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  • ABOUT
    • BIO
    • HISTORY
    • AWARDS
  • MUSIC CREDITS
  • MUSIC
    • Videos
    • NEWS
  • CONTACT
  • BANJO WORKSHOPS
    • Banjo Week 1
    • Banjo Week 2
    • Banjo Week 3
    • Banjo Week 4
    • Banjo Lesson: "Foggy Mountain Special" from Earl Scruggs Tribute
    • Banjo Lesson: Man of Constant Sorrow from O Brother Soundtrack
    • Banjo Lesson: Bending Strings in Bluegrass
    • Developing New Licks and Ideas Banjo Workshop
  • STORE
  • GUITAR WORKSHOP
    • Session I
    • Session II
    • SESSION III
    • SESSION IV
  • TOUR

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • BIO
    • HISTORY
    • AWARDS
  • MUSIC CREDITS
  • MUSIC
    • Videos
    • NEWS
  • CONTACT
  • BANJO WORKSHOPS
    • Banjo Week 1
    • Banjo Week 2
    • Banjo Week 3
    • Banjo Week 4
    • Banjo Lesson: "Foggy Mountain Special" from Earl Scruggs Tribute
    • Banjo Lesson: Man of Constant Sorrow from O Brother Soundtrack
    • Banjo Lesson: Bending Strings in Bluegrass
    • Developing New Licks and Ideas Banjo Workshop
  • STORE
  • GUITAR WORKSHOP
    • Session I
    • Session II
    • SESSION III
    • SESSION IV
  • TOUR

1975    July – Ron’s Dad, Chuck Block, owner of Hogan’s House of Music, buys Ron his first guitar.

1976    Ron sees Lester Flatt on television, bluegrass for the first time. Starts bugging his Dad for a banjo.

1976    Christmas – Chuck Block buys Ron’s first banjo, a Harmony.  

1980    Ron starts working for Dad’s music store, joins local southern California band playing banjo and guitar and singing harmony.

1984    Ron attends South Plains College, two semesters and starts Weary Hearts with Eric Uglum and Mike Bub.
            They record first cassette in the Waylon Jennings Recording Studio at South Plains College,
            with Stuart Duncan on mandolin/fiddle.  He also meets a young Alison Krauss at SPBGMA in Nashville, TN.

1987    February – Weary Hearts record follow up gospel record called Faith is the Answer at South Plains.
            Meets Alison Krauss in Nashville at SPBGMA bluegrass  convention/contest. 

1988    Chris Jones joins Weary Hearts after Eric Uglum’s departure.  
            With Weary Hearts at Silver Dollar City, Ron meets Adam Steffey, Barry Bales, 
            and Tim Stafford playing with Dusty Miller.

1989    February – Weary Hearts record By Heart in Nashville for Flying Fish Records.
            Later that year Ron leaves Weary Hearts, plays with Eric Uglum, Rob Ickes,
            and Sandra Block in New Wine.

1991    Ron plays with The Lynn Morris Band from Winchester, VA

1991    October – Ron joins Alison Krauss and Union Station – Alison, Barry Bales, Tim Stafford, and Adam Steffey.

1992    Records Everytime You Say Goodbye with AKUS,

1995    AKUS tours with Garth Brooks.

1997    So Long So Long released, wins Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

2001    Plays banjo on the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack and appears in the movie with Dan Tyminski,
            Barry Bales, and Jerry Douglas.

2002    AKUS tours with the Down from the Mountain Tour, featuring performers from the O Brother soundtrack.
            Patty Loveless, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell,
            Ralph Stanley, Norman and Nancy Blake, the Whites, the Cox Family, dvd filmed at the Ryman.

2004    AKUS tours with the Great High Mountain Tour

2007    AKUS 100 Miles or More Tour

2010-2013   Paper Airplane is released, touring follows.

2014-2015    AKUS tours with Willie Nelson

Notable Events:

  • Member of Union Station for over 26 years on guitar, banjo, vocals, and songwriting
  • Has received 14 Grammy awards
  • Has received 6 IBMA (International Bluegrass Awards) awards
  • Has received a CMA Award for Single of the Year
  • Has received a Dove Award for Bluegrass Song of the Year
  • Has performed at the White House for the President of the United States in 2009

Notable Album Credits:

  • 2011  “Paper Airplane” / Alison Krauss & Union St. / Banjo, Guitar
  • 2010  “Crossroads Guitar Fest 2004” / Eric Clapton / Artist
  • 2010  “Hit Alive” // Brad Paisley / Banjo
  • 2009  “Brothers from Diff. Mothers” / Dailey & Vincent / Banjo
  • 2009  “Essential Allison Krauss” / Alison Krauss / Banjo, Guitar
  • 2008  “Learn To Live” / Darius Rucker / Banjo
  • 2007  “5th Gear” / Brad Paisley / Banjo
  • 2007  “A Place To Land” / Brad Paisley / Guitar
  • 2006  “Like Red on a Rose” / Alan Jackson / Guitar
  • 2006  “Your Man” / Josh Turner / Banjo
  • 2005  “Hymns and Prayer Songs” / Buddy Greene / Banjo, Guitar
  • 2005  “The Road To Here” / Little Big Town / Banjo, Guitar
  • 2003  “Mud on the Tires” / Brad Paisley / Banjo
  • 2001  “Greatest Hits. Vol. III / Reba McEntire / Guitar
  • 2001  “Part II” / Brad Paisley / Banjo
  • 2001  “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” / Soundtrack / Banjo
  • 2000  “Back Home Again” / Rhonda Vincent / Composer
  • 2000  “Hard Rain Don’t Last” / Darryl Worley / Banjo, Artist
  • 2000  “Inspirational Journey” / Randy Travis / Composer
  • 1997  “Life Is A Journey” / Ricky Skaggs / Vocals (BG’s)
  • 1996  “High Lonesome Sound” / Vince Gill / Banjo
  • 1994  “Heartsongs:  Live from Home” / Dolly Parton / Banjo

National TV Exposure:

  • Has performed on “Late Show with David Letterman”
  • Has performed on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
  • Has performed on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien"
  • Has performed on the Grammys Award show
  • Has performed on “The View” (ABC)




                                   
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