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
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 2009 Instrumental Roots Music nominees in the world's largest independant music awards and are two-time recipients of North Carolina Arts Council grants.
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
Appalachian fiber arts,
including weaving and spinning.
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 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.
Steve and Ruth's CD releaseAn 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 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.
Steve and Ruth's CD Dancin Cross the Strings(click here)features more of 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.
Steve and Ruth's latest CD An Appalachian Winter(click here)has received wide national recognition and sales being the #1 best selling easy listening Christmas CD this past 2009 Christmas season on CD Baby. 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.
For rates and booking information call 828-297-1918
or email us atinfo@steveandruth.com
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. 
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. 
