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 Superlatives are rare in album titles, and for good reason: unless you're a living legend or a legend-in-the-making like the Man in Black (1958's The Fabulous Johnny Cash) or the Queen of Soul (1962's The Electrifying Aretha Franklin), you're all but begging for a crash course in humility. So if you're going to stick a word like "phenomenal" in front of your name on a record cover, you damn well better have the goods to back it up.
"Those are some big shoes!" laughs Ruthie Foster, who, just for the record, is really one of the most humble and down-to-earth artists you could ever meet, phenomenal or otherwise. She admits to initially having "quite a few reservations" about calling her fifth album The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, crediting both her producer, noted Austin-based "swamp music" guitarist Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne, and her label, Houston's Blue Corn Records, for making that particular gutsy call. As for how they came up with it, well ... just give it a listen, and you'll understand. The big shoes just fit - so much so, that calling this particular record by this particular woman at this particular time in her life and career anything but "phenomenal" would be akin to false advertising...more >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Rosebud artists Bettye LaVette and Mavis Staples scored spots in the top 35 of Village Voice's annual "Pazz & Jop Poll" for LaVette’s Scene Of The Crime and Staples’ We'll Never Turn Back. The annual poll combines ballots from 577 critics’ Top 10 lists to acknowledge the best albums of 2007. Additional Rosebud artists whose CDs were honored were Bill Frisell (for his work with Floratone and with Paul Motian and Joe Lovano) Loudon Wainwright III, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ruthie Foster, Pieta Brown, Ann Savoy and the late Muddy Waters. Compilations that featured Rosebud artists were Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur (Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars), Goin Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino (Allen Toussaint, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Trombone Shorty and Marcia Ball) and Song Of America (The Blind Boys of Alabama and Bettye LaVette). See the full list of albums at: Village Voice's annual "Pazz & Jop Poll" >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Bettye LaVette, Tommy Castro, Duke Robillard, Ruthie Foster and Muddy Waters were honored with nominations for the 2008 Blues Music Awards just announced. Bettye LaVette’s incredible year (Grammy nomination, Pollstar magazine cover story and topping many “Best Of 2007” lists) continues with three nominations for Album of the Year (Scene Of The Crime), Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Tommy Castro grabs two nominations for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year (Painkiller) and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Duke Robillard yet again receives a nod for Best Instrumentalist - Guitar. Robillard has won this award an unprecedented four previous times. Ruthie Foster scores her first nomination for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. And former Rosebud artist, the late Muddy Waters, is honored with a nomination for Historical Album of the Year (Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down - Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, James Cotton). The Blues Music Awards will be held on May 8, 2008 in Tunica, Mississippi. The 2008 Blues Music Awards >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ruthie Foster Featured on NPR’s 'All Things Considered' and etown New Rosebud Artist, Ruthie Foster will give a live performance and interview as the featured artist on etown May 2-8. The nationally syndicated radio show follows her April 25 appearance on NPR's "All Things Considered," which can be heard at NPR's website. Her new album, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, has been holding strong in the top 15 albums on Billboard’s Blues chart for the past three months and has just broken into the top 25 on Amazon’s overall music sales chart and is still rising. Amazon’s editorial review described the album as "rippling with beauty," "stunningly emotional" and a "remarkable flashback" to old-school soul. Ruthie performs at MerleFest this weekend and will spend the summer touring the U.S., Canada and Europe. see tour dates >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The Rosebud Agency is proud to announce the signing of Ruthie Foster for exclusive representation worldwide. The Texas singer/songwriter’s blend of gospel, blues, folk and soul has drawn comparisons to Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald as well as Tracy Chapman and Joan Armatrading. Her new album, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, was produced by Austin swamp guitarist Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne and is out now on Blue Corn Music. “’Phenomenal’ is no idle boast” raved the Boston Herald, and according to the Washington Post Ruthie “demanded attention with the sheer power of her mezzo-soprano” at her performance at the 2007 South by Southwest Music Conference last March. Upcoming performance highlights include appearances at the Houston International Festival, Ottawa Blues Festival in Canada, Cognac Blues Passions in France and Cambridge Folk Festival in England with more extensive touring being planned worldwide. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • |
Bettye LaVette, Mavis Staples And More Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll
Blues Music Award Nominations for Bettye LaVette, Tommy Castro, Duke Robillard, Ruthie Foster and Muddy Waters
Ruthie Foster Joins Rosebud