Rock Bottom Ramblers

Raised in Tuttle, Tracy Ross, Shawn Rose and Tony McMillan make up a now-Oklahoma City Bluegrass trio praised by Gazette Readers. upright bass and banjos do jigs with freight train harmonicas and rattle-snap washboard rhythms for a mix that's rootsy, fun and folksy. - Oklahoma Gazette

The Rock Bottom Ramblers have been busy making a name for themselves in the music world.

To start, they were recently presented with a Woody Award in the People’s Choice Awards in the “Oklahoma Gazette’s” music focus issue “Soundcheck” which published on Sept. 30, and they also recently produced their second album, “Rabbit Rd. Junction.”

Plus, the band has been speaking with Tough Records of Stillwater about a recording label and they will be performing at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the first-ever Rock Island Arts Festival in Chickasha.

“We’re pretty excited about playing there,” said Shawn Rose, Doghouse bass, vocals and accordion and band manager.

They have also been invited to perform at the Finger Mountain Breakdown Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. on Oct. 24.

In addition, the group has played or will play at the Hog Wash Cafe in Oklahoma City, Kelly’s Irish Pub in Wichita, the Rockin’ Horse in Ponca City and Sauced on the Paseo in Oklahoma City.

“We’ve been playing everywhere we can,” said Tracy Ross, excited to have won a Woody Award after playing for such a short time. “We’d like to tell everybody thanks for the support.”

The three original members of the band, Tracy Ross, Tony McMillan and Shawn Rose are all Tuttle High School graduates who enjoy a large following of family and friends nearly every place they perform. Although they have been friends for nearly 20 years, and have played at open mic nights at various venues for about two years, they have only been making serious music for less than a year as the Rock Bottom Ramblers, hooking up with McMillan at the first of the year.

“When you get friends and family behind you, it makes it so much easier,” said Ross, guitjo, guitar, harmonica and vocals. “When 50 or 60 come out, it really surprises us, but Bluegrass is fun and everyone comes out to have a good time.”

They have also added a new band member.

Shawna Kennedy, who plays the fiddle, has a background in classical violin, performing four years with the Silver Strings of Putnam City, two years with the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra and two years with the West Island Quartet. Kennedy has only been with the band for a few weeks and also teaches violin lessons.

“Since we are more on the Bluegrass side, we needed a fiddle player,” said Ross, who said the group has been looking for a fiddle player for a year. “We put an ad on Craig’s List for some other musicians and one of the musicians who contacted us knew a fiddle player, so he brought her over. She was excited about playing Bluegrass, but I don’t know who was more excited, her or us.”

“A couple of other new instruments we’ve been working in are the washboard and accordion,” said Rose. “We are trying to incorporate “street music” to play at tailgate parties at OU games.”

Completing the group is Tony McMillan, percussion, washboard and vocals. “He’s our crowd worker,” says Ross.

Booking most of their gigs through Myspace.com/Rock Bottom Ramblers, Ross says, “People get in touch with us that we haven’t seen in 15 years. It’s really a great tool for music.”

To book the Rock Bottom Ramblers for an event or private party, contact them through Myspace.com or through their website at www.rockbottomramblers.com. - Karen Brady