United States 
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5 years ago
Ruthie Foster is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her powerful blend of blues, folk, jazz, and soul music, offering a unique artistic voice to various projects.
Interested in booking Ruthie Foster?
Request A ShowRuthie Foster has had a long-standing musical partnership with Blue Corn Music, releasing many of her studio and live albums through the label, including 'Full Circle', 'Crossover', 'Runaway Soul', 'Stages', 'The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster', 'The Truth According to Ruthie Foster', 'Live at Antone's', 'Let It Burn', 'Promise of a Brand New Day', 'Joy Comes Back', 'Live at the Paramount', and 'Healing Time'.
Ruthie Foster made her debut with Sun Records with her Grammy-nominated album 'Mileage'.
Red Light Management represents Ruthie Foster, highlighting her diverse musical journey rooted in gospel tradition.
Ruthie Foster headlined the 5th annual Blues on the Mesa festival in 2025.
Ruthie Foster featured songs from her album 'Healing Time' at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom on November 18.
Ruthie Foster received a fellowship award from US Artists in 2018, recognizing her contributions to her field and accompanied by an unrestricted $50,000 award.
Ruthie Cecelia Foster was born on February 10, 1964, in Gause, Texas, into a family deeply involved in gospel music. Her musical journey began early, becoming a soloist in her hometown choir by age fourteen. Following high school, she pursued studies in music and audio engineering at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, where she also gained experience fronting a blues band. Seeking broader life experiences, Foster joined the United States Navy, performing pop and funk in the naval band Pride at recruitment drives across the southeastern U.S. After her military service, she moved to New York City and became a regular performer in local folk venues. Atlantic Records offered her a recording deal, aiming to develop her as a pop star. However, Foster chose to return to exploring American roots music.
In 1993, a family illness prompted Foster to leave New York and her recording deal, returning to Texas to care for her mother. During this period, she worked as a camera operator and production assistant at a television station in College Station, Texas, before her mother’s passing in 1996. By 1997, Foster independently released her album, “Full Circle,” which marked the beginning of a significant partnership with Blue Corn Music. This collaboration led to several successful albums, including “Crossover” (1999), “Runaway Soul” (2002), and “Stages” (2004). Her 2008 release, “The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster,” was produced by Papa Mali. “The Truth According to Ruthie Foster” (2009), produced by Chris Goldsmith at Ardent Studios, earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Foster’s career progressed with subsequent albums such as “Live At Antone’s” (2011, CD and DVD) and “Let It Burn” (2012), which featured collaborations with the Blind Boys of Alabama and William Bell, earning her a second Grammy nomination for Best Blues Album. Her album “Promise of a Brand New Day” (2014) garnered another Grammy nomination for Best Blues Album. In 2017, “Joy Comes Back” was released, featuring Derek Trucks. She performed at Carnegie Hall in 2018 and received a US Artists Fellowship Award, including an unrestricted $50,000 grant. Foster’s album “Mileage” (2024), her debut with Sun Records and co-produced with Larkin Poe, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2025. Her extensive touring has included performances across the U.S., Italy, Germany, Spain, and Cuba, often performing with notable artists like the Allman Brothers Band, Susan Tedeschi, Gov’t Mule, and Warren Haynes.
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