Ridge Runner Records was a record label based in Fort Worth, Texas, specializing in acoustic music from Texas and Oklahoma. Ridge Runner was one of the first labels to release and market bluegrass music in the southwestern U.S.[1]
| Ridge Runner Records | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Richey Records |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Slim Richey |
| Genre | Bluegrass, country |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas |
History
editWhile operating Warehouse Music in Fort Worth in the mid-1970s, selling guitars and musical equipment, Slim Richey began making records on his Ridge Runner label.[2]
One of the first goals of Ridge Runner was to record and release albums by the banjo player Alan Munde, but the label branched out to other bluegrass and country musicians and groups.[3]
Ridger Runner released Jazz Grass which featured bluegrass musicians playing jazz standards. The album had Richey and Sumter Bruton on guitar, Dan Huckabee on Dobro, Richard Greene, Ricky Skaggs and Sam Bush on fiddle, Joe Carr and Kerby Stewart on mandolin and Bill Keith, Gerald Jones and Alan Munde on banjo.[4]
Other significant albums released by Ridge Runner include:
- Pre-Sequel by Alison Brown and Stuart Duncan was recorded when Alison had just graduated from high school.[5]
- With A Little Help From My Friends by Marty Stuart was his first solo album, released in 1978 when he was 19 years old.[6]
Ridge Runner also published Richey's bluegrass songbooks and music instruction videos.[7]
Ridge Runner and its sister label Flying High Records were under the umbrella of Richey Records.[8]
Artists
editHere is a partial list of artists who have released recordings on the Ridge Runner label:
- David Ferguson
- Richard Bailey
- Kenny Baker
- Bob Black
- Alison Brown & Stuart Duncan
- Sam Bush
- Joe Carr
- Bob Clark
- Country Gazette
- Country Store
- Fred Geiger
- Dan Huckabee
- Bill Knopf
- Muleskinner
- Alan Munde
- Slim Richey
- Roanoke
- Eddie Shelton
- Barry Solomon
- Wayne Stewart
- Stone Mountain Boys
- Marty Stuart
- Tennessee Gentlemen
- Buck White & The Down Home Folks
- Roland White
- Howard Yearwood
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Hartman, Gary (March 8, 2008). The History of Texas Music (1 ed.). ISBN 9781603440028. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Francis, Robert (June 1, 2015). "Slim Richey 1938-2015: Texas guitarist crossed the borders of jazz, bluegrass, country and more". Fort Worth Business Press. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Jasinsk, Laurie E.; Casey J. Monahan; Gary Hartman; Ann T. Smith (2012). The Handbook of Texas Music (1 ed.). ISBN 9780876112533. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Lawless, John (June 1, 2015). "Slim Richey passes". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "CSO Presents Annual Home For The Holidays With Alison Brown On Banjo". The Chattanoogan. December 2, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ^ Rhodes, Don (September 8, 2011). "Marty Stuart's wonderful life to include stop in Augusta". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Slim Richey". PlayBetterBluegrass.com. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Patoski, Joe Nick (June 1, 1980). "Wax Works". Texas Monthly. Retrieved July 15, 2017.