Beloved bluegrass musician and songwriter Ronnie Bowman, whose songs were recorded by stars like Chris Stapleton and Kenny Chesney, has died at 64. He suffered fatal injuries in a motorcycle accident in Ashland City, Tennessee, on March 21, his family confirmed.
“Ronnie was beloved by so many in our music community… We graciously request privacy as we grieve,” the statement read.
Born in North Carolina, Bowman began performing at age 3 and rose to fame in the 1980s with the Lonesome River Band. He later had a successful solo career, blending bluegrass with country, gospel, and roots music. His songwriting was widely celebrated in Nashville, and he co-founded the bluegrass supergroup Band of Ruhks. Bowman earned multiple International Bluegrass Music Association honors, including Male Vocalist of the Year.