Biography

Contact Information
Gary Brewer - (502)541-2456
gary@brewgrass.com
Wayne Brewer - Management - (502)262-1742
wayne@brewgrass.com
Alyssa Brewer - Publicity - (502)435-9295
alyssa@brewgrass.com





In 1995, Gary Brewer recorded this instrumental Guitar CD at Falk Studio. Gary features Bill Monroe and Uncle Josh Graves together for the very first time in the studio. He sees that and the fact that "Guitar" was Bill Monroe's last commercial recording before his passing as his highest accomplishments. Gary Brewer features classic tracks like The Ozark Rag, White Horse Breakdown, The Old Brown Case, etc. He features original tunes including Touring With Monroe (which was written while on tour with Bill Monroe [the Father of Bluegrass]), Roan Mountain Ramble, Tom Rock Twist, and more. Also included on this instrumental album is Gary Brewer's acoustic version of a Rock N' Roll classic (made famous by Kansas) titled Dust In The Wind. Gary Brewer is the only Bluegrass artist that has recorded Dust In The Wind. After releasing Guitar, Gary received a double nomination for Guitar Player of the Year at the IBMAs in the years 1999 and 2000.

Release Date: 1995

THE BAND
Gary "Stretch" Brewer- guitar(s), mandolin, and bass
Bill Monroe- mandolin
Josh Graves- dobro
Larry Sparks- guitar
Ron Stewart- fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and bass
Dale "Punch" Taylor- bass
Alan Phelps- dobro

Produced by: Gary Brewer and Stretchgrass Productions
Recorded at: Falk Studio (Louisville, Kentucky)
Engineer: Tim Haertel
Mixed by: Gary Brewer and Tim Haertel
Recording Assistant: Jim Brewer
Additional Recording: Fox Farm Studio (Nashville, Tennessee)
Engineers: Kent Fox and Tim Haertel
Mastered by: Dave Glasser - Airshow, Inc. (Springfield, Virginia)


1. THE OZARK RAG - 2:42

Songwriter: Bill Monroe
Publishing/PRO: Bill Monroe Music -BMI

While touring with Bill Monroe in Branson, Missouri, he wrote this tune and taught it to me. He asked me to record it. "Are we in the Ozark Mountains?" he asked and I said "Yes, right in the middle of them." So he said "This tune will be titled The Ozark Rag.


2. OLD UNLUCKY DEVIL - 2:42

Songwriter: Traditional - P.D.
Publishing/PRO: Traditional - P.D.

My Grandpa Brewer played this old-time fiddle tune for nearly 80 years. History has never been able to confirm where it came from. I've never heard anyone else play it. I transferred it to the guitar. Ron plays it note for note like Grandpa did.


3. STEEL GUITAR RAG - 3:06

Songwriter: McAuliffe - Travis - Stone
Publishing/PRO: Bourne - ASCAP

This vintage dance tune has often been put back in mothballs and forgotten. Me and my buddy Larry Sparks got this tune out and dusted it off. Larry has been a great influence on my guitar work and it's a great treat to have him on this tune with me. Two old Martin guitars, two great friends, and one great tune.


4. DON'T LET YOUR DEAL GO DOWN - 2:52

Songwriter: Traditional - P.D.
Publishing/PRO: Traditional - P.D.

Everytime Grandpa Brewer picked up a guitar, he would play this tune. I learned this version from him. Thanks, Pap! Your style has greatly influenced me.


5. THE OLD KENTUCKY BLUES - 5:32

Songwriter: Bill Monroe
Publishing/PRO: Bill Monroe Music - BMI

While appearing with Bill Monroe at Roy Clark's theater in Branson, Missouri, Bill and I were tuning up and he asked me to play my guitar. He took it and asked me to listen to this song. I loved it! He then took the time to teach it to me. He told me that he has just written it and he wanted me to record it. This is one of the greatest highlights of my career.


6. GREENSLEEVES - 2:38

Songwriter: Traditional - P.D.
Publishing/PRO: Traditional - P.D.

I've been fingerpicking this tune for years and started featuring it on my live showdates. The response to is was great so I decided to record it. I features great dobro work by Alan.


7. GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME - 4:49

Songwriter: C. Putman
Publishing/PRO: Tree Pub. - BMI

This is a beautiful song I've heard my dad sing many times during my childhood days at home. Just close your eyes and listen and you can reminisce about your childhood at home with mom and dad.


8. THE OLD MINOR JOE CLARK - 2:43

Songwriter: Gary Brewer
Publishing/PRO: BMI

While fooling around one evening at home on my herringbone, I was trying out some new chords. By chance, I began playing Old Joe Clark in A minor.


9. DUST IN THE WIND - 4:21

Songwriter: Kerry Livgren
Publishing/PRO: Don Kirshner/Blackwood Music, Inc. - BMI

This song was very popular in rock music in the early 1980s. I adapted it to a fingerpicked style. It makes a beautiful guitar piece that people remember.


10. TOURING WITH MONROE - 2:11

Songwriter: Gary Brewer
Publishing/PRO: BMI

I wrote this tune while touring with Bill Monroe in January of 1994. I tried to vision my guitar picking with Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys mixed together. This tune is what I heard in my mind. I played Bill's mandolin on this tune. I tried to play it like Bill might have. His Loar is a killer! Thanks Bill!


11. ROAN MOUNTAIN RAMBLE - 2:35

Songwriter: Gary Brewer
Publishing/PRO: BMI

I wrote this tune, too, while touring with Bill Monroe. The title comes from the Brewer homeplace in Roan Mountain, Tennessee and the name of my band, the Kentucky Ramblers.


12. THE OLD BROWN CASE - 3:54

Songwriter: Norman Blake
Publishing/PRO: Nannor Music - BMI

I saw Norman Blake on Hee Haw for the first time in the late 1970s. I rushed out and my dad and I went to buy a record of his and I have been a fan ever since. This song is my favorite Norman Blake tune.


13. WHITE HORSE BREAKDOWN - 2:27

Songwriter: Bill Monroe
Publishing/PRO: Bill Monroe Music - BMI

This is a Bill Monroe tune that is very much under-recorded. I learned the from Norman Blake.


14. TOM ROCK TWIST - 2:24

Songwriter: Gary Brewer
Publishing/PRO: BMI

I wrote this piece during numerous showdates and hours of travel on the bus. The name of this tune comes from an Indian cave on the Brewer homeplace in Tennessee.


15. WHITE OAK SWAMP - 2:50

Songwriter: Norman Blake
Publishing/PRO: Nannor Music - BMI

This is a Norman Blake tune that stands among the better instrumentals ever written.


tracks 16 & 17 are located here: http://www.airplaydirect.com/music/garybrewer-guitar-part2

Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers Biography

Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers (GBKR), a family band that goes back 6 generations into their musical roots, has performed in all 50 US states, Canada, and Europe extensively since being formed in 1980. GBKR takes the stage performing Bluegrass originals, Country music classics, foot-stomping Old-time Mountain Music, and good ole Gospel hymns; offering a little something for everybody. Gary has stamped their style of music as “Brewgrass”.

During his music career, Gary Brewer has recorded for multiple major record labels including Copper Creek releasing 29 studio albums and a double live album (recorded on one of his European tours). Now, he has released an additional 21 albums on his own label, SGM Records (Stretch Grass Music). Among the SGM releases is “Kentucky Headlines and Heartbreak” including 3 tracks. One of the tracks titled “The Death of Floyd Collins” was the soundtrack for “The Floyd Collins Story” movie (released on Peridot Pictures). GBKR’s 2018 release, “Vintage Country Revival” brought great success charting at #1 on the Global Country Radio Charts and was included on the 1st round ballot in the 61st GRAMMY Awards (for Best Americana Album & Best American-Roots performance).

Their most recent album on SGM “40th Anniversary Celebration” was released during the start of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic in May 2020. Climbing the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart to the #1 spot multiple times and holding in the top 5 for over 70 weeks, this CD Release garnered massive media attention for the group. The lead single (Goin’ Up Shell Creek ft. The Travelin’ McCourys) was premiered by American Songwriter saying “The track is a well written and pristinely executed Bluegrass tune that keeps its energy up without losing control. The song comes equipped with every element it needs to be a complete and cohesive piece of music.” Instead of a traditional CD release party, GBKR opted for a virtual one that included the full album along with studio footage and commentary from various music icons: Paul Schiminger, Jamie Dailey, Larry Sparks, Russell Moore, Sam Bush, Chris Joslin (Executive Director of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame), Little Roy Lewis, Greg Cahill, J.P. Pennington, and many more (all with kind words for Gary). The virtual CD release party was premiered by Bluegrass Life. The album critically praised by countless outlets, Midwest Record Reviews said “40th Anniversary Celebration” is “The Biggest Bluegrass record since ‘Dueling Banjos’!” GBKR was featured on/in the following outlets due to GBKR’s 40th Anniversary and its CD Release: Medium Magazine, Thrive Global, Music Row, NewsBreak, Take Effect, Bluegrass Today, Roots Music Report, The Bluegrass Situation, Vents Magazine, Bluegrass Unlimited, The Bluegrass Standard, and more. “40th Anniversary Celebration” was included in 6 categories on the initial round ballot for the 63rd GRAMMY Awards and up for “Collaborative Recording of the Year” at the 2020 IBMAs. Needless to say, even without having the opportunity to promote their 40th Anniversary CD on the road, GBKR had one of their most successful years yet in 2020.

The entire Brewer clan has come by their musical talents honestly. They have true respect for their roots that reach back to the 1920s including third-generation Brewer, Finley J. “Pap” Brewer Sr., performing with the Original Carter family. Because of such a great love for music being passed down for generations, Gary is a strong traditionalist. He has toured alongside many Bluegrass music legends throughout his career. He esteems being the last person to have commercially recorded with the late and great Bill Monroe on his “Guitar” CD one of his highest accomplishments (later resulting in Gary becoming a Guitar Player of the Year finalist at the IBMAs).

“This boy right here is 100% Bluegrass! He comes from good stock.”
-Bill Monroe (The Father of Bluegrass)

Also, included in his 50 recordings is an All-star tribute album to the King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin, released before he passed. Gary named the album “Jimmy Martin Songs for Dinner”. The title track “Jimmy Martin Songs for Dinner” went on to also be released on Jimmy Martin’s CD “Songs of a Freeborn Man” on CMH Records, and was included on the DVD “The Life & Times of Jimmy Martin” (released on Straight Six Films).

“Gary is a great guitar picker and has a great voice. Him and his dad have the best show on the circuit!” -Jimmy Martin (The King of Bluegrass)

Though he is a Bluegrass music veteran, Gary is the type that isn’t afraid to branch out to other genres. Gary has had chart-topping songs/CDs in Bluegrass as well as Americana, Old-time, Country, Gospel, and even Rock! Gary has been accredited as one of the only Bluegrass performers to record and have international radio chart success with Rock classic covers of Elvis, CCR, and Kansas.

In addition to touring internationally, GBKR produces multiple events and concert series. To kick off their 40th Anniversary tour, the guys ran a 6-month artist residency at their own live music venue (located inside KY’s largest outlet mall - The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, Simpsonville, KY), Brewgrass Entertainment. Each show featured special guest acts, along with a performance from Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers. Before opening their own venue, GBKR hosted five seasons of their Winter concert series “Friday Night Bluegrass” (Shepherdsville, KY). GBKR currently hosts their bi-annual community music festival “Shin-dig in the Park” (Shepherdsville, KY). Gary and his boys are keeping Bluegrass music alive in the Bluegrass state.

With the global pandemic postponing most tour dates for GBKR’s 2020 40th Anniversary Celebration Tour, the guys will be heading back on the road to resume and complete the tour in 2021.