Born and reared in Boone County, WV, Ross is the eldest of 10 children. His father is a life long CSX railroader. His mother is one of the best political orators in Southern WV. He is also the grandson of Opie C. Bias, well-known UMWA leader for 40 years. Having worked at Ferrell #17 and Wharton #2 Ross has first-hand experience of life underground as a struggling coal miner. When he entertains listeners with stories of working miles underground, or growing up "boy" while walking barefoot the coal dusted roads of Appalachian mining towns, his is the smooth voice of accustomed familiarity. He's lived there, done that.

In 1979 he graduated from Eastern Kentucky University "With Honors". Later in 1988 he continued his studies at Antioch/New England Graduate School in Keene, NH to gain a Masters Degree in Education. After instructing at both Memphis State University and Rollins College Graduate Business School, Ross turned his attention to consulting for several fortune 500 companies. Many of his client's locations meant a long trip on the highway. It is there he discovered the joy of listening to audiobooks. In 1997 he was ready to begin MountainWhispers.com Audiobooks. Ross currently lives near Washington, D.C. in historic Martinsburg, WV. Still enjoying "drive time" audiobooks from a variety of sources, he teaches at Johns Hopkins University School of Professional Studies in Baltimore, MD. In his spare time he enjoys writing, photography, whitewater rafting, and preserving oral history by recording the tales of Appalachia. Remembering the great storytellers he knew while growing up on a small farm in Low Gap, West Virginia, his stories are told from the heart.