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Ruby Jane Bio!
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By:
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rubyjanesmith
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Mood:
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happy
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Date:
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05/11/2007 10:06:57
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Music:
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None
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Born on November 17, 1994, in Dallas, TX, Ruby Jane is one of the
world's premiere junior fiddlers and a fast-rising star in country and
bluegrass-Americana music. With deep familial and cultural ties
throughout the Southeast, she resides in Columbus, MS, when not
traveling as a musician, actress, or model.
Ruby Jane exhibited a strong connection to music as early as age one
and began classical violin instruction at age two. At age eight, she
was introduced to the sounds of Americana music in Santa Fe, NM,
leading to a complete devotion to old-time and bluegrass music.
Subsequently, she began old-time fiddle lessons, which included the
study of its unique bowing techniques, archaic tunings, and depth of
expression. After only six fiddle lessons, she won first place in the
first fiddle competition she entered, beginning a run of victories and
increasing notoriety that continues today.
She was granted an apprenticeship by the Mississippi Arts Commission at
age eight to apprentice with Charles T. Smith, one of the last great
Mississippi old-time fiddlers. For the past three years, she has
competed in dozens of prestigious music competitions and performed with
many bluegrass greats, including Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent ("The
Queen of Bluegrass"), Mike Snider, Jesse McReynolds, Jim Brock, James
Monroe, Carl Jackson and many others.
In 2005, at age ten, Ruby Jane acted in her second film, contributed an
original song to a film soundtrack, performed as the youngest invited
fiddler in the history of the Grand Ole Opry, played at the Ernest Tubb
Record Shop three times, and won the National Beginners Fiddle
Championship (which ranked her first nationally under twelve). She was
also a subject of artist James Patterson's state-commissioned,
permanent photography exhibit at Mississippi's Jackson International
Airport; her image hangs alongside Eudora Welty and Marty Stuart. Also
in 2005, she won Second Place on the mandolin in the National Beginner
Country Musician Competition, performed and modeled clothes for Project
Alabama in New York's fall fashion week, and won a second consecutive
First Place in her category at the TN Valley Fiddle Convention in
Athens, AL. At the 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association
convention, she participated in the "Kids on Bluegrass 2005" program
with Molly and Skip Cherryholmes, Paige Anderson, Ryan Holladay, Molly
Tuttle and others.
Ruby Jane is featured in a documentary about her legendary fiddle
instructor Jim Brock. She also contributed to the film's soundtrack. In
October 2005, at age 10, she won First Place in her category and then
won the Fiddle-Off at the Mississippi State Fair Southern Championship
Fiddle Contest, establishing her as the Mississippi State Fiddle
Champion of 2005 for all age groups. She was the youngest state
champion in the competition's history.
In 2006 alone, media outlets and programs including the CBS Evening
News, American Airlines In-Flight "Eye on America" News, Christian
Science Monitor, W magazine, British Vogue, The New York Times, The Los
Angeles Times, and award-winning publications in Russia and Australia
have featured stories about Ruby Jane. Selections from her eponymous
first full-length album are played on bluegrass radio in the United
States, Canada, and the Australian Radio Network. Also in 2006, she won
a prestigious American String Teachers Association Alternative Styles
Award.
Ruby Jane listens to all kinds of music, from jazz and rock to
classical and blues, while growing in her own musical expression. She
writes her own original songs and plays several instruments including
mandolin, harmonica, guitar, and spoons. She also is learning to play
bass, banjo, and dobro. She has recently signed Rusty Harmon, of the
firm Murphy To Manteo, as her new manager. Previously, Mr. Harmon
represented Hootie and the Blowfish as well as other nationally
recognized recording artists. A consummate performer, when asked what
to identify a single highlight of 2006, she mentioned playing on stage
with Marty Stuart at "Marty's Late Night Jam at the Ryman."
"Ruby Jane is a natural-born fiddler with a great future ahead of her."
- Jimbo Mathus
"She can melt a rock."
- Marty Stuart
"Enormously talented… Best bow arm I have EVER seen."
- Jesse McReynolds
"A bluegrass legend in the making."
- Johnnie Stringer
"Unbelievable 10-year-old musical prodigy and nonstop
performer"
- Jim Brock
"Phenomenal talent"
- Rhonda Vincent
"Instinctive performer and onstage peer."
- Larry Wallace
Named "ARTIST TO WATCH"
- Jackson Free Press, 2005
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