Jack Singer Concert Hall - EPCOR CENTRE

205 8th Avenue SE

Calgary

February 11, 2008, Monday 8:00 PM

Buy Tickets online: CA $31.80

RUTHIE FOSTER

Click HERE to check her out at MySpace.
Click HERE to listen her Now.

Raised in Gause, Texas, a small town 180 miles southeast of Dallas, Ruthie grew up surrounded by the rich, soulful sounds of gospel and blues.  Her outstanding voice and superb original music have many influences including Sam Cooke, Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Sarah Vaughn, Etta James, and Lightnin' Hopkins, although perhaps no one has influenced Ruthie like her mother, Shirley Jones, who urged her to "Open your mouth and sing, girl!"

Ruthie Foster's songs are a remarkable hybrid of blues, gospel, roots and folk music rich with honest spirituality and emotion. Her simply amazing vocal abilities have critics comparing her to Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin.  Ruthie's passionate songs and scintillating live performances attract both the young and old for an uplifting experience of dancing, listening, laughing and even some crying; especially when Ruthie rounds out the joyous occasion with her versions of show-stopping gospel standards.

Ruthie's new international release "Stages" on Blue Corn Music is a collection of 14 songs recorded live in Austin, TX with Will Taylor and String's Attached chamber ensemble at St. David's Episcopal Church, Anderson Fair in Houston, TX and Club Passim in Boston, MA. The live performances include old favorites like "Crossover," "Another Rain Song," and "Real Love" as well as roof raising gospel standards "Death Came a Knockin' (Travelin' Shoes)" and "Walk On." The CD finishes with the title cut to her breakthrough CD "Runaway Soul."

While touring the Canadian Folk Festival circuit in the summer of 2002, Ruthie sold 1000 CDs in a day breaking a long-time record held by Ani DiFranco.