Ronnie Bowman obit

Ronnie Bowman passes

 He was not on the list.

Terribly tragic news from Nashville.

Ronnie Bowman has died at Vanderbilt Hospital at roughly 3:00 p.m. today, Nashville time, after being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident yesterday afternoon in Ashland City, TN. He was 64 years of age.

Bowman was one of the most beloved bluegrass artists of the past 45 years, as well as a deeply admired singer and songwriter. His was the voice that defined ’90s bluegrass, and his sincere smile and genuine love for everyone he met helped define the Lonesome River Band’s stage show for years.

The International Bluegrass Music Association had awarded him many times as Male Vocalist of the Year (1995, 1998, 1999), and his Cold Virginia Night album from ’95 was named Album of the Year. The title track was awarded Song of the Year. Additionally, Three Rusty Nails from his Man I’m Trying To Be album won for Gospel Performance of the Year in 1999.

Many people have been described as “the nicest guy in the world,” or “always happy to see you,” but that is truly who Ronnie Bowman was. You would search in vain for someone who didn’t like him, and many of his true friends in the music industry are deeply mourning this afternoon.

No funeral arrangements have been announced, as his family is still in shock. We will share further details as they are announced. We will also put together a more complete career overview. in the coming days

This is a grave and near insurmountable loss to friends and family, and the wider bluegrass and country music community. Much of Nashville is weeping.

A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Bowman sang gospel music from age three until his late teens. He sang in his family band with his four sisters, playing at churches in North Carolina and Virginia.

Bowman joined bluegrass band The Lost and Found in 1987 and performed with them for two years.

From 1990 until 2001, Bowman was the vocalist and bass player in the Lonesome River Band, with bandmates Sammy Shelor, Dan Tyminski, and Tim Austin. Their 1991 album Carrying the Tradition was named the IBMA 1991 Album of the Year.

Cold Virginia Night, released in 1994, featured appearances by Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, and Tony Rice.

Bowman released Starting Over in 2003, with Don Cook producing several songs. Bowman was also assisted by Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, and Barry Bales (all from Union Station), Ron Stewart, and Steve Gulley.

Bowman 2006's It’s Gettin’ Better All The Time in Nashville with members of his group The Committee: Wyatt Rice (guitar), Andy Hall (resonator guitar), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle, vocals), and Garnet Imes Bowman (vocalist and Ronnie's wife). Special guests included Del McCoury, Rob McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Dan Tyminski, and John Barlow Jarvis.

For Chris Stapleton's Traveller album, Bowman wrote "Nobody to Blame" with Stapleton and Barry Bales, and "Outlaw State of Mind" with Stapleton and Jerry Salley.

Lee Ann Womack included Bowman's song "The Healing Kind" (co-written with Greg Luck) on the album I Hope You Dance.

Bowman's song "It's Getting Better All the Time" (co-written with Don Cook) was recorded by Brooks & Dunn.

Bowman and Stapleton also wrote "Never Wanted Nothing More" which Kenny Chesney included on his album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates.

Besides Bowman, the Band of Ruhks includes two other former Lonesome River Bandmates: Don Rigsby and Kenny Smith. Ralph Stanley provided vocals on the song "Coal Minin' Man." The band got their name from the ancient Persian word for a warrior's chariot

R.I.P., Ronnie Bowman.