Rory Block's picture hangs in the entrance to the offices of the Martin Guitar Co. They have a Martin OM-40 Signature Edition guitar named after her. As a mainstay on the acoustic blues scene Rory has just switched record labels and is releasing her eighteenth album "From The Dust" on Telarc records. Her first record called "High Healed Blues" was released back in 1981. She won her first Handy Award in 1996 for her 1995 album "When a Woman Gets the Blues". In 1997 and again in 1998 she won Handy Awards as the Traditional Blues Female Artist of The Year. In 1999 she won again for her release "Confessions of a Blues Singer". If she was a pedigree she would win "best in show".

My favorites include Charlie Patton's "High Water Everywhere", Muddy Waters "I Be Bound", and Son House's "Dry Spell Blues" but, her cover of Robert Johnson's "Stones in My Passway" may be the best version of this song I have ever heard anywhere.

Rory's originals include "From the Dust", a philosophical statement on observations she has made while pursuing her craft, "One Way Down" about meeting the grim reaper, "Big as Texas" a fun song about driving through Texas with her band, "Remember" a modern day spiritual, and the terrific John Fahey like instrumental "Unprecedented Quiet". "Runaway Dog" is about Rory's support for Animal Charities as she sings "I'd like to let all the dogs in the world go free", and it will be a children¹s favorite.

Rory Block is currently stretching the limits of her music through her songwriting. Anyone who would like a closer look at this hugely talented artist, and her dogs, should visit her website at RoryBlock.com Her autobiography and the drawings on those pages will enlighten even the most skeptical critics. She is one of our national treasures.

Richard Ludmerer
Director, The New York Blues & Jazz Society
ricdale2@yahoo.com

(c)2005 Richard Ludmerer