Making music Vermont style

By Ted Cohen/Patch.com

Vermont's Howard Ring can't stop being busy. Heck he can't even find time to retire.

Ring, 67, who works as an instrument technician at Perrigo in Georgia, Vermont, is also an instrumentalist on the musical side of his life.

At Perrigo, "I work with others to keep production and packaging lines running," Ring explained.

Ring is a longtime service engineer with an engineer's degree in automation and control from Vanier College.

When Ring isn't working his main job he has a passionate side hustle of musical performing and recording.

"I’ve been playing music for 50 years - guitar, piano, pedal steel, harmonica," Ring said.

He's been in a group called Smokin' Country for the last 15 years.

"We currently play in Cowansville, Quebec at the Knights of Columbus hall every two weeks 2 to 5 p m. Sundays," Ring said.

"I also play with some local musicians when needed," he added. "The most recent was for a band called Atom and the Orbits. Original rockabilly style of music."

Ring is also open to playing and filling in with local bands when they need someone.

If it's possible for a guy to have any time to do anything else, he is a talented DIYer who does everything from plumbing to carpentry. He's planning to build his own recording studio soon.

And he's even open to occasional for-hire jobs as a "handyman."

Ring lives in Shelburne, Vermont with his wife Helen Ring, a native of Malaysia who has been in Vermont for 20 years. Helen works at TJ Maxx as a shift coordinator.

Ring can be reached at 802-324-1273.