Reno Thanks Crowd for Blue Blaze Award

July 7, 2019
By: Bill Conger

Bluegrass icon Ronnie Reno stepped on the stage of the 48^th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree with three months left to go before he retires from a more than 60-year career in bluegrass and country music. The legendary performer was here Saturday night to accept the Blue Blaze Award that is designed to honor a group or individual that ‘keeps the embers of bluegrass music glowing for future generations.’

“What a great honor!” Reno told the crowd after receiving the award. “Thanks to everybody for this; it means an awful lot. My whole thing in music is to try to leave this music for a younger generation. Boy, it looks like the Smithville Jamboree is doing that.”

Past recipients of the Blue Blaze awards are Darrin Vincent of Dailey & Vincent, Sierra Hull, Danny Roberts of the Grascals, Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and Michael Cleveland.

Following the award presentation, Reno played a mini-concert with his band, Reno Tradition, and a special guest, his youngest son, Justin “Doc” Reno.

“This summer I’ve sort of brought him out and played,” Reno told WJLE in an interview inside the county courthouse prior to the show. “He’s a fine guitar player. It’s wonderful that he can come out and play with me. He’s a doctor, but he loves playing the music. He would have been a bluegrass musician, but his momma wouldn’t let him. So we sent him to school, and he loves helping people too. He’s a family doctor.”

Reno was born into bluegrass greatness. His father, Don Reno, was one half of the Hall of Fame duo Reno & Smiley. While still going to school, Ronnie became part of that act’s impressive recordings in the 50s and 60s. Over his stellar career Reno performed with Merle Haggard, appearing on classic hits like “If We Make It through December,” “If We’re Not Back in Love by Monday,” and “Ramblin’ Fever.” Reno also performed alongside The Osborne Brothers during some of their most commercially successful years. He hit the studio with legends like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Paycheck. As a songwriter, his song “Boogie Grass Band” became a smash hit for Conway Twitty. Then, in 1993, he ventured into television to produce the first and only national television show featuring bluegrass music, “Reno’s Old Time Music Festival.”

Despite all of his success, he says what means the most to him is spending time with the people who love his music.

“I take this after my father I guess,” Reno explained. “His greatest job was to be able to get close to the people that enjoyed hearing him play the banjo and hearing him sing. I got here earlier today, [and] I ‘ve near talked myself hoarse already because I’ve talked to so many people.”

“The town of Smithville is the only place I could do that to walk around,” Reno adds. “It’s not a festival per se because we’re the only band here. Everybody else is in a contest, or they’re doing different things.”

While Reno was meeting folks, one lady asked him if he would say hello to her mom, who is a huge fan.

“I swear you would have thought I was Elvis Presley to this woman,” Reno says. “She watches us on TV every Saturday night, and she said Ronnie this is the biggest thing that I’ve ever had happen in my life is to be able to meet you. If you think that don’t make your heart get big and explode with joy. It’s just overwhelming. She’s the sweetest thing. That was the best part of my day.”

July 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Ivy Phillips has claimed her third Grand Champion Fiddling Title at the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival.

(VIEW JAMBOREE PHOTO GALLERY ON THIS WEBSITE)

The Chapmansboro resident, who also won the Junior Fiddling contest here Saturday night, beat out the Senior Fiddling Champion Thomas Chapman of Falkville, Alabama in the showdown for the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award. Phillips won back to back championships in 2016 and 2017.

It is the 9th year in a row that a Junior Fiddler has beaten the Senior Fiddler for the Grand Championship of the Festival.

Sam Stout, President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree presented the award to Ivy at the conclusion of the festival which ended at 10:00 p.m. Saturday evening.

Phillips was also a two time fiddling champion for beginners in 2012 and 2013

By winning the Junior fiddling contest, Phillips edged out two other competitors including the defending grand champion Maddie Denton for a right to advance to the fiddle-off

Winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:

Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson; Second Place- Chris Stewart of Mount Juliet; and Third Place Lexi Huntley of Loretto.

Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; Second Place- Tommy Scruggs, Jr. of Hartsville and Third Place- Tommy Jackson of Franklin.

Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Tammy Gay Scruggs of Lebanon; Second Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; and Third Place-Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro.

Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; Second Place-Darrin Stryker of Crossville; and Third Place-Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro.

Bluegrass Banjo: First Place-Axel Rico of Smithville; Second Place- Trevor Holder of Ringgold, Georgia; and Third Place-Shane Cothran of Franklin.

Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place- Trenton “Tater” Caruthers of Cookeville; and Third Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro.

Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Jake Patty of Mayfield, Kentucky:; Second Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro: and Third Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro.

Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Memorial Award): First Place- Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Devon Waite of Goodletsville. The Neil Dudney Award was presented to Phillips by Dudney’s widow Emma Jean, grandchildren, Ethan, Brandon, and Dylan Shaw, and great grandson Carson. Dudney, who passed away last October, served as President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree for 16 years until he stepped down in 2008.

Bluegrass Band: First Place- Tennessee Tradition of Danville, Georgia; Second Place-Smithville Fiddlin Music Team of Ringgold, Georgia; and Third Place-Mountain Cove Bluegrass of Beechgrove.

Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Thomas Chapman of Falkville, Alabama; Second Place-Gail Johnson of Lavergne; and Third Place- Marcia Denton of Murfreesboro.

Square Dancing: First Place-Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; Second Place- Step Aside of Waverly; and Third Place- Harpeth River of Franklin.

July 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Hailey Bryant of Greenbrier won the top Jamboree award Saturday as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.

Bryant claimed the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award. Members of Mr. Driver’s family presented the award to Bryant including Mickey and Debbie Driver, Logan Michael Beachamp, Jimmy Driver, Kim and Bill Luton, and Bert Driver

(View Video Below of Bryant’s Winning Peformance)

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