THE BLUES FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES RUF RECORDS FOR “KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE”

The Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards presented annually by The Blues Foundation recognize the significant contributions to Blues music made by the people behind the scenes. Each recipient is selected on the basis of merit by a select panel of Blues professionals.

Ruf Records is being honored as “Record Label of The Year”. The significance of the occasion is punctuated because unlike all past recipients, Ruf Records is not based in the U.S.A., birthplace to the Blues; Ruf Records is home-based in Lindewerra Germany.

After 12 years in the business, Ruf Records is inarguably a major blues record label. Those 12 years have produced 120 blues releases, 1.2 million blues records sold, 2 Grammy nominations, 10 W.C. Handy nominations, and now receiving the Blues Music Award. Their distribution and influence is world-wide.

Ruf Records describes itself as a label “Where Blues Crosses Over”. Aside from the obvious, geographical implications; it’s about Ruf’s artists — all securely rooted in blues, yet their artists cross into rock, pop, soul, world music and more.

The more Ruf artists cross over and reach out, the more fans of blues they develop, and the more they “Keep the Blues Alive”.

They have been a major factor in developing blues worldwide, especially in Europe. The audiences have grown so much in fact that the paychecks are bigger there; causing American blues artists to spend a great deal of time there. European touring and record sales are a major part of any successful career in blues today.

Yes, the future looks very bright for Ruf Records. They have just signed 3 wonderful North American artists who look forward to the worldwide exposure Ruf Records can provide. In 2007 look for new CDs from blues veterans Jeff Healey and Corey Stevens as well as newcomer Roxanne Potvin. For more information on Ruf Records please visit www.rufrecords.de

The Blues Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Blues history, celebrating Blues excellence, supporting Blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form. It is the umbrella organization for a worldwide network of 150 affiliated blues societies and has individual memberships around the globe. In addition to the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards, the Blues Foundation produces the Blues Music Awards, the Blues Hall of Fame Induction and the International Blues Challenge. For more information on how to support The Blues Foundation please visit www.blues.org