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One of bluegrass’ most respected and revered figures, Ronnie Bowman, has passed away at the age of 64, following injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident on Saturday.
According to reports, Bowman was involved in a motorcycle accident on Saturday afternoon (March 21st) in Ashland City, Tennessee. After being taken to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville for treatment, Bowman died at roughly 3pm on Sunday (March 22nd).
Bowman will be remembered for a multitude of reasons by an array of members of the bluegrass and country community. He was known throughout his storied career for his trailblazing role in bluegrass, being a pivotal part of the Lonesome River Band with Dan Tymiski, Tim Austin and Sammy Shelor from 1990 to 2001.
His bluegrass music earned him the International Bluegrass Music Association's coveted Male Vocalist of the Year Award a staggering three times in 1995, 1998 and 1999.
The Lonesome River Band's lauded record, Carrying The Tradition, won IBMA Album of the Year in 1991, with Bowman receiving the Song of the Year gong in 1999 for ‘Three Rusty Nails’.
The latter showcased the unwavering importance of faith in Bowman's music and personal life, with the Mount Airy, North Carolina native growing up singing Gospel music from the age of 3 until his late teenage years as part of a family band that would tour churches. It felt apt, therefore, that Bowman would pick up the award for IBMA Gospel Performance of the Year in 1999 courtesy of ‘Three Rusty Nails’.
As well as being a longstanding keystone in the bluegrass landscape, Bowman was a prolific songwriter in Music City, co-writing now-iconic songs recorded by Chris Stapleton of Kenny Chesney. Bowman penned tracks such as ‘It Takes a Woman’, ’Nobody to Blame’ and ‘Outlaw State of Mind’ by Stapleton, as well as ‘Never Wanted Nothing More’ by Chesney, ‘It's Getting Better All the Time’ by Brooks & Dunn, ‘The Journey Of Your Life’ by Jake Owen, ‘The Well’ by Marcus King and more.
The tributes have been plentiful across both the bluegrass and country music world, with Dierks Bentley sharing a photo of him and Bowman and fondly recalling a time when the latter kindly agreed to serenade Bentley's wife, Cassidy, with one of her favourite songs, ‘It's Getting Better All the Time’, as a special surprise.
Bentley concludes his heartfelt message, “Can’t imagine what Garnet, his family and all his close friends are feeling right now. Thoughts and prayers for them, and for all the RoBo fans out there, as he’s affectionally referred to in my band. We all loved him”.
Similarly, Sierra Hull has reflected on Bowman singing at her wedding, “To know Ronnie was to love him deeply. Justin and I were so fortunate to spend a lot of time over the years hanging and making music with he and his beautiful wife, Garnet”.
Bowman's influence on bluegrass and country music will be felt for many decades to come, as will the legacy of kindness he so clearly left on those who knew him personally.
