The Real Electric Violin Blues

"Nobody has ever played Blues violin like this cat..." - Little Mack Simmons

C.B.S. recording artist Ruby Harris has put the sounds of life into his music. From performances at Carnegie Hall & Lincoln Center to countless studio sessions around the world, Ruby has taken the instrument to uncharted destinations.

Ruby's childhood was illustrated with smokey scenes of Brooklyn, N.Y. and he started playing the violin at age 6. But in his early teens he hit the road with just a harmonica that his grandfather had given to him and started hitchhiking, first through the maritime states and New England, then out west. "Spending long hours waiting for a ride, or on the back of a truck or freight train gave me good inspiration and time to just play the harp, plus the people I'd meet always had stories to tell. I think things were a little different in those days in America; before malls and computers took over the fresh air and wilderness. Occasionally a job would be worth taking, but it was easier to live on the road back then. I had less responsibilities than I do now. I spent years on the road, but that world no longer exists, it seems."


Inset photo: Featured on the cover of Living Blues
From Left to Right:
Lacy Gibson
Bobby Neely
"Little Mack" Simmons
Ruby Harris
Rosa's Lounge, Chicago 1996.

Finally he settled down for a spell in Europe and made a name for himself, especially in Ireland, Italy, and Israel, as a session man and sideman to some local acts. Marriage to a Chicago girl and three children brought him back to America, where Ruby's blues roots could once again flourish and take form once again. Numerous recording sessions & club dates have made him somewhat at a musician in demand in the Chicago music scene, adding the unique sound of the hottest fiddle & soulful blues to many a Midwest roster.

At a young age Ruby followed the blues greats, like Reverend Gary Davis, Muddy Waters and Lightning Hopkins. Sonny Terry gave Ruby some harp lessons many years ago, & he also apprenticed the Great Ray Nance of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and just recently, he played at the funeral of the late master Willie Dixon, which kind of brought him full circle in the blues. He was also developing a relationship with the late Buddy Scott, who will be sorely missed.

Somewhat of a regular at Chicago's Checkerboard Lounge, Ruby has practically single handedly reintroduced the violin as an essential instrument in the Blues genre. 'It was of major importance in the founding history of the Blues and Jazz,' he says,' but was almost drowned out in the sea of over-distorted guitars in recent years.' Until now, that is. Re-combining the raw tools of Delta, Dixie, & Boogie with the sophisticated riffs of Kansas City, Chicago and R&B at large, Ruby hat set out to establish once again Blues Violin as an incomparable vehicle for expression of the deepest soul as well as, simply, the hottest chops possible. 'When Ruby solos, people listen...'. Just catch him one cold night in a hot club on the South side.