Country
Ireland
Ronnie Norton is an amalgam of a folkie from the ballad boom of Dublin’s folk clubs in the 60’s and a commercial photographer still operating in the commercial advertising area since the 70’s.The 60’s in Ireland spawned some of the finest talents in International Roots music so he built up lifelong friendships with the like of Donal Lunny, Paul Brady, Christy Moore and scores of others. That has followed through to now and the current batch of Irish talent like We Banjo 3, JigJam and I Draw Slow. And of course full credit goes to the man who kick started the Bluegrass movement in Ireland the legend that is Niall Toner.
A chance chat with Lee Williams of CMR Nashville Radio station led to a sideline career in Bluegrass and Beyond radio shows which is now in its 18th year and covers 5 hrs of Bluegrass Radio each week. 1 hour of which is the EuroBluegrass Radio Roundup, the flagship radio show of the EBMA.
In addition with his long time sidekick Steve Averill they formed the fanzine Lonesome Highway to cover all the visiting Roots artists that visited Ireland and that has now become Europe’s top Roots website www.lonesomehighway.com.
Having drifted from the Clancy Brothers through Peter Paul and Mary and John Denver to The Dillards and The Rowans to finally rest with Del McCoury and Rhonda Vincent and all the superstars of the Bluegrass world, Ronnie is now a fully fledged Grasser and dedicated to the furtherance of Bluegrass Music and all it’s side shoots. Through his involvement as resident photographer with all the major Bluegrass Festivals in Ireland for the past 20 years he has built up personal relationships with just about everybody in the International Bluegrass world.
Ronnie is available through the EBMA to promote any Artist or Band that will benefit from additional exposure on the Air Waves. So keep the new music heading his way and let’s spread the good word to the world at large.
Ronnie says: “I’ve been a Bluegrass radio host for over 20 years so I can’t imagine my life without some involvement with the Bluegrass community.”