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Celtic Appalachian Music |
Steve and Ruth's CD "Dancin Cross the Strings"
featured on Fiona Ritchie's "Thistle & Shamrock"
NPR podcast. Listen to a portion of the show
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 Steve and Ruth have been playing music together for over 30 years. From their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, they have performed their Celtic Appalachian music extensively in the U.S. from North Carolina to Hawaii. They have also been cultural music representatives of the Appalachian region, touring abroad in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Canada.
Ruth plays the hammered and Appalachian mountain dulcimers with Steve supporting on fingerstyle acoustic guitar, clawhammer banjo, and vocals. Steve and Ruth are two-time recipients of a North Carolina Arts Council grant |
 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 (click here) at festivals throughout the country. Ruth is also accomplished in traditional
Applachian fiber arts,
including weaving and spinning. |
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 Dirty Linen Folk & World Music Magazine says Steve Smith's accompaniment on guitar and clawhammer banjo adds "a traditional . . . rich, true sound" to Steve and Ruth's music. Steve, an ASCAP award-winning song-writer, worked along with Ruth 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 (click here) on guitar, clawhammer banjo, recording, copyrights & publishing, live sound reinforcement,
and performing techniques. |
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 Steve and Ruth's 2005 CD release An Appalachian Aire (click here) is ranked
in the top 50 best selling Celtic Folk CDs on CD Baby - the world's largest seller of independent music CDs online and in retail outlets. It 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 Direct TV music channels 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. |
Steve and Ruth's 2007 CD Dancin Cross the Strings (click here) features much more of their original music as well as traditional Celtic and Appalachian tunes. NPR and XM satellite radio, as well as, Celtic Radio, Highlander radio, and Celtic Moon online Celtic music streaming sites are all featuring and programming their music. It was featured in Dulcimer Players News. They are currently performing music from these first two CDs in their live concert presentation Celtic Music: The Appalachian Way (click here), featuring Steve and Ruth's special blend of Celtic Appalachian music. |
Steve and Ruth's brand new CD An Appalachian Winter (click here) is now available. 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) The peaceful beauty of an Appalachian winter is captured here with 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.
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For rates and booking information call 828-297-1918
or email us at info@steveandruth.com |
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