The homegrown music of Rus Reppert has become a Bridgeport Farmers Market staple.

 

His acoustic guitar and vocal renditions of Appalachian, Celtic and pop tunes were picked up by market organizers back in 2011 and have since provided a musical backdrop for the community venue.

 

Prior to that arrangement, Reppert was part of some well-known regional rock, roots and bluegrass bands - the Davisson Brothers Band and The Recipe, included.

 

As recently as the past couple of years, the current Bridgeport resident/Doddridge County native has lent guitar and upright bass talents to The Greg Harrison Band and The East Run Bluegrass Band and vocals to the Soap Box Preacher. 

 

“But right now, I’m focusing on being a solo artist – acoustic guitar and singing – and trying just to go that route,” he said.

 

Among scheduled gigs is a Feb. 26 appearance at Mia Margherita Coal Fired Pizzeria at Charles Pointe.

 

For the past couple of decades, Reppert has played a variety of music in and around the Mountain State and in Texas and North Carolina.

 

His current musical passion encompasses traditional Appalachian, blues and Celtic genres – the same type of music which inspired him as a young teen to put a guitar in his hands.

 

“I’m from very rural Doddridge County and my parents got me into music when I was very young,” he said. “They took me to the Augusta Heritage Festival in Elkins and I used to see lots of Irish, blues and Celtic music. That’s how I got interested.”

 

At even a younger age, Reppert had formal piano training.

 

“I took classical piano until I was 9 or 10, then I lost interest in that,” he said. “I wanted to play music like the Beatles or Elton John, so classical training didn’t interest me. It was like homework.”

 

He also dabbled in drums before ultimately investing his musical interest in the electric guitar, quickly learning to play popular music of the era – the heavy metal of Metallica and The Iron Maidens. That fascination continued through his high school years.

 

“I went to the Berkeley School of Music’s summer program after I graduated high school and that’s where I got introduced to the intricate acoustic guitar playing that I like and play a lot now,” he said.

 

Reppert thereafter obtained a degree in recording engineering from the Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio

 

His next venture was relocation to Austin, Texas, where he played for a band called “Julia Set” – like the math term – for about a year and a half.

 

“After I got back from Austin, I played bass with a real popular band in Morgantown called ‘Barefeet & Company’ and toured all over the Eastern U.S. for about three to four years,” Reppert said.

 

His next gig was “The Recipe,” a band on the forefront of the intrepid roots music scene.

 

After living and working in Ashville, NC for a short time, Reppert returned to West Virginia in 2004 and played about eight years with The Davisson Brothers Band. Featuring brothers Chris and Donnie Davisson, the band plays a mix of country, bluegrass and southern rock.

 

In addition to music performance, Reppert has also worked in the recording end of the industry.

 

“I’ve worked with vocalists on projects and helped people produce or mix their albums,” he said. “I was involved in ‘The Hillbilly Gypsies,” a popular bluegrass band in Morgantown. I recorded and mixed all three of their CDs.”

 

Reppert also became involved with the West Virginia Jazz Society and that was his connection with the Bridgeport Farmers Market.

 

“One of the main players of the West Virginia Jazz Society is Bob Workman and I met his wife Deb (Bridgeport Farmers Market president) and we became friends,” he said. “She’s the one who suggested that I do music for the market. I did and it’s been going great. I love the market. It’s like a big family and I truly enjoy playing that gig. It’s right up my alley.”

 

Though his connection with the market was his music, Reppert’s health-conscious lifestyle is a good fit to the organization’s overall mission.

 

“I’m a big Bridgeport Farmers Market supporter and eat as organic and local as I can – actually about 75 to 80 percent vegan. A more vegan lifestyle leads to a smaller carbon footprint, which is better for the planet,” he said. “I’m very thankful the Farmers Market is available to me every season so I can get lots of good quality veggies.”

 

Reppert is also a culinary hobbyist. After moving back from North Carolina, he owned and operated Burgers Appalachian Pub in Buckhannon. He continues to dabble in cooking and in 2012, he participated in Bridgeport Farmers Market’s Country Roads Cook-Off.

 

The guitarist/vocalist, who works by day doing technical work for West Virginia Lottery, will be entertaining those attending the March 2 Winter Market at Bridgeport Conference Center. And his music – ranging from Bob Dylan and Steely Dan tunes to Raggae and 15^th century Celtic – will echo in the breeze of most of the weekly 2014 summer market events at the marketplace at Charles Pointe.

 

Bridgeport Farmers Market is very fortunate to have him on board, Deb Workman said.

 

“Rus is totally committed to the local foods scene and the Bridgeport Farmers Market,” she said. “He brings not only his exceptional talent to the market, but also his passion for supporting everything local.  That includes fellow local musicians and local artisans.”

 

Reppert is not the only entertainer featured at Bridgeport Farmers Market events, but Workman said market organizers are proud to call him their resident musician – and resident music advisor.

 

He’s been instrumental in expanding the music offerings and securing funding for the market’s music program, she said.

 

Reppert’s talent, musical journey and open mind are representative of his motto:

 

“I just go with the flow,” he said.