Steve Ripley

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Steve Ripley

| image = Steve Ripley.jpg

| image_size = 150px

| caption = Ripley in 2002

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1950|1|1|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Boise, Idaho, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|1|3|1950|1|1}}

| death_place = Pawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.

| genre = country rock

| occupation = Record producer, songwriter

| instrument = Guitar

| years_active = 1972–2019

| label =

| past_member_of = The Tractors

| website =

}}

Paul Steven Ripley (January 1, 1950 – January 3, 2019){{cite web|url=https://www.alancackett.com/steve-ripley-obituary|title = Steve Ripley Obituary|website = alancackett.com|date =|accessdate = March 15, 2023}} was an American recording artist, record producer, songwriter, studio engineer, guitarist, and inventor. He was also the leader/producer of country rock band The Tractors.

Early life and education

Ripley was born in Boise, Idaho, but grew up in Oklahoma: he attended Glencoe High School in Glencoe, Oklahoma, and graduated from Oklahoma State University.King, Kile. [http://www.entertainmentscene360.com/index.php/musician-reviews-steve-ripley-43452/ Musician Reviews Steve Ripley.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107082618/http://www.entertainmentscene360.com/index.php/musician-reviews-steve-ripley-43452/ |date=2014-11-07 }}

‘’Entertainment:Scene 360‘’, June 17, 2007.

Career

Ripley's band Moses chose the name Red Dirt Records for their 1972 self-published live album; the first usage of Red Dirt.O'Bannon, Ricky. [https://archive.today/20141019063631/http://www.dallasobserver.com/2014-04-17/music/the-farm-red-dirt-music-oklahoma/%E2%80%9C Remembering the Farm, the Oklahoma Commune Where Red Dirt Music was Born"] And was an early marker for the Red Dirt movement.

Ripley worked as a studio musician, producer, and recording engineer, working with Bob Dylan, playing guitar (on Shot of Love) and on the "Shot of Love" tour,{{cite web|url=http://expectingrain.com/dok/who/r/rosatoarthur.html |title=Bob Dylan Who's Who |publisher=Expectingrain.com |date= |accessdate=2013-03-17}} with J. J. Cale (on Shades, 8 and Roll On), and he produced Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Roy Clark (on Makin' Music) and Johnnie Lee Wills (on Reunion) and 20/20 (on “Sex Trap”).{{cite web|url=http://swampland.com/articles/view/title:steve_ripley_the_tractors |title=Steve Ripley (The Tractors) |publisher=Swampland |date=1950-01-01 |accessdate=2013-03-17}} Dylan listed Ripley as one of his favorite guitarists.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylans-america-20090514?page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202042820/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylans-america-20090514?page=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2013 |title=Bob Dylan's America |publisher= rollingstone.com |date=2009-05-14 }}

File:SteveRipley OHC Commerce.jpg

In 1982, Ripley founded Ripley Guitars in Burbank, California. He created guitars for Steve Lukather, J. J. Cale, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Buffett and Eddie Van Halen, before moving to Tulsa in 1987 and buying Leon Russell's former recording studio, The Church Studio.{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagekramer.com/ripley.html |title=KramerRipley |publisher=vintagekramer.com |date=2011 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}

In 1994 he formed the country band, The Tractors. He is the co-writer of the country hit "Baby Likes to Rock It".{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=350}}

In 2002, he created his own record label (Boy Rocking Records) to produce artists including The Tractors, Leon Russell and The Red Dirt Rangers.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1456133/tractors-steve-ripley-planning-solo-album.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724012420/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1456133/tractors-steve-ripley-planning-solo-album.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2009 |title=CMT:News |publisher= CMT |date=2007-07-17 }} In 2009, he produced and hosted a 20-part radio series on the history of Oklahoma rock and roll, that aired on Oklahoma public radio stations. It was entitled "Oklahoma Rock and Roll with Steve Ripley."{{cite web|url=http://oklahomarockandroll.com/about |title=About |publisher=Oklahomarockandroll.com |date= |accessdate=2013-03-17}} In 2013 Ripley produced the album Lone Chimney by the Red Dirt Rangers.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/3842778l |title=BAM's Blog |publisher= newsok.com |date=2011-07-07}}

Ripley was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Awards Red Dirt Hall of Fame along with Bob Childers and Tom Skinner at the ceremony for the First Annual Red Dirt Music Awards held on Sunday, November 9, 2003 at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa.Wooley, John. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/spot/article.aspx?articleID=021231_En_D4_Omnip Godfather of Red Dirt music returns with disc, a Tulsa show.]

Tulsa World, Dec. 31, 2002. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.

In 2015, Ripley worked alongside staff at the Oklahoma Historical Society to create a "Church Studio" exhibit space at the Oklahoma History Center. He remastered several of Leon Russell's songs that were available in a touchscreen kiosk that allowed a visitor to adjust individual instruments and vocal tracks to comprehend how multitrack recording works.{{Cite news|last=Moore|first=Jeff|date=September 2015|title=OKPOP News|volume=46|page=5|work=Mistletoe Leaves|publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society|issue=9|location=Oklahoma City, OK|url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/ml/september2015.pdf|access-date=2020-09-12}}

In 2016 Ripley produced and curated a concert at Cain's Ballroom to celebrate the music and legacy of Bob Dylan.{{cite web|last1=Wofford|first1=Jerry|title=Concert celebrating Bob Dylan set for Cain's Ballroom|date=13 April 2016 |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/scene/offbeat/concert-celebrating-bob-dylan-set-for-cain-s-ballroom/article_3424aa1f-f1ae-5132-b24c-36e30e484aad.html|publisher=Tulsa World|accessdate=2016-04-14}}

After his death in 2019 Ripley was inducted into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame by the Oklahoma Historical Society Brinkman,Lillie-Beth. [https://journalrecord.com/2021/04/06/on-the-town-poet-laureate-others-to-shed-light-on-states-history/.] and also received the Restless Spirit Award from the Red Dirt Relief Fund. McDonnell,Brandy. [https://www.oklahoman.com/article/5659359/music-emergency-how-the-nonprofit-red-dirt-relief-fund-mobilized-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic.]

Death

Ripley died from cancer on January 3, 2019, two days after his 69th birthday, at his home in Pawnee, Oklahoma.{{cite web|url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/oklahoma-music-artist-steve-ripley-dies/article_9cb0dc83-4d5c-5e43-b76c-becf9190f612.html|title = Oklahoma music artist Steve Ripley dies|last = Tramel|first = Jimmie|website = Tulsa World|date = January 4, 2019|accessdate = January 4, 2019}}{{cite magazine|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/steve-ripley-the-tractors-dead-775044/|title= Guitarist Steve Ripley, Leader of the Tractors, Dead at 69 |date= January 4, 2019|magazine= Rolling Stone}}

Discography

=The Tractors=

1994 : The Tractors (Arista)
1995 : Have Yourself a Tractors Christmas (Arista)
1998 : Farmers in a Changing World (Arista)
2001 : Fast Girl (Boy Rocking)
2002 : The Big Night (Boy Rocking)
2005 : The Kids Record (Boy Rocking)
2009 : Trade Union (Boy Rocking)
2020 : Tulsa (Boy Rocking)

=Solo discography=

2002 : Ripley (Boy Rocking Records) with The Jordanaires

=Incidental music=

1976: "Flying Upside Down in My Plane" (part of the soundtrack in the film, Deportee)

References

External links

[http://www.thetractors.com The Tractors official website]
[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-ripley-mn0000037520/credits AllMusic Credits]
[http://www.voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/ripley-steve/ Voices of Oklahoma interview.] First person interview conducted in 2018 with Steve Ripley.

Category:1950 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:Guitar makers

Category:American male singers

Category:American country singers

Category:American country songwriters

Category:American country guitarists

Category:American male guitarists

Category:Record producers from Idaho

Category:Deaths from cancer in Oklahoma

Category:Oklahoma State University alumni

Category:The Tractors members