Ron Colby
Inducted 2005
Ron grew up in Alexandria, Minnesota and spent much of his time in Fargo while his father’s band performed at the Fargo Ballroom. Ron moved to San Francisco in the 1960s and was influenced by folk music and purchased his first banjo. After a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, Ron moved to Minneapolis and founded or co-founded seven different bluegrass bands. In 1973 and 1974, Ron hosted a three-day Bluegrass Festival on a 40-acre farm in Eagan. With the popularity of bluegrass music, Ron and Bob Loy decided to start a bluegrass publication with membership in a club or association. Eventually, the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association mailing list was born. Rob continued to write a monthly column for the magazine for many years. Ron still performs with The Platte Valley Boys bluegrass band, formed in 1975.
