After a career of over 60 years in the music industry, Ronnie Reno announced today that he will retire in December of 2019. The longstanding host of award-winning Reno’s Old Time Music television show will call it a day.
Back in 1955, a then seven-year-old Ronnie Reno climbed up on a milk carton, stretched up to the microphone, and performed before his first national audience on The Old Dominion Barndance. This performance would prove to be the beginning of one of the most colourful, diverse and distinguished careers in the music industry. Indeed, a career that spans over 60 years, and has put him along side some of the most legendary entertainers in Bluegrass and Country Music history.
Reno was launched into bluegrass greatness when he picked up the mandolin and joined his father’s band. His dad just happened to be banjo pioneer Don Reno and one-half of the Hall of Fame duo Reno & Smiley. While juggling schoolwork with TV tapings and top-billed performances, young Ronnie honed his chops and was a part of that act’s great recordings in the 50’s and 60’s. He earned a reputation as a fine all-round player and picked up additional work with groups like the Louvin Brothers, or whoever else might have needed him.
Ronnie Reno then joined the famed Osborne Brothers and provided part of what became the trademark Osborne Brothers sound during the height of their commercial success. In 1971, they were awarded the coveted CMA Vocal Group of the Year.
Ronnie’s talent later caught the attention of Merle Haggard. He went on to play and sang with Haggard and became Haggard’s opening act as a solo performer.
After the death of his father Don Reno in the 1984, Ronnie joined with his two brothers, Dale and Don-Wayne Reno to form the Reno Brothers. The trio also began hosting a regular TV show for the Americana cable network in 1993, which in its day was the only nationally broadcast television program to focus on bluegrass music.
Kristy Cox will be touring with Amanda Cook early next year and playing the Tamworth music festival in January. Here is an interview we produced with Amanda earlier this month.
Country Rocks Records has let us know of Aussie artist Kristy Cox’s recent announcement of two finalist nominations for the prestigious Toyota Golden Guitar Awards of Australia.
Rising Bluegrass band The King James Boys just dropped a new video for their song, Time To Go Home. The track serves as the title to the critically acclaimed band’s latest project released earlier this year.
Rebel Records has announced the release of Mickey Galyean & Cullen’s Bridge’s second Rebel recording, Songs From The Blue Ridge. Hot on the heels of their Rebel debut My Daddy’s Grass – which topped Bluegrass Unlimited’s National Survey Chart. Songs From The Blue Ridge gives every indication of being a radio/fan favourite.
Combining the musical styles of the Father of Bluegrass with the Okie from Muskogee is an exciting proposition. Feeling that “Bluegrass and Traditional Country music is America’s music, the stories of the common man and the sounds of the mountains,” Tim Raybon and Daniel Grindstaff have formed the new band MerleMonroe. A new album is in the works for release in the spring of 2019. A preview of the group’s sound can be heard on the new Christmas release A Very Acoustic Christmas. Raybon penned the nostalgic Oh The Joy Of Christmas for the album.
In just over a decade, Balsam Range has collected armfuls of industry awards, held multiple months at the top of radio charts, recorded and performed with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, and headlined an array of eclectic music festivals, all the while maintaining their identity and refining their craft to become one of the most vital artists in the roots genre.
Smooth but driving with a classic sound, Heartbreak Hall of Fame merges vintage Country with modern Bluegrass in just the right way, a combination the Grascals do so well. Written by Larry Joe Cox, Ray Edwards and Dicky Minor, it tells the story of unrequited love and a man whose suffering is endured through this bitter lament.