Rayna Gellert (born December 15, 1975) is an American fiddler, acoustic guitarist, singer, and songwriter specializing in old-time music. She grew up in Elkhart, in northern Indiana, formerly lived in Asheville, North Carolina, and is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her father is the traditional fiddler, banjo player, and singer Dan Gellert. Originally a classically trained violinist, she took up the old-time fiddle in 1994, when she moved to North Carolina to attend Warren Wilson College.[1] She received a bachelor's degree from Warren Wilson College.
Rayna Gellert | |
|---|---|
 Gellert at MerleFest 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | December 15, 1975 |
| Origin | Indiana |
| Genres | Folk Americana Bluegrass |
| Instrument(s) | Violin, acoustic guitar, vocals |
| Website | Rayna Gellert's website |
Gellert is a former member of the Freight Hoppers. From 2003 to 2009 she performed and recorded with the all-female old-time band Uncle Earl. In 2003, she was a featured performer at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She has also performed with the dance company Rhythm in Shoes, the West African-influenced band Toubab Krewe, Abigail Washburn, and Scott Miller. She has toured throughout the United States, Europe, and Chile.
She has been a finalist at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop, Fayette County, West Virginia several times.
Early life edit
Gellert is the daughter of Dan Gellert, an old-time banjo and fiddle player. Gellert grew up in northern Indiana.[2]
Career edit
Gellert has played and recorded with Abigail Washburn, Loudon Wainwright III, Tyler Ramsey, Robyn Hitchcock, and others. She has appeared at music festivals including Bonnaroo, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and RockyGrass.[2]
Instruments edit
Gellert plays a fiddle that belonged to her great-grandfather, a Hungarian orchestral musician, and guitar.[2]
Discography edit
As leader edit
- 2000 - Ways of the World
- 2012 - Old Light- Songs from my Childhood & Other Gone Worlds
- 2017 - Workin's Too Hard
With Uncle Earl edit
- 2004 - Going to the Western Slope (EP)
- 2004 - Raise A Ruckus (EP)
- 2005 - She Waits For Night (Rounder)
- 2007 - Waterloo, Tennessee (Rounder)
With Susie Goehring edit
- 2005 - Starch & Iron
With Scott Miller edit
- 2012 - CoDependents (EP)[3]
With The Brothers K edit
- 2015 - Rayna Gellert & the Brothers K (EP)
With Kieran Kane edit
- 2018 - The Ledges
- 2019 - When the Sun Goes Down
- 2022 - The Flowers That Bloom in Spring
References edit
- ^ "The Swannanoa Gathering- Old-Time Week Staff Pg.1". www.swangathering.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2003. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c Coryell Williams, Heidi (May 31, 2013). "The Memory Project: Rayna Gellert". Our State.
- ^ "Scott Miller Official Website". thescottmiller.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2022.