Samantha Fish, Mitch Ryder On Ruf Records As Blues Label Turns 30

Since 1994, Ruf Records hasn’t just celebrated blues history, the German label has found compelling ways to introduce the genre to new fans, pushing it forward over the course of the last 30 years.

For contemporary blues guitarist Samantha Fish and legendary rock and roller Mitch Rydertheir respective paths to the label couldn’t be more different.

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Fish began work with Ruf in 2011, cutting her first studio album Girls With Guitars alongside Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde as well as her first solo studio effort Runawaytwo of seven projects she’s worked on with the label.

Perhaps best known for mid-60s rock and roll hits like “Devil With a Blue Dress On” and “Jenny Take a Ride!” (alongside his Detroit Wheels), Ryder offered up his first Ruf release earlier this year, cutting the double live album The Roof Is on Fireone which finds him putting his patented spin upon cuts from artists like Bob Dylan and Jimmy Cliff.

Each year, Ruf turns back the clock, rolling out a uniquely diverse touring blues caravan, with Fish and Ryder joining Canned Heat, Bernard Allison and Ghalia Volt for this year’s installment.

“It brings back good memories,” said Ryder, 79, backstage prior to a performance outside Chicago at the Arcada Theatre as the tour wound down last month. “It’s like a little Motown revue. They’re fun. And that’s the important part,” he said.

“I joined Ruf when I did the blues caravan. And we toured all over Europe with it,” added Fish. “So, this is something that’s kind of a common thread throughout my career: a large tour going out and different acts collaborating. It’s nice because it freshens it up for us as a band,” she explained. “I think it’s really kind of a refreshing experience for fans too. Because, I think they see the lineup and are like, ‘That’s unexpected – in a cool way.’”

Ruf Records was founded by Thomas Ruf, manager of legendary blues guitarist Luther Allison, three decades ago.

This time around, the caravan found Allison’s son, guitarist Bernard Allisonjoining blues rockers Canned Heat (featuring guitarist Jimmy Vivino and longtime drummer Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra, who performed with the group at both Monterey Pop and Woodstock) while Ryder and multi-instrumentalist Ghalia Volt joined Fish during her headlining set.

For Allison, who was born in Chicago, the Arcada performance served as a bit of a homecoming.

“How about it for Canned Heat?” said Allison on stage, backed by the group as he set up his own “Change Your Way of Living.” “I had the chance to tour with Canned Heat and my daddy in Europe. So, this is a great pleasure!”

Bernard and Canned Heat worked up their take on Luther Allison’s “Bad Love” with Fish rolling out “Better Be Lonely” straight into “Chills and Fever” near the top of her set.

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“I think we’re kind of figuring out what we need to do as a band to support and elevate Mitch and his songs,” said Fish prior to the Arcada concert of performing with Ryder. “He’s really cool and very kind. He’s just such a legend,” she said.

“I had never seen her perform – until the day we got together to rehearse for the show. And I was blown away. She’s a very, very widespread talent,” said Ryder of taking the stage with Fish. “We were talking about her voice yesterday. When she gets into the higher register, she sounds like she has that same nasal tone quality that Aretha Franklin had up in the higher registers – but only in the higher registers. Then, when she gets into the lower register, she sounds sort of like a country music star,” said Ryder, observing Fish’s range. “Multi-talented. A lot of energy. And knows her business,” he continued. “She seems to have seen it all in her life. And I know all of this because I’ve been through it myself.”

Backed by Fish and her terrific four piece band, Ryder delivered a spirited take on Bob Dylan’s “From a Buick 6,” chipping in on tambourine as Fish delivered a scorching slide guitar.

“This next one was written by one of my heroes growing up,” said Ryder on stage, referencing Dylan. “I’m a Dylan lover,” he added backstage prior to the show. “If you listen to the catalog that he’s created over the many, many decades, you understand that he’s very familiar with what blues is.”

Known for vaunted labels like Chess and Vee-Jay, Chicago is also recognized for its electrification of Delta blues music, a unique spin upon tradition pioneered by artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker that was delivered back to the masses thanks to interpretation by U.K. artists like the Rolling Stones.

“Chicago was one of the first towns I travelled to outside of Kansas City. I wanted to come play up here. And I got a gig at Rosa’s Lounge really young,” Fish explained. “When I was learning how to play, I got introduced to the blues through rock and roll bands. I went and searched, ‘Well, who did Keith Richards listen to?’ And then you start to discover it,” she said.

“I was friends with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. That’s where I met Mikey, the guitar player, and a bunch of other people,” recalled Ryder of meeting Mike Bloomfield in the Windy City. “We always were on the edge of the blues, even in Detroit,” he explained. “The blend of the band that later became the Detroit Wheels, they were kind of rock-oriented and I was totally involved in the urban music scene. I was immersed in it as a member of a Black a cappella group and recorded my first single on an album for a Black gospel label,” said Ryder. “And so that was where my passion was headed. And then, when you mix that with the rock and roll sensibilities of the young men with the huge hormone outlets? It was very frenetic music,” he said.

“You never know the next young player who’s really gonna connect with people. And they’ll discover their inspiration and influences,” Fish continued. “I mean, it’s all just part of the storytelling and the tradition of blues. Everything is linked to the past – and therefore to the future as well.”

Strapping on a cigar box guitar, Fish tore into “Bulletproof” near the end of her Arcada set, tearing away at it with a slide firmly affixed to her left pinky, while kicking with her left foot as she made her way back to the drum kit.

Saving the biggest rocker of the evening for last, Fish was joined by dynamic Belgian multi-instrumentalist Ghalia Volt for a spirited take on R.L. Burnside’s “Goin’ Down South.” Fish leaned into Volt, smiling as she’d shred, with the pair soon facing off for a raucous series of dueling solos, wrapping up a performance which connected several generations of blues-influenced artists.

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“It was a surprise for me,” said Ryder of finding success with Ruf. “I’ve never been on the blues charts. But the album itself debuted at #3 on the blues chart. And the whole experience has been a learning one for me,” he explained. “Even though I can sing the blues very well, I never thought of it as one of my pursuits. I always thought of myself as sort of a rhythm and blues singer. To have it called blues is different. But, you know, things are changing. Everything is in flux. Everybody is looking for the magic handle and nobody knows where it is – except me,” said Ryder with a smile.

“Ghalia Volt, Bernard Allison and Canned Heat – it’s kicking ass, man. Everybody’s really different. And I think that’s the cool thing about Ruf Records,” said Fish. “I’ve been telling this story on stage every night. But I’ve been talking about how Ruf signed me when I was 20. I was a kid in Kansas City and this is a German record label. It’s like, how the hell did you two connect?” said the guitarist with a chuckle. “Well, Thomas is always on the lookout for diverse talent. And he’ll go to the ends of the earth to find it. He gave me an opportunity. And I’m here today because of that opportunity. So, that’s why I’m doing this,” Fish explained. “It’s cool to celebrate a company that gives artists the freedom to be who they want to be. Thomas has always been like, ‘You find yourself and do you.’ So, it’s cool to be able to celebrate that.”