrass Summer Nights take over the Outlet Shoppes". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  26. ^ 123 (March 22, 2018). "Gary Brewer and Emi Sunshine together for Paradise remake". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved May 25, 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  27. ^ Bray, Jessica (May 13, 2019). "Music Trifecta show to feature John Schneider in Shepherdsville". Kentucky Country Music. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  28. ^ 123 (December 6, 2018). "Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers get the Key to the City". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved May 25, 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  29. ^ "Country music legend headlines Shin-Dig in the Park fall festival | PioneerNews.net". www.pioneernews.net. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  30. ^ 123 (September 10, 2019). "Gary Brewer brings grass to The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved January 9, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  31. ^ "Brewgrass Entertainment at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass". The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  32. ^ Beane, Darby. "Former retail space becomes a concert venue at Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass". WDRB. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
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