Svaha Spirit Sunday ~ Ruby Jane Smith

Ruby Jane Smith (born November 17, 1994) is an American-born fiddle player, singer, and songwriter in the traditional bluegrass and Americana music genres. The youngest fiddler invited to play the Grand Ole Opry, Smith has toured and recorded with Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson and Willie Nelson.

All of that before the ripe old age of 16.  She was only 10 when she was invited to play at the Opry.  I’m always inspired by those who can make music but even more by the really young talent out there.

Taken from her website:

Ruby Jane is a 15 year-old “otherworldly powerhouse” of talent. The fiddle prodigy, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist is rapidly winning fans and warming hearts while writing today’s American music.  She is the REAL DEAL, called “Austin’s Artist to Watch.”  Born in Texas, spent her early years in Mississippi, and now back in Texas,
Ruby Jane has absorbed the best and deepest roots music that America has to offer and has a natural way of making songs that are her very own from those roots. Her songs and her show are so appealing that her fans are music lovers of pop, rock, folk and of all generations.  She has been a charismatic bandleader since the age of ten in her own band called The Ruby Jane Show which not only features her amazing fiddling but her mature songwriting, multi-instrumentality, and entertaining stage show. Ruby Jane stars in a new tv pilot, Swinghouse, which showcases her music and her acting abilities.

There were so many videos to choose from but I finally decided on this one when she was 14.  I love the intensity that shows on her young face.  (She looks like a dark haired, dark eyed version of another little girl I know – any guesses?)