Gary Brewer
Brewer in 2017
Background information
Born (1965-04-19) April 19, 1965
Louisville, Kentucky
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, banjo
Years active1979–present
Labelslouisvillemusic.com Records, Stretch Grass Music
Websitebrewgrass.com

Gary Brewer is an American guitarist and banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for leading the Kentucky Ramblers, and for staging the annual Strictly Bluegrass festival.[1]

Biography

Brewer was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. His grandfather Finley J. Brewer Sr. performed with the Carter Family, and his father Finley J. Brewer Jr. (aka Jim Brewer) has played since 1950. Sometimes Jim haa performed with his son Gary and Gary’s sons Wayne and Mason.[2][3]

Brewer played rock music until he began playing acoustic guitar while recuperating from an auto accident. That was when he and two friends formed the bluegrass group Kentucky Ramblers in 1979.[4]

In 1994, Brewer was invited to participate in Bill and James Monroe’s “Father and Son” Winter Tour.[5]

Released in 1995, Brewer's album Guitar also features Bill Monroe, Ron Stewart, Larry Sparks, and Josh Graves on a set of instrumentals.[6]

Brewer released Jimmy Martin Songs For Dinner in 1999, with assistance from J. D. Crowe, Larry Stephenson, Doyle Lawson, Bobby Hicks, Terry Eldredge, Terry Smith, and Art Stamper. The title song on this tribute to Jimmy Martin was written by Tom T. Hall specifically for this album.[7]

Strictly Bluegrass Festival

In 1989, Brewer worked with the Louisville mayor's office to launch the Strictly Bluegrass bluegrass festival held at the Iroquois Amphitheater and later moved to New Albany, Indiana.[8]

Awards and recognition

In 2000, Brewer was nominated as a finalist twice by the International Bluegrass Music Association: for Guitar Player of the Year, and his song Jimmy Martin Songs for Dinner for Song of the Year.

Personal life

Brewer's nickname is "Stretch", and his record label is Stretchgrass Productions.

Discography

Solo recordings

Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers

  • 1986: Thinking of Home (Turquoise) as The Kentucky Ramblers
  • 1990: Down Home Memories (Copper Creek)
  • 1992: Goin' Back to Kentucky (Copper Creek)
  • 1993: Nearing Jordan's Crossing (Copper Creek)
  • 1994: Money to Ride the Train (Copper Creek)
  • 1996: Live in Europe (Copper Creek)
  • 1997: Memories of Home (Cowan Creek)[10]
  • 1998: Kentucky Headlines and Heartbreak EP (self-released)
  • 1998: Heaven's Jubilee (Cowan Creek)
  • 1999: Jimmy Martin Songs For Dinner (louisvillemusic.com)
  • 2001: Home Brew (Copper Creek)[11]
  • 2014: Homestretch (Stretch Grass)[12]

Gary and Jim Brewer

  • 1991: Two Of A Kind (Copper Creek)

Pap Brewer with Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers

Gary Brewer and Phil Sexton

  • 1999: The 5th Generation (June Appal)[13]

Music instruction

  • 1998: Gary Brewer, Guitar: Bluegrass Guitar at Its Best (Mel Bay) ISBN 978-0786644506

References

  1. ↑ Jean Metcalfe (October 1, 1992). "Strictly BluegrassBy". Louisville Music News. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers Wrap Up July at the Carter Fold". Cybergrass. July 4, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  3. ↑ Andrew Lyons (June 22, 2017). "Brew-grass Music is a Family Tradition for Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers". WHAS. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (September 10, 1999). "Brewer's Bluegrass Collision". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  5. ↑ Richard Thompson (December 8, 2010). "I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky #69". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  6. ↑ Bob Mitchell. "Gary Brewer; Guitar (Copper Creek)". Louisville Music News. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  7. ↑ Jonathan Colcord. "Gary Brewer: Jimmy Martin Songs For Dinner". Country Standard Time. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  8. ↑ Tim Roberts. "Front & Center: Brewgrass Rising - Gary Brewer And The Strictly Bluegrass Festival". Louisville Music News. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  9. ↑ David Duckman (August 24, 1995). "Gary Brewer Guitar (Copper Creek)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  10. ↑ Keith Lawrence (September 28, 1997). "Roots Of Bluegrass Are Way Back Home". Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  11. ↑ Nicky Rossiter (March 23, 2002). "Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers, Home Brew". Rambles. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  12. ↑ John Curtis Goad (June 26, 2014). "Homestretch – Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ "JA- 076 – The 5th Generation". June Appal Recordings. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
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