Gary Ruley and Mule Train
Gary Ruley was born into a musical family in Lexington, Virginia. He gave his first public performance at the age of 10. Since then
he has captured the hearts of music lovers virtually everywhere, performing at various venues and festivals throughout Virginia. There, music had a strong tradition rooted in bluegrass and mountain music. He grew
up in Lexington performing with other musicians for functions at Washington and Lee University, Virginia Military Institute, The University
of Virginia, and various weddings and socials.
The foundation of Gary's musical journey was molded with many performances at a young age singing and flatpicking in and around
Lexington, Virginia. Lexington was a hotbed of nightly entertainment of live acoustic music. Many nights would feature four or five different
bands performing at various venues. Gary got a big earful of traveling musicians who would often stop in to perform at one of the local
colleges or pubs. From bluegrass, rock, old time, blues, Lexington was truly ALIVE.
Over the years he has honed his skills while performing with various masters of bluegrass. Gary stretches to new boundaries with jazz and new grass, creating a dynamic hard-driving show that has earned him many
fans. He is highly regarded by his musical peers as an all-encompassing powerhouse of entertainment.
In his performances Gary plays mostly vintage Martin guitars. His flat picking has earned him many honors and awards at various
festivals, making Gary one of the most sought-after musicians for many events in and around Lexington, Virginia. Our band has
performed for countless wedding parties in Rockbridge County and surrounding areas over the years, says Ruley.
Gary has opened for Ricky Scraggs and Kentucky Thunder. Gary has performed on stage with the late great
Vassar Clements, the late Bobby Lester (Bill Monroe's fiddler), Darol Anger, Two-time Grammy Winner
Curtis Burch (New Grass Revival), Larry and Jenny Keel, Wyatt Rice, Ann Marie Simpson-Calhoun (Jethro Tull
and Dave Matthew's Band), Ricky Lee (Ralph Stanley), Will Lee, Danny Knicely, Mike Seeger, Tony Rice, Jack Lawrence
(Doc Watson's partner), Mac Wiseman (Bill Monroe & Flatts & Scruggs), Buddy Pendleton (Bill
Monroe) and John Starling (Seldom Scene). Gary has performed with The Worx Band at Cattle Annie's in Lynchburg, VA.
Heralded as one of the finest acoustic flat pickers, Gary has performed at The
Homestead in Bath County, The Greenbriar in Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Garth Newell in Warm Springs, Lime Kiln
Theater, Lexington, Union Grove, Floydfest, Blackmountain, and toured out west with the Keel's in California and Utah. He
has also performed in Amsterdam and on PBS radio.
Being born in Lexington, Ruley was raised on Bluegrass and Old Time Mountain music. The influences of Bill Monroe, Flatt
& Scruggs, Don Reno, Clarence White, J.D. Crow, Slim Richey, Bill Keith and Red Smiley as well as the Beatles are also embedded in his style.
Ruley's shows now boast the support of his son Jeremiah Ruley on Banjo and David Knicely on bass as the core group, importing
many great pickers depending on the venue. Danny Knicely plays mandolin on occasion as well as Mark Shimick of LKE. Alternate
bass players include Zack Blatter, Jenny Keel, and Dan Newhall. Nate Leath and Shannon Wheeler are the Fiddlers.
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