Ridge City Ramblers have CD release party on Wednesday

The Ridge City Ramblers will have a CD release party to celebrate their first CD from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen in Jackson Square.

“Ramblin’ on my mind” is the title of the band’s CD. The Ramblers draw their inspiration from bluegrass, blues, traditional, and Americana music, and the band’s musicians bring experience with a host of musical styles and performing groups.

An Oak Ridge band, the Ramblers will entertain the Razzleberry’s audience with songs from the CD and other selections.

The CD features an original by Steve Reddick, the band’s lead singer and songwriter, titled “Suburban White Boy Blues.” Reddick can be heard on guitar, banjo, and harmonica on the CD. Among other songs on the CD are “Long Journey Home,” “Jambalaya,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “I Hear Them All.”

The Ramblers first performed together in 2010 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Oak Ridge Sister City relationship with Naka, Japan. They enjoyed the gig so much they continued performing together.

Two band members, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and Abbie Hoerner, who is an orchestra teacher at Robertsville Middle School, were delegates visiting Naka earlier in 2010 to observe the anniversary. They invited other musicians, some active in the Sister City group, to perform with them during the 20th anniversary event for Naka visitors later that year.

Besides Reddick, Hoerner, and Beehan, band members are Scott Linn on mandolin and vocals, Gary Coleman on bass and vocals, and Mary Tuskan on guitar, mandolin, and vocals. Hoerner plays fiddle, Beehan brings guitar and banjo to the group, and both add vocals. Reddick and Linn, both eighth-grade American history teachers at Jefferson Middle School, had each accompanied Oak Ridge students on visits to Naka, and Coleman’s family later hosted a Naka student.

Coleman, who studied bass with Edgar Meyer Sr., has played rock, jazz and blues with many bands, including Knox Vegas and currently Soul Candy. Reddick and Linn are members of the band Carroll Hollow, and Reddick performed with The Diablos. Both he and Linn were with High Altitude. Tuskan, former director of a youth church choir and coffee house folk musician, is a member of Shamrock Road, an Irish music band. Hoerner performs with the Lake Terrace Trio, a string trio. Beehan performs occasionally on the local Ciderville television show.