I had the excellent fortune to see Ruthie Foster play a concert recently. Here’s a little story:

Back in the mid 90s or so we would go out to bars and things to hear live music; our town had some talented people. There was a place here called the 3rd Floor Cantina and the owners did all they could to bring national and regional artists to town as well as give a place for more home-grown acts.

Ruthie and her band used to play there, among other places (such as the annual BrewFest which was held in a city park) open for some of these other bands on occasion. I think they all had other jobs but would get together to play. I remember Ruthie telling about how when she was a kid singing in church her family would tell her to sing so that it would knock the doors open at the other end. She can do it. Over time Ruthie was working on a record – they would record in the middle of the night when nobody else wanted the studio time – and she put out a disc called Full Circle.

During this time she would sometimes play at local restaurants (just Ruthie and her guitar, not the full band) and my son would jump up and dance, much to her delight (she called him “my tiny dancer.”) Not long after the record came out (as I remember it, it was a few years probably) she moved away and started touring. I’m so very happy she has found what she wants and gets to do it, that’s not easy to do. Maybe someday I will feel the spiritual connection she seems to know so well.

Still not sure?

Check her out. She’s good.