Ron Fetner

Stir up some singer/songwriter, blues, a little folk, soulful R&B, add some rock, and you come up with the influences which molded Ron Fetner's musical career.

From his early days of sneaking in back of the old blues and early rock clubs, Ron was being influenced by the music which reached down and touched his soul. That's something he never forgot nor left behind. Even while performing with area Washington, DC bands, including Sonny and the Shadows and Cherry Smash, in the 1970's, Ron always had a feeling there was a deeper meaning for his career. After several years of paying his dues, Ron finally had enough songs under his belt to release his first solo CD in 1997 entitled This Box I'm Looking Through. Acoustic/Public Radio quickly took notice and started playing songs from this CD, including “The Folk Sampler with Mike Flynn” and WHRO/Barry Graham’s “Acoustic Highway”.

Ron released another solo CD, Turning for Home, in 2001. "Turning for Home" was a totally acoustic project which propelled Ron onto the Kerrville, TX stage and a win in the prestigious Kerrville NewFolk competition. Quickly following came awards at Doc Watson's/Merlefest Chris Austin Song Contest, Falcon Ridge's Emerging Artist Showcase, the Austin Songwriter Group and Winfield, Kansas' Walnut Valley Song Showcase.

In 2005, Ron released Defying Gravity, which was recorded in Chris Rosser's Asheville, NC studio. Chris helped Ron to engineer/produce a fuller band-oriented project with other Asheville premiere musicians. "Gravity" included the holiday favorite, "My Name is Justin", which Ron has provided as a holiday anthem for the Salvation Army's annual Angel Tree campaign.

Sunday Morning Blue followed in 2008, which Ron recorded at home, and again worked with good friend Kim Person, doing mixing and editing. For the first time, Ron included cover tunes on one of his CD's. "Sunday Morning" included his version of "Route 66" and "House of the Rising Sun", along with more newly written Fetner songs. "Don't Burn the Zion Church" off this CD became popular on acoustic radio stations and especially with Ron's local audience from the Zion Church, which sits behind Ron's home.

Ron's next recording effort came in January 2011 when he and harpist Tom Dikon teamed to win the Tidewater IBC Blues Challenge. Tom and Ron produced a 6-song EP for their trip to Memphis to compete against other "Challenge" winners. "Watch Your Step" included 5 original songs written by Tom and Ron and the "Route 66" cover.

His latest recording effort came in 2012 when he was offered the opportunity to play and sing on Blues great, Eddie Shaw's newest CD, Still Riding High.

Ron is still riding high, enjoying playing in venues which love to be entertained with Ron's enthusiastic performances. Don't miss an opportunity to see Ron in person.