Ruby Jane Makes It!

Thanks to all you music lovers out there Ruby Jane has made her goal on kickstarter.   That's great news for her.

Let's Put Ruby Jane Over The Top!

Ruby Jane is over 92% of her way to her goal.  Let's put her over the top and get her in the recording studio making some new music.

Ruby Jane Carjacked

Thursday night Ruby Jane and her mother were carjacked while visiting friends in Houston.  For more on the story go here.  Your help is even more important now in helping her reach her goal on kickstarter.  Every little bit helps.

Ruby Jane's Kickstarter

Ruby Jane still has a ways to go to reach her goal.  Let's help her reach that goal and record that album!

Video: Ruby Jane and Mark O'Connor

Help Ruby Jane Make Her New Album

We've featured a few artists on here raising money through Kickstarter and today we feature Ruby Jane and her effort to raise enough money to record her new album.  Watch the video and than contribute to the cause.

Spotlight: Ruby Jane

16-year-old Ruby Jane is the real deal. Born in Dallas, TX, she is a fiddler, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist bandleader of “The Ruby Jane Show” showcasing her distinctive Americana mix of country, jazz, bluegrass, and blues. With deep familial and cultural ties to Mississippi where she lived for her first 12 years, she now resides in Austin, TX.

Ruby Jane exhibited a strong connection to music early, and began classical violin instruction at the surprising age of two-years-old. At age eight, Ruby shifted her focus from classical to old-time and bluegrass music. After only six fiddle lessons, she won first place in the first fiddle competition she entered in Tuscaloosa, AL, beginning a run of victories and increasing notoriety as a fiddle prodigy.

Ruby was granted an apprenticeship by the Mississippi Arts Commission to study under Charles T. Smith, one of Mississippi’s last great old-time fiddlers. This began a period where Ruby would compete in dozens of prestigious music competitions and perform with many bluegrass greats, including Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent (“The Queen of Bluegrass”), Jesse McReynolds, Jim Brock, James Monroe, Carl Jackson and many others, with Jim Brock becoming her personal teacher.

In 2005, Ruby Jane became the youngest invited fiddler in history to play the Grand Ole Opry, sharing the stage with Opry legend Mike Snider at the tender age of 10. Meanwhile the accolades and awards continued to pour in, with Ruby ranking first nationally for kids under twelve in the National Beginners Fiddle Championship, and Second Place on the mandolin in the National Beginner Country Musician Competition. She was also crowned the Mississippi State Fiddle Champion of 2005 for all age groups; the youngest such state champion in the competition’s history.

Media outlets began to pick up on the Ruby Jane phenomenon, and in 2006 a feature story aired on the CBS Evening News about the then 12-year-old fiddle prodigy. Features also ran in The Christian Science Monitor, W magazine, British Vogue, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and award-winning publications in Russia and Australia. She also recorded her first full-length album eponymously-named “Ruby Jane” and selections were played on bluegrass radio in the United States, Canada, and the Australia. When asked what to identify the highlight of 2006, Ruby mentioned playing on stage with Marty Stuart at “Marty’s Late Night Jam at the Ryman.”

In 2007, she won a prestigious American String Teachers Association ” Alternative Styles Award” while continuing to tour and write original music. In April, Ruby recorded Creeksidewith Steve Fishell as producer. Ruby played for her biggest crowd ever at the CMA Music Fest in Nashville when Big & Rich invited her on stage in front of a crowd of more than 60,000 for ABC’s July 23rd primetime special, “CMA Music Festival: Country Music’s Night to Rock.”

On July 27, 2007 she received an extraordinary honor in music: the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin at the Mark O’Connor Strings Conference in San Diego, CA. The violin is named for the Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered in Pakistan in 2002. Daniel was also a violin and fiddle player.

Ruby Jane made a move to Austin in September of 2007, and began sitting in with Texas greats like Johnny Gimble, Dale Watson, Jim Stringer, and Bob Schneider, Bill Carter, Freddy Powers, and Will Sexton. Ruby joined Dale Watson on stage at Austin’s historic Continental Club her first night in town.

Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel discovered Ruby while looking for a young fiddle player for his play “A Ride With Bob.” Ruby joined the cast in early 2008, and through Ray met her childhood hero Willie Nelson during the production of the album Willie and the Wheel, of which Ruby appears on the bonus track. This led to Ruby touring nationally with both Asleep At The Wheel and Willie Nelson in his “Family Band,” and appearing on the Willie and the Wheel performance on Austin City Limits. Ruby also shared the stage with Lyle Lovett, Willie, and Asleep at the Wheel at the grand opening of the Long Center of the Performing Arts in Austin, that becomes the new home of Austin City Limits in 2011.

Ruby’s acting in “A Ride With Bob” inspired her to take acting lessons, and she spent a summer in Los Angeles working with noted producer Zalman King on a TV Pilot for a show called “Swinghouse.”

Ruby Jane’s primary focus now is her own band, entitled “The Ruby Jane Show.” In early 2010 they released Live at Roadhouse Rags, including 9 original songs that highlight Ruby’s prowess as a bandleader. 2010 was busy for Ruby, as she toured France in August with Freddy Powers and the band “Stop The Truck” and then in September at 2010′s ACL Fest, she sat in with Blues Traveler, and then drew over 2,000 people for The Ruby Jane Show Sunday morning performance, being named “MVP of ACL Fest” by the Austin Chronicle.

2011 is the busiest year yet. No Depression magazine named her one of the top five artists to have seen at Folk Alliance in February.  At SXSW (she has performed at SXSW for 4 years, being the youngest ever invited) in March, Ruby Jane was named the top pick to see by many music critics, including savingcountrymusic.com. She tours and performs constantly. In August, she will be at Lollapalooza with her band  and in September back at ACL Fest in Austin. At 16,  Ruby Jane continues to write songs, expand technique, and mature in style. She can be found making music in and around Austin, whether sitting in with bands and performers from across the musical spectrum, or leading her band. She is warming hearts, embracing audiences, and making everyone wonder just where she is bound. 

Ruby Jane at TEDxAustin

Simply Six: Ruby Jane

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted  to   be a     singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you?

1.       From the time I first saw a violin at 2 years old, I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I saw a video of Itzhaak Pearlman playing a concert and something was ignited inside me which told me this was my mission in life. I realize that’s a really early age but from that moment on I never doubted what I wanted to do with my life. However, there is one other moment that stands out in my mind as a moment that re-affirmed my passion and assured me that I was on the right path. I was about eight years old and Rhonda Vincent, a popular bluegrass artist, came to our town in Mississippi to play a concert. We went to see her play and I was able to go backstage and talk to her during the intermission. She had me play a song for her on her fiddle backstage and was so impressed that she taught me a song on the spot and invited me to come play it with her on stage. It was a sold out crowd of a thousand people and that was my first real experience performing a show. I remember being in the middle of the song and looking up and seeing the shining light at the back of the theater. I don’t even really know what it was I just remember seeing it and having this feeling of exhilaration that told me “You’re on the right path. This is what you’re meant to be.”. From that point forward I’ve never stopped pursuing my dream.

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening   to?  Who are some of

your favorites?

 

Well I have a wide variety of musical interests and inspirations. Some of the artists that have been most influential to me are: Patty Griffin, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, John Lennon, Willie Nelson, and Ryan Adams. The artists that I currently listen to the most are probably: Erykah Badu, Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams, Tom Waits, Wilco, and Ray Lamontagne. Other violinists and fiddle players that I really admire are: Mark O’Connor, Stuff Smith, Stephane Grappelli, and Vassar Clements.

 3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live?

        Hmmm…there are so many incredible moments that I look back on as some of the best moments of my life. I might have to pick a couple! One that really stands out in my mind is performing when I was 12 with Big and Rich at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville and the Tennessee Titan Stadium for a sold out crowd of 60,000. It was an unbelievable experience. I had been asked by ABC television to be in a special they were doing about young and upcoming artists teaming up with big music stars. They chose me and a piano player from NYC to fly to Nashville, meet Big and Rich, and be invited to perform with them. I remember walking out on that stage, hearing the deafening roar of the crowd, and feeling right at home. I never felt more comfortable in my life. It was like I was meant to be there. The bass was booming really loudly wish made my heart beat so fast. Seeing that sea of people was probably the most exciting moment of my life. Again, I knew this was something I wanted to be doing every single night! Other great moments were when I had the opportunity to play both Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits music festival this year. At my age to be asked to play those festivals was an incredible honor that I will never forget. I was able to play with my band and my songs and sound. And I was welcomed by amazing crowds at both events. It made me feel that all the hard work is really paying off. I was so honored to be standing among amazing bands at both of these festivals. There are tons more incredible moments but I really feel that those three have stood out the most. 

        4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?  How much can music  influence current events?

  

           I believe that music is one of the most incredible tools that we have as human beings. Music, unlike anything else, targets your emotion. You can be in a sad mood and then listen to your favorite song and it can turn your whole day around. Music has an otherworldly connection to our souls and has the power to change us as human beings. Music more than anything else can change people’s way of thinking. So yes I believe it has the power to change the world. If our entire world were to run out of money tomorrow, everyone lose their jobs, crops die out, etc., we would still have music. We would still have the ability to play music for people and make them happy again. When you’re playing a concert, you have the power to reach into people’s souls and make them forget about their crappy lives, if even just for an hour. Music has the power to make people feel like they can do anything; like they can turn their life around. It is one of the most incredible devices that mankind has ever known. 

     

        5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician?

          Just like everything else in the world, music will grow and change and develop. As technology grows and changes, our ways of accessing music and listening to music will change as well. This is inevitable. It’s pointless to try to stop it. It’s pointless to try to save the old ways when new minds are being born and new concepts are developing every day. We have to embrace the change and grow with it. It’s the only way to reach out to the world. Youth is everything. And youths use technology. If we want to make an impact with music, we have to reach out to them. And I don’t think the fact that iTunes and other means of technological communications is a bad thing for the music business. Record companies are dying out and it’s becoming about the artist again. We’re not relying on rich executives to hire models and run them through auto-tune in order to make a million bucks. The artist now has to reach out to their fans themselves: through the internet. I think it’s wonderful. I love having the ability to interact with my fans through Facebook, iTunes, blogging, tweeting, etc. I think it’s gonna turn our ideas of how to “make it” completely upside down. It’s an opportunity for us to grow as an entertainment business and an opportunity for true music to stand out again.  

         6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

         Oh man this is tough! I would have to say Converse. Not just because I wear them a ton, but   because I’m not fancy, I love to be comfortable, I’m unique and I want to fill your closets. Haha!

Ruby Jane Day

Today at Voices we are going to do something a little different.  All the posts today will feature one artist.  That artist is the talented Ruby Jane.  We have several posts relating to the talented Ms. Ruby so we hope you will like our day's feature artist.

Video: Ruby Jane