Fingerstyle guitar playing not solely for other guitarists. The music is never overshadowed by technique.

14 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Acoustic Blues, EASY LISTENING: Background Music



Details:
Rick Ruskin started playing guitar in 1962 and in just one year became a respected professional musician in his native Detroit, Michigan. In 1964, while still in Jr. High School, he was chosen to open the bill for the Reverend Gary Davis at Detroit's legendary Retort Coffee House. This engagement resulted in a fast and permanent friendship with the master blues, ragtime, and gospel guitarist. Rev. Davis was so taken by the young Ruskin's skill and eagerness, that he invited Rick to spend that summer with him at his Long Island home. By the end of the summer, Davis stopped teaching Rick new material and told him, "It's time you started paying attention to your own music." Ruskin has been doing that ever since.

Rick Ruskin's achievements as a musician and composer are many and
varied:

Original Compositions and/or Arrangements Used By:

Mel Bay Publications

A&E Network

ABC-TV

NBC's-TV

Hewlett Packard

Second Story Television

Armand Hammer Productions

TEAC Corporation of America

Fostex Electronics

James B. Lansing Sound





BACK-UP CREDITS:

Lead Guitarist for Jackie De Shannon

Acoustic Guitarist for Olivia Newton-John

Rhythm Guitarist for Tanya Tucker

Jeremiah Johnson soundtrack

A Boy and His Dog soundtrack

Kid Blue soundtrack


Composed the film score for American Film Institute's,
GATLIN AND THE BOY

RECORDINGS:

Once Upon A Time, Lion Dog Music

Words Fail Me, Lion Dog Music

Turn the Page, Beachwood Records

Against Tradition, (with Karen Leigh Williams) Soundboard Music

Sounds Familiar, (with Lewis Ross) Revere Records

Songs, Hymns and Carols, (with Lewis Ross) Revere Records

On The Cheap, (with Lewis Ross) Lion Dog Music

John Fahey Visits Washington, D.C., Takoma Records

Six String Conspiracy, Takoma Records

Christmas with John Fahey: VOL.II, Takoma Records

Microphone Fever, Takoma Records

Richard Ruskin, Takoma Records


INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS & BOOKS:

Words Fail Me - The Complete Transcriptions, Slice Of Life Publications

The Takoma Sessions, John August Music/Mel Bay

Fingerstyle Groove Guitar, Video Progressions

Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar, Video Progressions

Fingerstyle Christmas, VOL. I, Video Progressions

Fingerstyle Christmas, VOL. II, Video Progressions
PUBLISHED ARTICLES:

Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine

FRETS Magazine


A SELECTED LIST OF PLACES RICK RUSKIN HAS PERFORMED:

The Occasional Cafe - WA

Coffee Gallery - CA

Boulevard Music - CA

The Fret House - CA

Temecula Art gallery - CA

McCabes - CA

Freight and Salvage - CA

The Ice House - CA

California Traditional Music Society - CA

UCLA - CA

USC - CA

UCSB - CA

U of M - MI

Wayne State University - MI

Chaps - MI

Elderly Instruments - MI

Portland Guitar Society - OR

The Rose Festival - OR

Oregon College of Education - OR

Western Washington University - WA

University of Puget Sound - WA

University of Minnesota - MN

Monroe Center Coffee House - WA

The Backstage - WA

The Crystal Star - WA

The Epicurean - WA

The Antique Sandwich - WA

Still Life Coffee House - WA

Bumbershoot - WA

Folk Life Festival - WA

Museum of History and Industry - WA










What Reviewers Have Said About Rick Ruskin:

"... In these days of all the high-energy slaps and electronics effects,
it is most rewarding to find an inventive guitarist who can deliver the guitar
in the original steel and wood sound.....Amazing talent"
(VICTORY MUSIC REVIEW)

"...so brilliant at times that he seems to transcend normal
approaches to the guitar....Ruskin may be the smoothest
technical player around. Flashy, fast, inventive and
musical and that isn't easy." (GUITAR PLAYER)

"...a standout guitarist..." (BILLBOARD)

"...the detail and precision of Ruskin's playing are well
known among fingerpickers..." (GUITAR PLAYER)

"...He has impeccable technique and the good taste and sense
to know that merely showing off technical wizardry can be
deathly boring." (MILWAUKEE WEEKLY)


"...one of the best finger-style guitarists in the
country..." (FOLK SCENE MAGAZINE)

"...Ruskin's touch is peerless, his playing is flawless..."
(ARTS MAGAZINE)

"...he is one of the most refined and expressive guitar
players I've heard...Ruskin has enjoyable stage presence..."
(DON CREERY - WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY)

"...Ruskin creates some of the most beautifully toned guitar
solos ever heard..." (SAN DIEGO NEWS PRESS)

"...Ruskin is one of the finest people I've heard in a
long time. His vocals come across with ease and a
brilliance that brings to mind Cat Stevens...As a guitarist,
he is unbelievably great. The man has a style that makes
each song new and exciting to listen to..."
(TOM WILBERING, WMHW-FM)

"...Though I have nothing against Leo Kottke, 'the greatest
folk guitarist on earth does seem a bit overstated. I
suggest you listen to Steve Goodman, RICHARD RUSKIN, Merle
Travis, Doc Watson, Chet Atkins, William Ackerman or Fred
Epping before you crown the King." (PEOPLE)