{"id":19610,"date":"2020-07-08T09:29:41","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T16:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/?p=19610"},"modified":"2020-07-08T11:44:08","modified_gmt":"2020-07-08T18:44:08","slug":"video-web-exclusive-interview-ruthie-foster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/2020\/07\/video-web-exclusive-interview-ruthie-foster\/","title":{"rendered":"Video &#038; Web-Exclusive Interview RUTHIE FOSTER"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Video Feature &amp; Web-Exclusive Interview<\/h3>\n<h1>Artist: RUTHIE FOSTER<\/h1>\n<h2>Video: \u201cSinging the Blues\u201d from the new album Live at the Paramount<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iPjoOi5KASY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h1>THREE-TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE RUTHIE FOSTER FEATURED FOR THE LAUNCH OF BLUE ROCK ALIVE! VIRTUAL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES<\/h1>\n<p><strong>This Thursday, July 9, Ruthie Foster is the featured artist to launch Blue Rock aLive!\u2014a unique virtual summer concert series\u2014featuring iconic Austin-based artists every Thursday this summer. You can buy a Season Pass for the whole summer series for only $105\u2014and have a seat in the house by sending in your headshot.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Live shows are a way musicians engage with their audience. Blue Rock is a good example of innovation, quality and creativity. They have figured out a way to bring beloved, iconic Austin artists directly to you. Each event is produced in broadcast quality audio-video from Blue Rock\u2019s renowned Texas room\u2014streamed straight to you. When you buy a Season Pass, you send in your headshot\u2014and they place it on the seats. With these headshots, all the Season Pass holders will literally be sitting in the room. So when Foster takes the stage, she will actually see the faces of the people watching her perform.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19616\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19616\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19616\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-01-photo-credit-Riccardo-Piccirillo.jpg\" alt=\"Ruthie Foster-01 - photo credit Riccardo Piccirillo\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-01-photo-credit-Riccardo-Piccirillo.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-01-photo-credit-Riccardo-Piccirillo-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Riccardo Piccirillo<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We talked with Blue Rock\u2019s Billy Crockett to find out more about this unique concert series: \u201cThings have changed in the culture of artists and performing venues. A lot of artists are broadcasting from their kitchen, but not many are doing it from venues. We have experience doing the professional sound-quality broadcasts. We have tried to come up with ways that our community will also feel like they are really a part of it. The artists\u2019 fans can be engaged and charmed by our approach. Everybody who buys a Season Pass\u2014they send us their headshot, and we print it and put it in a chair.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Join Blue Rock Studio\u2019s Virtual Concert Series featuring Austin\u2019s own: Ruthie Foster, Matt the Electrician, Tina &amp; Walt Wilkins, David Ramirez, Carrie Rodriguez, Billy Crockett, Danny Schmidt &amp; Carrie Elkin, and Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines. For Blue Rock aLIVE! Virtual Concert Series Tickets and Season Passes: https:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/events. All proceeds go directly to the artists and support the Blue Rock team.<\/p>\n<p>We talked with Ruthie Foster about her passion for songwriter, her love for big band, the fascination of capturing a live performance at its finest and what continues to inspire her creative process and keep her hopeful in these unique times.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19615\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19615\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19615\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-03-photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano.jpg\" alt=\"Ruthie Foster-03 - photo credit Jeff Fasano\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-03-photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-03-photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19615\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Jeff Fasano<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>RUTHIE FOSTER Interview\u00a0with M Music &amp; Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Tell us about a song you will play at Blue Rock aLive! Virtual Concert Series starting this Thursday, July 9.<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019ll be playing \u201cSinging the Blues\u201d\u2014one of the five original songs on the 2020 Live at the Paramount album. The song evolved while I was out on tour and knew I needed to start writing for the next CD. I felt like I didn\u2019t have anything new to say, so I started the verse first with \u201ctrying to find a new home.\u201d I was house hunting at the time\u2014trying to write a new song, and the rest just made sense. Once I realized that inserting my life as it looked then and there into my music, it actually made writing effortless. I finished the song while on a cruise after seeing Bobby \u201cBlue\u201d Bland play live with his big band. It was so inspiring to watch him with a full ensemble\u2014with horns and a rhythm section.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19614\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19614\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19614\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-05-photo-courtesy-of-Blue-Corn-Music.jpg\" alt=\"Ruthie Foster-05 - photo courtesy of Blue Corn Music\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-05-photo-courtesy-of-Blue-Corn-Music.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-05-photo-courtesy-of-Blue-Corn-Music-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19614\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo courtesy of Blue Corn Music<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>What did you learn about yourself after you completed Ruthie Foster Big Band Live at the Paramount.<\/strong><br \/>\nI learned that sometimes it only takes an idea and getting crystal clear about what action to take\u2014then you will witness what some may call the impossible, become possible.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you remain hopeful in this strange and unique time?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt is strange and unique indeed. I keep music in my life. I\u2019m listening to great podcasts and music, from my old standby records to being open to new music, even sharing new music. I also have a young person in my life. My 9 year old daughter provides a daily dose of hope for my entire family.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who originally inspired you to write songs?<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are so many artists I can credit with inspiring me to write. My first exposure to writing was through poetry\u2014and a lot of black female authors. I read a lot as a young person\u2014books by writers such as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Gwendolyn Brooks were my favorites, and still are. The poetry of these particular women read a lot like songs.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19613\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19613\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19613\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-08-photo-credit-Mary-Keating-Bruton-660.jpg\" alt=\"Ruthie Foster-08 - photo credit Mary Keating-Bruton-660\" width=\"660\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-08-photo-credit-Mary-Keating-Bruton-660.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-08-photo-credit-Mary-Keating-Bruton-660-300x217.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19613\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Mary Keating-Bruton<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Which Top 5 Musicians inspired you to become a musician?<\/strong><br \/>\nSam Cooke, Phoebe Snow, Stevie Wonder, Staple Singers, Roberta Flack.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are your Top 5 favorite albums of all time?<\/strong><br \/>\nGreatest Hits (1975) \u2013 Al Green<br \/>\nRickie Lee Jones (1979) \u2013 Rickie Lee Jones (the one featuring \u201cChuck E.\u2019s in Love\u201d)<br \/>\nSongs in the Key of Life (1976) \u2013 Stevie Wonder<br \/>\nDonny Hathaway (1971) \u2013 Donny Hathaway<br \/>\nKind of Blue (1959) \u2013 Miles Davis<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the best advice someone has given you?<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cAlways know your worth, and that you are worthy of all good things.\u201d \u2013 Miss Mozelle Smith, my fourth grade teacher.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19612\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-09-660.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-09-660.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-09-660-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us a \u201cpinch me\u201d moment when you thought \u201cWow, this is really happening to me!\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are so many of those moments. I did a bus tour with Bo Diddley. I opened for him a year before he passed away. We were on the road for two months. You learn a lot from people with so much music history. I was also on the road with Jorma Kaukonen and Robben Ford. I couldn\u2019t believe they both insisted that I play on stage with them. And Bonnie Raitt has called me on stage and each time is so incredible. She is so gracious and encouraging\u2014so powerful on stage. She owns the stage\u2014and gives your permission. It\u2019s a glorious feeling to be in the company of a powerful woman like her.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s unique about playing at Blue Rock?<\/strong><br \/>\nI love going out to their facility. Billy &amp; Dodee Crockett are like family. It\u2019s not only a world-class studio but at their live venue they get a crowd that is open and willing to listen to all genres of music\u2014and that audience is passionate about music. They\u2019ve been doing online concerts for quite a while. When I\u2019ve been on the road, I myself have signed up and paid to watch their shows. The diversity and quality of the music presented there is incomparable. They have given so much to the music community and they continue to give.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19628\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19628\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19628\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-02-photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano.jpg\" alt=\"Ruthie Foster-02 - photo credit Jeff Fasano\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-02-photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Ruthie-Foster-02-photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19628\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Jeff Fasano<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Where can new fans get more info and stay updated?<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.RuthieFoster.com\">www.RuthieFoster.com<\/a><br \/>\nFor Blue Rock aLIVE! Virtual Concert Series Tickets and Season Passes: <a href=\"https:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/events\">https:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/events<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Video Feature &amp; Web-Exclusive Interview Artist: RUTHIE FOSTER Video: \u201cSinging the Blues\u201d from the new album Live at the Paramount THREE-TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE RUTHIE FOSTER FEATURED FOR THE LAUNCH OF BLUE ROCK ALIVE! VIRTUAL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES This Thursday, July 9, Ruthie Foster is the featured artist to launch Blue Rock aLive!\u2014a unique virtual summer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19618,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7725],"tags":[7169,8271,11643,11644,11645,11385,11018,11647,11648,3186,11649,9490,5741,8677,844,3886,11650,11646,9281,11651,10860,7566,11652,3010,2121,11653,7978,11654,8541,8325,6458,11162,3141,11655,11656,11657,4125,5372,11658,11659,11660],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19610"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19610"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19629,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19610\/revisions\/19629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}