Smith was born in
Dallas, Texas, to parents who are originally from
Columbus, Mississippi and while still a toddler moved there, with her mother, from whom she inherited a love for
bluegrass music.[5] Grand Ole Opry notable Jim Brock began instructing the seven-year-old Smith after seeing her perform onstage with
Rhonda Vincent (Smith impressed Vincent and Brock with a rendering of "
Boil Them Cabbage Down"[6]) and at age 10 she became the youngest invited fiddler to play at the Opry.[7] She also performed in 2003 at the
CMA Music Festival.[8] After winning the 2005 Mississippi State Fiddle Championship[7] and garnering several other contest titles, in 2008 Smith and her family moved to
Austin, Texas.[9]
Since moving to Austin, she has been mentored by
Ray Benson,[10] and she has toured with other artists (including
Willie Nelson[11]) She has performed in a Ray Benson play
A Ride with Bob, and played on Willie Nelson’s Grammy-nominated Willie and the Wheel. She has recorded four CDs; her debut album Road to Columbus was released in 2006, and the follow-up 6-song EP Creekside was released in 2007. She realized a live CD "Live at Roadhouse Rags" in 2009 and her most recent EP Feels Like Home was released in 2010. She won the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin award in 2007, named for
Daniel Pearl and given by the foundation named for him, which promotes "Harmony for Humanity."[10][12]
^
ab"These days Ruby Jane Smith is often seen fiddling with mentor Ray Benson, but the 13-year-old can also lay claim as the youngest fiddler invited onto the Grand Ole Opry stage. No surprise that her doggedly traditional style won her the Mississippi State Fiddle Champion title in 2005 and made her the 2007 Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin recipient." Moser, Margaret (2008-12-24).
"Smells Like Teen Spirit: U18 going on 21: Teen acts of tomorrow and tonight". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-01-10.