Gary Brewer is an American guitarist and banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for leading theKentucky Ramblers, and for staging the annual Strictly Bluegrass festival.[1]
Brewer was raised inLouisville, Kentucky.His grandfather Finley J. Brewer Sr. performed with the Carter Family, and his father Finley J. Brewer Jr. (aka Jim Brewer) has played since 1950. Sometimes Jim haa performed with his son Gary and Gary’s sons Wayne and Mason.[2][3]
Brewer played rock music until he began playing acoustic guitar while recuperating from an auto accident. That was when he and two friends formed the bluegrass group Kentucky Ramblers in 1979.[4]
In 1994, Brewer was invited to participate in Bill and James Monroe’s “Father and Son” Winter Tour.[5]
In 1989, Brewer worked with the Louisville mayor's office to launch the Strictly Bluegrass bluegrass festival held at the Iroquois Amphitheater and later moved toNew Albany, Indiana.[8]
In 2000, Brewer was nominated as a finalist twice by theInternational Bluegrass Music Association: for Guitar Player of the Year, and his songJimmy Martin Songs for Dinner for Song of the Year.
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