User:Steve and Ruth Smith

Steve and Ruth Smith are from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina and play a unique blend of Celtic Appalachian music featuring hammered dulcimer, guitar, and clawhammer banjo. Steve and Ruth, both of Scots-Irish heritage, have been performing together since 1975 across the United States and around the world.

A native North Carolinian, Ruth began playing music at a very young age and enjoys the adaptability of the hammered dulcimer to many types of music, from traditional fiddle tunes and Appalachian songs, to Celtic and classical melodies. After playing many different musical instruments through the years, she found the hammered dulcimer to be a “fit” to her personality and a wonderful tool of self-expression. Ruth, who studied music at the University of Illinois, composes music especially for the hammered dulcimer and her compositions have been featured on NPR's All Songs Considered and in Dulcimer Players News magazine. Dirty Linen Folk & World Music Magazine says "Ruth Smith's touch on the hammered dulcimer is absolutely magical with exquisite phrasing." She teaches hammered dulcimer workshops at festivals throughout the country. Ruth is also accomplished in traditional Appalachian fiber arts, including weaving and spinning.

Steve, an ASCAP award-winning song-writer, adds fingerstyle guitar, clawhammer banjo, and vocals to the duo. Dirty Linen Folk & World Music Magazine says Steve Smith's accompaniment on guitar and clawhammer banjo provides "a traditional . . . rich, true sound" to their Celtic Appalachian music. Steve, an ASCAP award-winning song-writer, worked along throughout the 1970s and 1980s in the music industry in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. Since 1997 he has also been teaching audio production/recording at Appalachian State University. Steve has a Master’s degree in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University with a major emphasis in Appalachian music and folklife, and is the recipient of the Cratis Williams Fellowship in Appalachian Studies. In the 1990s, Steve created, produced, wrote and hosted the weekly multi-state syndicated radio program, “The Appalachian Way,” about the music and folklife in Appalachia. He also teaches festival workshops on guitar, clawhammer banjo, recording, copyrights & publishing, live sound reinforcement, and performing techniques.

Steve and Ruth Smith Discography:

2008 - Steve and Ruth's CD An Appalachian Winter has received wide national recognition and sales. Carol Swanson of ChristmasReviews.com says An Appalachian Winter "is all about gorgeously interwoven, homespun instrumentals, providing beautiful organic colors and earthy textures, lightly tossed with Celtic flourishes ." (read entire review) It has received extensive airplay over both terrestrial and internet radio nationwide. Steve and Ruth have created a unique peaceful offering with An Appalachian Winter which is gentle instrumental music featuring hammered dulcimer and guitar along with flute, pennywhistle, Celtic harp and percussion in a special collection of songs for the Christmas season.

2007 - Steve and Ruth's CD Dancin Cross the Strings features their original music as well as traditional Celtic and Appalachian tunes. It was a 2009 nominee in the JPF International Music Awards, the world's largest awards for independently produced music. Over 42,000 albums were submitted for the 2009 awards from over 160 countries. Less than 1/3 of 1% of the CDs submitted were nominated. NPR, XM & Sirius satellite radio, Internet radio such as, Highlander Radio, Celtic Moon and Mountain Legacy, as well as acoustic music format broadcast radio stations around the U.S. are all featuring and programming their music. It was also featured in Dulcimer Players News.

2005 - Steve and Ruth's CD release An Appalachian Aire gained national attention and significant airplay during 2006, most notably being chosen by XM satellite radio as “The Best Music This Week on XM.” Songs from their CD are being heard daily on Dish & Direct TV music channels, XM & Sirius satellite radio and on major airlines coast-to-coast. The title song, written by Ruth, was featured on NPR’s on-line show “All Songs Considered.” This CD reflects their Scots-Irish heritage, Ruth's classical music training and Steve's mountain folk roots.