Rick Ruskin

Acoustic guitarist Richard "Rick" Ruskin first began honing his instrumental command in 1962. Born in Detroit, MI, he secured an early-teen engagement opening for blues and gospel guitarist Reverend Gary Davis at the Retort Coffee House. Davis responded by mentoring the youngster, supplying the finest instruction a novice could receive.

Although Ruskin remains identified chiefly with guitar performance, he has also sung and composed numerous pieces. Following appearances on numerous other artists’ recordings, he issued his own self-titled debut in 1974 on the Takoma Records label. That collection contained “Break Out the Wine,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Teddy Bear’s Picnic,” and “The Temptation Rag.” Additional long-form releases followed, among them Microphone Fever, Six String Conspiracy, and Words Fail Me.

Across his career Ruskin authored the songbook The Takoma Sessions and produced the instructional videos Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar, Fingerstyle Christmas Vol. 1, and Fingerstyle Christmas Vol. 2. He has contributed to various television and film soundtracks while collaborating with Tanya Tucker, James Lee Stanley, Lewis Ross, Penny Nichols, and Olivia Newton-John.