Strings of success

The Hood County Commissioners Court came alive Oct. 22, when local fiddler Ridge Roberts played a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” — turning an ordinary meeting into a heartwarming performance.

Roberts — who now holds the official title Grand Master Fiddler — was recognized during the meeting with a special proclamation to honor his outstanding achievements in the art of fiddling.

“We have Ridge Roberts here,” Hood County Judge Ron Massingill announced Tuesday. “I think everybody here in this room knows who this guy is, because everybody in the nation does.”

The 21-year-old Hood County native has been fiddling his way to the top ever since he started playing the fiddle at the young age of 7.

At the age of 9, Roberts began showcasing his talent at civic organizations in Hood County. Today, he still performs at local events in the area, but his exceptional skills have also taken him to venues across the country.

In 2013, at the age of 10, Roberts entered and won his first fiddle contest — and from that point on, the spotlight has followed him, as he quickly became a rising star in the fiddling community.

Roberts has since won more than 15 championships, including the Oklahoma State Championship, the Grand Lakes National Championship, and the World Championship in Crockett — all won in 2018 — and the Colorado State Championship in 2019.

He also won his first Grand Masters Championship at the age of 16 in 2019 and won the Grand Championship at the National Old-Time Fiddlers contest in Weiser, Idaho in June of this year.

But his most recent accomplishment is when he secured his second victory at the prestigious Grand Master Fiddle Contest held in Franklin, Tennessee, Sept. 1. This highly competitive event — which attracts top fiddlers from coast to coast — is one of the most renowned events in the fiddling community.

To honor Roberts for his outstanding achievements, the court issued a proclamation that invites all Hood County residents to join in celebrating his dedication, extraordinary talent, and remarkable success as a Grand Master Fiddler.

“Get your camera ready,” Massingill joked. “I want my picture with this guy.”

Massingill explained that he first met Roberts when he was about 7 years old, when Roberts participated in a friendly duel with "fabulous” fiddle player Eric Tull at their church. He noted that at the end of their performance, Tull laid down his fiddle, and the entire church "just started howling.”

“This young guy, we knew he was something special back then,” Massingill added.

Roberts expressed his gratitude to Massingill and the entire commissioners court, as well as the city of Granbury, for their unwavering support over the past decade. He also acknowledged his parents for their encouragement and for taking him to his lessons.

"I know I could not have done it without them (my parents), because they did everything for me,” Roberts said. “My dad was the fiddle player, so he was the one that got me into it, so it definitely would not have happened without him, because who even learns to play the fiddle? But most of all, thanks to the Lord for giving me this gift.”

“It's not as good as a recording contract,” Massingill told Roberts when he presented him with his certificate. “But it's the next best thing.”