Welcoming Another Visionary
14 February 2006
One CommentThough I’ve already played a cut from their roster, I’m glad to announce today that Ruf Records has officially joined The Roadhouse family. They’ve provided permissions today to play their artists in the show and have sent a promotional package of recent releases. Thanks to Thomas Ruf, Nancy Edwards and the entire Ruf staff.
Nancy sent an interesting comment, as well. The Lister, Lyytinen and Parker CD Pilgrimage isn’t scheduled for US release until later in the year. We’re not actually sure who sent the CD, but it’s great to have an advance copy for use in The Roadhouse.
Hi Tony,
I’ve been a longtime fan of Ruf Records and their releases so this is really good news. Oddly enough both Thomas Ruf and myself hail from the same part of the world (Southwestern Germany) and it appears that we both discovered the music Luther Allison around the same time, when he was constantly touring Europe in the mid- to late eighties. I guess Thomas Ruf got a bit more out of it!
Seeing Luther Allison live several times back then had a profound effect on me and he still remains one of my favourite blues artists today. My all-time favourite gig was a show in Friedrichshafen around, well, I guess 1987 (he had just released “Rich Man”). It was a warm summer night, the show was in a tent so it was bloomin’ hot inside. The music blew us away and we were right in front of the stage – a couple of feet away from Luther and his band. On another occasion we were completely blown away by the second guitar player in the band. Not much older than ourselves, playing a guitar with a body cut in the shape of the continental USA. Playing like a man possessed, this young man was. One bad cat, he was (and is). I’m talking of course about Bernard Allison, Luther’s son.
I’m glad I discovered your show around Roadhouse 33 as it’s still showing that the music I love is alive and kicking. Hasn’t done anything for my CD buying habit though, I guess I need to go get another CD rack! Another interesting side effect of your show is that it helped me to introduce a friend of mine to the Blues.
Keep up the good work!
Regards,
Timo