Ruthie Foster
NewMusicforOldFolks says …
When one of your albums is called The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, you'd better be pretty phenomenal. Ruthie Foster fits the bill. It's about as pure a voice as you're going to find — a mix of Tracy Chapman and Shamieka Copeland. In addition to making her own albums, Ruthie is in demand by other musicians looking to add her voice to their projects. One of the most recent is on a gospel-infused album Soul Food by The Word, a supergroup of sorts made up of Robert Randolph, John Medeski and members of the North Mississippi All-Stars. She only appears on one song, but that's all it really takes to have you asking, "Why doesn't she just join this group full time?" Probably because she's phenomenal on her own.
Artist's Info
Website: ruthiefoster.com
See them live: Tour dates
Record company: Blue Corn Music
Genre: Blues, Roots
If you like this, look into: Susan Tedeschi, Shamieka Copeland, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise
Bio (from the artist's website)
From houses of worship to houses of blues, Ruthie Foster has always been a rafter-rattler. And with a soul-filled voice honed in Texas churches, she can move audiences to tears or ecstasy — sometimes in a single song. Her last two albums, 2009’s The Truth According to Ruthie Foster and 2012’s Let It Burn, moved the Recording Academy to deliver Best Blues Album Grammy nominations; her latest, Promise of a Brand New Day on Blue Corn Music, could make her a contender once more. For this effort, Foster put Meshell Ndegeocello in charge as her producer and then got out of the way, letting the lauded singer and bassist call the shots regarding players, takes, and mixing. “I wanted this album to highlight Ruthie’s voice and also communicate her vibe, give a fuller picture of her artistry and ability,” explains Ndegeocello. “She really trusted me with the music and I think we've made something that complements and holds its own alongside the power of her voice.” (more)
Spotify sampler
Recordings
Most Recent
PROMISE OF A BRAND NEW DAY (2014): From houses of worship to houses of blues, Ruthie Foster has always been a rafter-rattler. And with a soul-filled voice honed in Texas churches, she can move audiences to tears or ecstasy sometimes in a single song. Her last two albums, 2009's The Truth According to Ruthie Foster and 2012's Let It Burn, moved the Recording Academy to deliver Best Blues Album Grammy nominations; her latest, Promise of a Brand New Day, could make her a contender once more. For this effort, Foster put Meshell Ndegeocello in charge as her producer and then got out of the way, letting the lauded singer and bassist call the shots regarding players, takes, and mixing. Foster says by the time she stepped into the Los Angeles studio they used, all she had to do was sing.
OTHERS
Full Circle (1997)
Crossover (1999)
Runaway Soul (2002)
Stages (2004)
The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster (2007)
The Truth According to Ruthie Foster (2009)
Live At Antones (2011)
Let It Burn (2012)
