Ridge Roberts
words by peggy purser freeman
featuring legendary young talent ridge roberts
photography by eric killingsworth
Wheels of Life
A little boy outside the hayfield
Watching the tractor mow the hay
Fascinated by the treaded wheels
On a September breezy day
He climbs a tree and feels the world
Resting at his feet
And he wonders if this feeling
Is just a boyhood fantasy
From Wheels of Life ©Ridge Roberts
At seventeen, Ridge Roberts holds many championship fiddle titles, having won numerous contests. Most notably, 2019 Grand Masters Champion, 2019 Bob Wills Fiddle Festival Champion, 2019 Colorado State Champion, and 2018 World Champion. He will be appearing on the Grand Ole Opry in September of 2021.
“I have been blessed with the greatest friends,” Ridge said at a 2020-Chic-Fila-parking-lot-release party in Granbury. “We recorded our debut fiddle album in Nashville, Tennessee in February. Our Lone Star Fiddler CD pays homage to my deep Texas roots. The CD showcases the musical pioneers and legends of the past that I so admire. The CD also features legendary rhythm guitarist Joey McKenzie, and world-class upright bassist Dennis Crouch.
“As a young boy when he wasn’t playing the fiddle, he was thinking about the fiddle, listening to fiddle music, researching fiddle history, playing rhythm guitar for fiddle tunes, looking for fiddles, and sometimes just looking at his fiddle,” Ridge’s mom, Cindy, explained.
Since he recently graduated from North Central Texas Academy, Ridge’s focus shifts to a new path. Along with classic fiddle music, a Texas boy is bound to hear that old-time classic country. With the old fiddle music came a new love.
“Whether it was the lyrics or the actual music that drew me in, I don’t know, but once I heard it, it was in my soul,” Ridge said.
Cindy added, “Just like with fiddling, he dived in headfirst and didn’t come up for a breath until he had
watched every video he could find on Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Marty Robbins, Faron Young, Jimmy Rodgers, the Glaser Brothers, and all the other greats. He watched them again and again—always listening and hanging on to every word and every note. He listened over and over.”
“Mom, says I got a little nerdy because I would listen for a particular note or lyric and then want to talk about it.” Ridge laughed.
“He listens again and again and then talks about it some more.” Cindy continued. “To this day he still does it… and I love it.”
Life tells me that it’s switching gears…
From Wheels of Life ©Ridge Roberts
The studying and listening paid off! As Ridge continues his career as the fiddler for the Western Flyers, he’s tuning up his career as a singer-songwriter. In 2021, Ridge wowed audiences all over the area by singing classic country with a rich voice and excellent presentation. Then he introduced some original songs with lyrics rich in soul and pure in heart. You can bet your lucky cowboy hat Ridge will have studied what it will take and be working toward that goal. For Ridge it’s not all music, he also enjoys reading, drawing, antiquing, and he collects old Bibles, old books, and cowboy hats.
John and Cindy Roberts have three boys, all bring different gifts to the world. The oldest Aedan offers that astute thinking of the quiet scholar. Rio brings the gift of love with the grin of a minx, and with his special needs he teaches the Roberts family the gift of devotion and strength.
Someday you’ll find when you look across the valley
The path that you climbed was the right one…
And oh how it still hurts now
The way a soul can cry without a sound
But you have learned to be strong
And know the difference between right and wrong
How did you cling to your hope,
That seemed to be fading away?
I guess I was right all along
The deepest valleys are surrounded by the highest mountains
From the Deepest Valleys ©Ridge Roberts
Looking back, Ridge has no regrets about taking the path of fiddle competitions. “The experience has given me lifelong friends from all over the country,” he added. “The CD release and the September appearance on the Grand Old Opry feels surreal. I know my future path will have valleys and mountains, but I know Who to follow. More than championship fiddler or singer-songwriter, the one thing I want people to know about me is that I’m a Christian. I believe Jesus was a perfect man, God born as a man. He showed His love for us, He died for us, took our sin on Himself. That is number one in my life. Then my family and friends.”
Related Articles
Related
Motocross Mavericks
Words by Melissa McGavock Photograpy by Eric KillingsworthMeet Whitten and Gracie, a brother and sister duo from Granbury, Texas who share a love for motocross racing. These young riders have been training, working hard, and competing in motocross races across Texas...
Women in Business: Opportunities in Hood County
Words by Melissa McGavock Videography by Eric Killingsworth LGL StudiosFor more than a decade, our local Chamber of Commerce has organized a “Women in Business” committee to “to inspire, influence and champion women enhancing their roles as business leaders in our...
So Very Merry!
Photos by Eric Killingsworth Granbury, Texas is a unique town in that it’s not quite “western,” yet not quite “Southern,” it’s somewhere in between. If you could put a cowboy hat on Charleston, SC, that might be close to an accurate description of Granbury, Texas....
Lake Granbury Living Magazine
Join
Subscribe For Updates & Offers
Exclusive news and event updates.
0 Comments