Ronnie Reno
Best known for
Mandolin
Lead Vocals
Ronnie Reno is a first-generation bluegrass original who literally grew up in the music — the eldest son of banjo pioneer Don Reno, he first stood on a milk carton to sing into a microphone at age eight and joined his father’s Tennessee Cut-Ups as a full-time member at age twelve. Across his career he has played mandolin with Reno & Smiley, bass with the Osborne Brothers during their “Rocky Top” commercial peak, and guitar as frontman with Merle Haggard & the Strangers, before founding Reno Tradition and becoming the host/producer of RFD-TV’s Reno’s Old Time Music Festival.
- Born Ronald Wesley Reno on September 28, 1947 in Buffalo, South Carolina, while his father Don Reno was performing nearby with the Carolina Hillbillies in Spartanburg. Eldest of Don’s sons; brothers Dale and Don Wayne Reno also became professional bluegrass musicians.
- Began singing with Reno & Smiley and the Tennessee Cut-Ups at age eight in 1955, during the band’s residency on Richmond’s WRVA Old Dominion Barn Dance — known to audiences as “Little Ronnie Reno,” standing on a chair to reach the microphone. Began playing mandolin on record with the band shortly afterward, joining as a full-time member in 1959 at age twelve.
- Appeared on many of Reno & Smiley’s classic 1950s and 1960s King Records sides, recorded in Cincinnati. Part of the band’s daily TV shows in Richmond, Petersburg, Roanoke, and Harrisonburg, Virginia, and in Washington, DC.
- When Reno & Smiley broke up in early 1965 due to Red Smiley’s declining health, continued with Don Reno’s reformed Tennessee Cut-Ups, including the historic September 1965 appearance at Carlton Haney’s Fincastle Festival — the first multi-day bluegrass festival. Also played on Don Reno’s 1965 Mr. Five String album.
- Played with Reno & Harrell (Don Reno and guitarist Bill Harrell) from 1966 into 1968. In 1968, left his father’s band to join the Osborne Brothers, initially on bass, eventually moving into the trademark vocal trio and guitar roles during the group’s commercial peak. Made five albums with Sonny and Bobby over approximately five years — the Osborne Brothers won CMA Vocal Group of the Year in 1971.
- While opening for Merle Haggard with the Osbornes, caught Haggard’s ear. In 1973 joined the Strangers as front man, guitarist, and harmony vocalist alongside Bonnie Owens. Appeared on ten of Haggard’s albums across the 1970s and 1980s. Wrote “I’ve Got a Darlin’ (for a Wife)” and “Boogie Grass Band” — the latter a #1 country hit for Conway Twitty.
- Released his first solo album For the First Time on MCA Records during this period. After leaving Haggard, produced a bluegrass television show for Stan Hitchcock’s CMT cable TV network.
- Formed the Reno Brothers with his siblings Dale (mandolin) and Don Wayne (banjo), touring and recording together before his brothers joined Hayseed Dixie.
- In the late 1990s formed his own band, Reno Tradition, which has continued as his primary performing vehicle. The band’s I’m Using My Bible for a Road Map and other releases revisit classic Reno & Smiley material alongside new songs and his signature “Boogie Grass Band.”
- Since 2009, host and producer of Reno’s Old Time Music Festival on RFD-TV — a long-running variety show mixing live music, interviews with legends, and vintage Reno & Smiley film clips.
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Gotta Travel OnDon Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups · Rural Rhythm presents Don Reno and Bill Harrell with the Tennessee Cut-ups (1967)
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Hot Corn Cold CornDon Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups · Don Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups (1967)
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Keep on the Sunny SideDon Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups · Rural Rhythm presents Don Reno and Bill Harrell with the Tennessee Cut-ups (1967)
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Little PalDon Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups · Don Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups (1967)
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Molly and TenbrooksDon Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups · Rural Rhythm presents Don Reno and Bill Harrell with the Tennessee Cut-ups (1967)
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The Great Speckled BirdDon Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups · Don Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups (1967)
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Worried Man BluesDon Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups · Rural Rhythm presents Don Reno and Bill Harrell with the Tennessee Cut-ups (1967)
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Don RenoPlayed on recordings with Don Reno
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Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee CutupsPlayed on recordings with Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups
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Don Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-UpsPlayed on recordings with Don Reno, Bill Harrell and the Tennessee Cut-Ups
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The Osborne BrothersPlayed on recordings with The Osborne Brothers
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The Reno BrothersPlayed on recordings with The Reno Brothers
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Don Reno and the Tennessee CutupsPlayed on recording with Don Reno and the Tennessee Cutups
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Ronnie RenoPlayed on recording with Ronnie Reno