Gary Ruley and Mule Train

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gary Ruley and Mule Train


Img_capt = Gary Ruley, Will Lee, Brennan Gilmore
Mary Simpson, Ann Marie Calhoun
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|US
Rockbridge County, Virginia
Genre = Folk, Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Jazz
Years_active =
Label =
URL = [http://www.garyruleyband.com/ Official Site]
Current_members = Gary Ruley
Will Lee
Brennan Gilmore
Mary Simpson
Ann Marie Calhoun (née Simpson)
Other_members = Jeremiah Ruley
Rooster Ruley
Daniel Knicely
David Knicely
Larry Keel
Jenny Keel

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

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, Rooster Ruley, and his son, Jeremiah Ruley. The strong musical tradition of his hometown rooted the musical Ruley family in bluegrass and mountain music. His 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.” [ [http://www.garyruleyband.com/bio.htm Official Bio] ]

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. [ [http://www.garyruleyband.com/bio.htm Official Bio] ]

Performance

Gary Ruley plays mostly vintage Martin guitars. His flat picking has earned him honors and awards at numerous festivals, and made him much sought-after regionally.Gary Ruley has opened for Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder. He has performed with the late Vassar Clements and Bobby Lester (fiddle player for Bill Monroe). He has played with such greats as Darol Anger, two-time Grammy Winner Curtis Burch (New Grass Revival), Mike Seeger, Tony Rice, Jack Lawrence (Doc Watson’s partner), Mac Wiseman (Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs), Buddy Pendleton (Bill Monroe), John Starling (Seldom Scene), and Ricky Lee (Will Lee’s father, who played with Ralph Stanley).

Gary Ruley has performed on stages at:

*Black Mountain, North Carolina
*FloydFest (Floyd County, Virginia)
*Garth Newel Music Center (Warm Springs, Virginia)
*The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia)
*The Homestead (Hot Springs, Virginia)
*Lime Kiln Theater (Lexington, Virginia)
*Union Grove, North Carolina

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

Musical style

Known as one of the finest acoustic flat pickers, Gary Ruley 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. [ [http://www.garyruleyband.com/bio.htm Official Bio] ]

Distinctions, honors, and awards

*At the 2007 Maury River Fiddler's Convention (14th Annual):
**Guitar: First Place-Will Lee (Lexington, VA)
**Guitar: Third Place-Gary Ruley (Lexington, VA)
**Fiddle-Bluegrass: Second Place-Danny Knicely (Taylorstown, VA) [ [http://www.glenmaurypark.com/mrfc/winners.htm Maury River Fiddler’s Convention Winners] ]
*2006 Maury River Fiddler's Convention (13th Annual):
**Guitar: Third Place-Gary Ruley
**Guitar: Second Place-Will Lee
**Banjo-Bluegrass: Third Place-Rooster Ruley
**Fiddle-Bluegrass: Fourth Place-Danny Knicely [ [http://www.glenmaurypark.com/mrfc/winners.htm Maury River Fiddler’s Convention Winners] ]
*2005 Maury River Fiddler's Convention (12th Annual):
**Guitar: First Place-Will Lee
**Fiddle-Bluegrass: First Place-Mary Simpson
**Best All Around Blue Grass Performer-Mary Simpson. [ [http://www.glenmaurypark.com/mrfc/winners.htm Maury River Fiddler’s Convention Winners] ]
*Will Lee’s father joined the legendary Stanley Brothers as lead guitarist after playing with Bluegrass Tar Heels, special protegées of Bill Monroe. On his mother's side, Grandpa Clark was a fine ragtime pianist whose two sons both play guitar, while William Penmon Lee, the grandfather he was named after, was a respected clawhammer banjo player in Alabama and Mississippi. [ [http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/artists/will_lee.php Will Lee biography] ]
*Danny Knicely’s grandfather, A. O. Knicely, played old time guitar, mandolin, and fiddle as leader of the Knicely Family Band. His father played bass and banjo in A.O.K.’s band; he also led his own country and bluegrass band, Dominion Express. Danny's mother had two groups: Heartland, a country and gospel band,as well as a large dance troupe, the Massanutten Mountain Cloggers. [ [http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/artists/danny_knicely.php Danny Knicely’s bio] ]
*Magraw Gap, a band comprising Will Lee, Larry Keel, and Danny Knicely, took first place at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1995. [ [http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/artists/will_lee.php Will Lee biography] ]

Personnel

*Gary Ruley—vocals/guitar
*Rooster Ruley—banjo
*Jeremiah Ruley—banjo
*Daniel Knicely—mandolin/vocals
*David Knicely— bass
*Larry Keel guitar/mandolin/vocals
*Jenny Keel— bass/vocals
*Ann Marie Calhoun (née Simpson)—fiddle/vocals
*Mary Simpson—fiddle/vocals
*Brennan Gilmore—mandolin/vocals
*Will Lee—banjo/vocals

Recordings

*"Live at the Troubadour Vol. 1"
**Gary Ruley (guitar, vocals)
**Larry Keel (guitar, vocals)
**Will Lee (banjo, vocals)
**Jenny Keel (bass, vocals)
**Ann Marie Simpson-Calhoun (fiddle, vocals)
**Mary Simpson (fiddle, vocals)
*"Live at the Troubadour Vol. 2"
**Gary Ruley (guitar, vocals)
**Larry Keel (guitar, vocals)
**Will Lee (banjo, vocals)
**Jenny Keel (bass, vocals)
**Ann Marie Simpson-Calhoun (fiddle, vocals)
**Mary Simpson (fiddle, vocals)
*"Pickin' Tradition"
**Gary Ruley (guitar, lead vocals)
**Rooster Ruley (banjo)
**Daniel Knicely (mandolin, harmony vocals)
**Larry Keel (guitar, harmony vocals)
**Jenny Keel (upright bass, harmony vocals)
**Steve Hoke (fiddle)
*"Gary Ruley & Muletrain"
**Gary Ruley (guitar, lead vocals)
**Daniel Knicely (mandolin, harmony vocals)
**Larry Keel (guitar, harmony vocals)
**Jenny Keel (upright bass, harmony vocals)
**Also Featuring: Will Lee, Ann Marie Simpson-Calhoun, Jeremiah Ruley, Brennan Gilmore, Mark Shimmick, and Mitchell Davis.
*"Shenandoah Bluegrass"

Video

*" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8NXup1PsE Orange Blossom Special] " published January 31, 2008: Gary Ruley and Mule Train play Orange Blossom Special with twin fiddles. Features Gary Ruley, Ann Marie Calhoun, Brennan Gilmore, Danny Knicely, and Will Lee.
*" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=durPiQKHdd4 Mule Skinner Blues] " published January 28, 2008: Gary Ruley pickin' and a grinnin' Mule Skinner Blues with his flat-top guitar, playing it in the Virginia bluegrass style.
*" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtuzDnP_BA East Virginia Blues] " published January 28, 2008: Rockbridge County bluegrass at its best, featuring Gary Ruley, Brennan Gilmore, Will Lee, Ann Marie Calhoun, and David Knicely.
*" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMggyZGhVF8 Great Balls of Fire] " published March 14, 2008: New song for the bluegrass repertoire of Gary Ruley and Mule Train, featuring Gary Ruley (guitar), Will Lee (banjo), Brennan Gilmore (mandolin), David Knicely (bass), and Mary Simpson (fiddle) at Queen City Brewery, Staunton, Virginia.
*" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcuFTlfQBFM Ruley's Side Show Circuit with Ann Marie Calhoun] " published March 10, 2008: Gary Ruley plays the Downtown Lexington Festival 2001 with Ann Marie Calhoun (fiddle), Rooster Ruley (banjo), and Brennan Gilmore (mandolin).

Reviews, interviews, articles

*" [http://www.bluegrassmusic.com/ Bluegrass Unlimited] " October 2006, review " [http://www.bluegrassmusic.com/index.php?em192=88953_-1__0_~0~445_-1_4_2008_0_0&issue=190007&search_string=Gary%20Ruley&em193= Live at Troubadour, Volumes One & Two] ".
*" [http://www.thenews-gazette.com/ The News-Gazette] " Lexington, Virginia; Section C, Page 2, November 23, 2005 "Live at Troubadour".
*" [http://www.thenews-gazette.com/ The News-Gazette] " Lexington, Virginia; Wednesday, April 9,2003 Section C, "Muletrain Sparkles".
*" [http://www.thenews-gazette.com/ The News-Gazette] " Lexington, Virginia; Wednesday, June 6,2002, "Three Bands to Play at First Lexington Alive Concert".
*" [http://www.bluegrassmusic.com/ Bluegrass Unlimited] " April 2000, page 92, review "Pickin' Tradition".
*" [http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage Daily News Leader] " Staunton, Virginia; Friday, March 17,2000, “Ruley Helps Keep Music Heritage Alive".
*" [http://www.thenews-gazette.com/ The News-Gazette] " Lexington, Virginia; Wednesday, December 22, 1999; Section C, Page 4 "Bluegrass CD A Delightful Menagerie".

References

ee also

*Bluegrass music
*Old-time music
*Ann Marie Calhoun
*Lexington, Virginia
*Rockingham County, Virginia

External links

* [http://www.garyruleyband.com/ Gary Ruley and Mule Train] Official Site.
* [http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/artists/will_lee.php Will Lee biography] Mapleshade Records.
* [http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/artists/danny_knicely.php Danny Knicely biography] Mapleshade Records.
* [http://www.glenmaurypark.com/mrfc/winners.htm Winners] Maury River Fiddler’s Convention.
* [http://www.myspace.com/walkersrun Walker's Run] MySpace page.
* [http://www.kantaramusic.com/ Kantara] Official Site.
* [http://www.myspace.com/kantaraarabappalachian Kantara] MySpace page.
* [http://www.annmariecalhoun.com/ Ann Marie Calhoun] Official Site.
* [http://www.myspace.com/annmariecalhoun Ann Marie Calhoun] MySpace page.
* [http://www.larrykeel.com/ Larry Keel] Official Site.
* [http://www.myspace.com/larrykeel Larry Keel] MySpace page.

Further reading

*cite book |author=Rosenberg, Neil V. |title=Bluegrass: A HISTORY 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Music in American Life) |publisher=University of Illinois Press |location=Urbana |year=2005 |pages= |isbn=0-252-07245-6 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=
*cite book |author=Goldsmith, Thomas |title=The Bluegrass Reader (Music in American Life) |publisher=University of Illinois Press |location=Urbana |year=2006 |pages= |isbn=0-252-07365-7 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=
*cite book |author=Cantwell, Robert |title=Bluegrass breakdown: the making of the old southern sound |publisher=University of Illinois Press |location=Urbana |year=2003 |pages= |isbn=0-252-07117-4 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=
*cite book |author=Thompson, Eric; Sid Griffin |title=Bluegrass guitar: know the players, play the music |publisher=Backbeat Books |location=San Francisco, CA |year=2005 |pages= |isbn=0-87930-870-2 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=