Ruthie Foster’s music is one of the purest examples of “Americana” in the definitional sense: a deftly concocted mixture of Soul, Folk, Rock, Blues and Gospel that is given gut-punch potency by the soulful manner in which it is delivered.
The singer/songwriter/guitarist got her start in church, then playing with a Blues band in clubs around her native Texas before moving to New York City for a stint after her service in the Navy (during which she also played with fellow Naval musicians). Rebuffing attempts to turn her into a more Pop-oriented performer, she was back in Texas by the mid-’90s, releasing her first album in 1997. In the ’00s, fans and critics began to notice Foster on a much wider scale, leading to a string of award-show recognition, including numerous Blues Music Awards and a trio of Grammy nominations in the ’10s.
Foster’s latest album, Joy Comes Back, brought the Gospel factor to the forefront, featuring a litany of ace musicians (including Derek Trucks) and a Blues shakedown of the Black Sabbath classic “War Pigs.”
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This article appears in Aug 15-22, 2018.
