Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers to bring their American roots variety show to Columbus Margaret Quamme “They call me the young old-timer,” Brewer said. Brewer celebrated 40 years in the music business in 2020. He also celebrated his 56th birthday last month. “I started out as a kid playing rock and roll. I was surrounded by mountain music, but I wanted to play like Ted Nugent,” Brewer said, speaking by phone from his home in West Point, Kentucky. Brewer, who will appear May 27 at the South Drive-In, decided to enter a school talent contest. “I went over to these guys' houses that I didn't even know to pick some songs. One of them had a banjo, one of them had a mandolin, and, of course, I played acoustic guitar, too. I had learned bluegrass and old-time music along with the rock. I said, let's play 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown' or 'Dueling Banjos,'” he said.