Makin' it big in Gospel
15-year-old, his dad form half of Revival Ridge
BY RYAN CLARK | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
BELLEVUE - It all started when Jonathan Estep was 8 years old.
"I began to hear this sound coming from this child," says his father, Paul
Estep. "It was wonderful."
After listening to his father sing, Jonathan began to harmonize with his
father's voice.
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"It just sounded right," Jonathan says.
That's how it's always been for Jonathan. It sounds right. Or he feels his
way through it. Or it just happens.
That's how he plays guitar, bass and mandolin.
He feels it. He needs minimal instruction.
But if he ever needs it, Jonathan, now 15, has his father, a classically
trained pianist, to help him.
Together, the two form half of the bluegrass gospel group Revival Ridge.
For the last six years, the foursome has traveled all over the South and
Midwest spreading God's word and playing their own form of bluegrass.
"We don't have that twang you would normally associate with bluegrass,"
Estep says. "But we love the music."
After playing about three gigs every weekend for the past six years, Revival
Ridge has gotten a break.
They will be the warm-up band before a Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
concert at 7:30 p.m., July 27 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
"One of our band members went on a tour of the Ryman a couple of years ago
and we were able to give (Skaggs) some of our music," Estep says. "He heard
us and said he wanted us to come perform. We hope this will be the start of
something big for us down in Nashville."
FLORIDA TO FAZOLI'S
Along with members Jeff Blackburn, of Georgetown, and Billy Morgan, of
Guilford, Ind., Revival Ridge has traveled as far as Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
to play a show.
Then again, you may have seen them at Fazoli's restaurant in Florence.
"For some reason they just love us there," Estep says.
John Dowell, who chooses talent for the Ryman Auditorium, said bluegrass is
an increasingly competitive genre of music, with more groups vying for a
sliver of public attention. But he's liked what he's heard of the band.
"I am always looking for talent," Dowell said in an e-mail. "And they are
just unique and original enough, while maintaining tradition, to qualify for
playing our Plaza Parties."
In 2000, when the bass player in Estep's old band the King's Strings decided
to quit, he replaced him with Jonathan, his 8-year-old son. Jonathan learned
to a play stand-up bass in about a week. But he had to stand on a milk crate
to reach the top of the instrument.
Jonathan played bass admirably, and, when that band broke up, Paul and
Jonathan continued on their own. With mom Nancy home-schooling the children
(the family is rounded out by 11-year-old Jessica and 4-year-old Jenna),
Jonathan was free to roam the country with his father.
Just like that other parent-child group the Judds.
"I always said there is nothing better than the times when we pack up our
camper and we go," Estep says. "Those are the best. Just me and him."
The Esteps put more than 3,500 miles on the camper in April. Last year, they
logged more than 35,000. After 97 concerts last year, they have already
played 61 this year.
And it's a good thing.
In March 2005, Paul Estep lost his job at a bank when it was bought by
another company.
Suddenly, the band became his only source of income.
LESS THAN NORMAL
Ron Cornett says there's nothing like "family harmony."
"When two members of a family sing together, it's unlike any other kind of
harmony," said the 51-year-old, who's played bluegrass all his life. "So
when I heard of them about a year ago, I was attracted to that."
Cornett, who a year ago founded the Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Music
Association, said he liked hearing the group's gospel sound. When it came
time to choose 15 bands for an upcoming festival in Sparta, he chose Revival
Ridge as one of his headliners.
"They're working on building up their name," Cornett said. "I know most
everybody in this area and I think they can go a long way. Jonathan is a
young man with so much ability. He is fantastic. For his age, he can go as
far as he wants to go."
Still, the industry is tough, he said. And focusing purely on gospel - while
not playing bars, for instance - could hold the band back.
"Bluegrass is very competitive," he said. "There are so many good bands. And
I mean good bands."
After dabbling with recording in the past, Revival Ridge will be releasing
what Estep calls the band's first CD "that sounds what I want it to sound
like." The CD - a mix of originals and covers - should be ready in late
June. Estep sings and plays guitar. Jonathan sings and plays bass.
More than a year since Estep being laid off, the family is not only
surviving, but thriving on the income generated from the band, as well as
from giving music lessons on the side, Estep says.
Still, it's made for a less-than-normal environment for Jonathan.
"I've just never really known anything like what you would call 'normal,' "
Jonathan says. "But I love what I'm doing."
His dream is to someday play in a large bluegrass band or form his own.
"He's had to grow up quickly," Estep says. "He always said he could do it
and he was right."
Estep says they both got their musical talent from his father, who was also
in a bluegrass band.
And the fever could be spreading, as the girls of the family are beginning
to show they can sing, too.
Revival Ridge could someday expand to include their voices.
"I'm so happy that we can do what we do," Estep says. "That's a true
godsend. We are blessed."
Congradulations guys...
Till later....
Steve
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