Bob Minner Releases His New Single Ruby Jean on Billy Blue Records.
With a prolific career spanning decades, Bob Minner, an accomplished banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and resonator guitar player, has released his latest spirited bluegrass tune, Ruby Jean.
Ruby Jean, co-written with his wife, Virginia Minner, whom he fondly refers to as his partner-in-rhyme features the dynamic talents of Jesse Smathers and Zach Arnold.
Dedicating 32 years, and counting, as the acoustic guitarist for Tim McGraw, and previously releasing four solo albums, Minner has earned his reputation as one of the most respected musicians and songwriters within the industry. As co-writer of the recent Authentic Unlimited hit, Fall In Tennessee, Minner, along with co-writer John Meador, won the IBMA Song of the Year at this year’s IBMA Awards. As he uniquely blends bluegrass, country and folk, throughout his body of work, Ruby Jean, captures that unique blend of styles, infusing infectious melodies and heartfelt storytelling.
You can listen to Ruby Jean here.
The idea for his latest track sparked over two years ago when Bob found himself repeatedly humming the melody. Soon after, Minner and his wife sitting on their front porch, quickly turned the melody into a full song encapsulating the classic tale of a good ole country boy trying to win his country queen back. The song, enduring the test of time, was an obvious choice as Minner began to select tracks for his upcoming Billy Blue Records album release set to debut early 2025.
Writing Ruby Jean with my wife and partner-in-rhyme, Virginia Minner, was our tip of the hat to those time-honoured bluegrass songs where the man is begging his love to take him back and come home. It’s a fun, uptempo song that I asked my pal Jesse Smathers to sing on. Zach Arnold really compliments with his harmony work as well. We hope folks enjoy it as much as we did writing it, and we appreciate everyone’s support – Bob Minner.
Fans can expect more of this authentic, front-porch style of songwriting on the upcoming collection of original bluegrass tunes. You can follow along for the latest news at minnerguitar.com or on social media.
About Bob Minner:
Growing up in old-time string band music as well as bluegrass in Missouri, near St. Louis, Bob Minner’s lifelong love affair with music began at the tender age of two and a half, when he first strummed his plastic guitar. Since then, his journey with music has been nothing short of extraordinary, spanning across the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, and beyond.
His musical passion has played a serendipitous role in bringing Bob and his wife Ginger together, shaping not only their personal life but also providing a foundation for raising a family. After traveling with their own band for a while, the Minner’s settled in Nashville which became the backdrop for Bob’s role as acoustic guitarist for country icon Tim McGraw, a position held for an impressive 32 years and counting.
Beyond being a skilled instrumentalist, Minner is a prolific songwriter with credits and cuts by revered bluegrass bands like,Authentic Unlimited, Blue Highway, Tim McGraw, Volume Five, Dailey & Vincent, Ronnie Bowman, Jim Lauderdale & The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Shannon Slaughter, Blue Moon Rising, and others. He has received nominations such as IBMA Collaboration Of The Year in 2012 and SPBGMA Song Of The Year in 2024. While constantly crafting new solo guitar compositions, Minner released the album There and Back and Back Again in 2011, Six String Sanctuary in 2019, Solo in 2021, and, most recently, Five From Frankie and From Sulphur Springs to Rising Fawn in 2022 to critical acclaim.
Learn more of Bob Milner from his website here.
