Edwards, Ray

RAY EDWARDS (AND HARD ROCK MOUNTAIN)

  • From Arcadia, North Carolina.
  • A bluegrass multi-instrumentalist, he won the banjo championships at Carlton Haney’s Camp Springs Bluegrass Festival (1973) and Union Grove Fiddler’s Convention (1974).
  • 1970, joined the High Country Boys.
  • 1973, worked with Southbound.
  • 1975, worked with Jeannie C. Riley.
  • 1978, worked with Tom T. Hall.
  • 1984, worked with Ed Bruce.
  • Best known as a songwriter, he co-wrote “Hard Rock Mountain Prison (‘Til I Die)” with Larry Cox and Terry Foust, a #1 song for Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. His songs have also been recorded by Darrell Webb, Monroeville, Nu-Blu, Grasstowne, Special Consensus, Jeannette Williams and many other bluegrass artists.
  • 2012, released Portrait of a Bluegrass Songwriter (Rural Rhythm) with his band Hard Rock Mountain featuring Edwards’ songs recorded by other artists.
  • 2018, released A Golden Anniversary Celebration album (Pinecastle).