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Rayna Gellert facts for kids

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Rayna Gellert
Gellert-fls.jpg
Gellert at MerleFest 2007
Background information
Born (1975-12-15) December 15, 1975 (age 48)
Origin Indiana
Genres Folk
Americana
Bluegrass
Instruments Violin, acoustic guitar, vocals

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. She received a bachelor's degree from Warren Wilson College.

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

Gellert is the daughter of Dan Gellert, an old-time banjo and fiddle player. Gellert grew up in northern Indiana.

Career

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.

Instruments

Gellert plays a fiddle that belonged to her great-grandfather, a Hungarian orchestral musician, and guitar.

Discography

As leader

  • 2000 - Ways of the World
  • 2012 - Old Light- Songs from my Childhood & Other Gone Worlds
  • 2017 - Workin's Too Hard

With Uncle Earl

  • 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

  • 2005 - Starch & Iron

With Scott Miller

  • 2012 - CoDependents (EP)

With The Brothers K

  • 2015 - Rayna Gellert & the Brothers K (EP)

With Kieran Kane

  • 2018 - The Ledges
  • 2019 - When the Sun Goes Down
  • 2022 - The Flowers That Bloom in Spring
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