Whatever Happened to Blind Matzoh Leftkowitz

Rick Ruskin is a native of Detroit, Michigan. It was there in 1962 that he started playing guitar and in just one year became a respected professional musician. In 1964, during an engagement as opening act for the Reverend Gary Davis at Detroit's legendary Retort Coffee House, that a fast and permanent friendship with the master blues, ragtime, and gospel guitarist began. 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. During this time, Rev. Davis began and continued to push Ruskin into the development of his own style. Few would argue with the results of the Reverend's suggestion. Currently residing in Seattle, Washington, Rick divides his professional time between composing, performing, teaching, and as owner of Lion Dog Music, which involves him in all phases of the recording process. Rick Ruskin's achievements as a musician and composer are many and varied: Original Compositions and/or Arrangements Used By: A&E Network MTV Warner Bros. Television ABC-TV NBC-TV PBS Mel Bay Publications 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 EDUCATIONAL WORK: Instructor at the Swannanoa Gathering - Asheville NC Instructor at Augusta Heritage Festival's Blues Week Instructor at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop Instructor and former director of Musical Arts Workshop - Seattle WA Guitar Workshop Coordinator for CA Traditional Music Society's Summer Solstice Festival RECORDINGS: Whatever Happened To Blind Matzoh Leftkowitz? (Lion Dog Music) In The Beginning (Lion Dog Music) Perfect Pitch (Lion Dog Music) The Gospel According To/with Vivian Williams (Lion Dog Music) Once Upon A Time, Lion Dog Music (Lion Dog Music) Words Fail Me, Lion Dog Music (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 Has Been Said About Rick Ruskin: "I get an education every time I hear Rick Ruskin play. " (James Lee Stanley) '... 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)