Ruthie & the Wranglers play rockin’ American Roots music (also known as FUN!) and are based in the Washington, DC area. After 25 Years of Wrangler Twang, including recording, touring and radio airplay, the band remains a cornerstone of the DC roots music scene. From original Americana Country to rousing Surf instrumentals, their clever lyrics, high energy and spritely hillbilly harmonies set them apart from the rest.
Ruthie and The Wranglers’ albums have consistently ranked high on Americana, Folk and Roots music radio charts around the world. Their clever songwriting skills were penned by Billboard Magazine as “…nothing short of brilliant.”
Ruthie and the Wranglers is a 5 piece band including guitars, piano, bass and drums—showcasing their dynamic three-part harmonies and original songs.
THE MUSICIANS
Lead vocalist and songwriter, RUTHIE LOGSDON, and her band have racked up more than 30 WAMMIES including Country Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year from the Washington Area Music Association. Ruthie grew up singing along at home with her Dad and his guitar and harmonica. Although geographically the Logsdons were city folks, they held mini family hoedowns singing Hank Williams & Jimmy Dickens at any opportunity. Attending Bluegrass festivals, a few private guitar lessons and watching Country TV stars like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, Ruthie had enough influences from her rootsy background combined with her Rock ‘n’ Roll and Punk-influenced college days to create the beginning of Ruthie and the Wranglers. Self described as “Loretta Lynn meets the Ramones,” high energy and expressive lyrics are essential to her sound. Add her favorite musicians and you get diverse talent and unstoppable energy. She was proud to discover she is related to the late Jimmie Lloyd Logsdon – Decca recording artist and author of “I Got a Rocket in My Pocket”… Ruthie is definitely carrying on a family tradition!
GREG HARDIN, bassist, vocalist, and key songwriter, brings his lead vocals, backing harmonies and bullseye bass guitar beat to the band’s primo show. Greg has a passion for creating timeless lyrics with true musical spirit—his song Babe Ruth’s Piano” was named 2004 Song of the Year by WAMA.
Lead guitarist and award winning multi-instrumentalist (elec. guitar, baritone guitar and steel guitar), ANDY RUTHERFORD; pianist/vocalist/award winning songwriter, BILL STARKS; and percussionist TOM FRIDRICH set the standard for quality musician-ship and high-powered “rock-ability.”
On their latest release, Ruthie and the Wranglers Live at Goose Creek, “Surftilicus” shows off guitarist Andy Rutherford’s wave-tested surf guitar maneuvers, and being a standout at live shows, was a must to include on the LIVE CD. Pianist Bill Starks, adds his timely sing-along honky tonk anthem about staying one step ahead of the “Repo Man” and a lonesome love song “300 Miles to Memphis” (garnering a WAMMIE for Song of the Year). Ruthie’s “Ka-Ching” ribs you with its tongue and cheek delivery about one way to get rich off of a rocky relationship. The Rock and Roll swing style of “Ka-Ching,” the humor in “I’m So Sad Since You Left Me” and the lament “Last Morning,” keep the album sparkling with diversity. Goose Creek’s recording prowess and stage production have captured the raw energy and excitement that only a live show can foster. A well-balanced variety of original tracks featuring all 3 songwriters and vocalists make for a fantastic one-stop listening experience for Wrangler fans. The CD also includes a rousing version of (Ruthie’s hero) Loretta Lynn’s “You Wanna Give Me a Lift” and a rock ’em sock ’em do over of “I Got a Rocket in My Pocket” made famous by NRBQ and Johnny Horton—penned by Ruthie’s 3rd cousin Jimmie Logsdon.
Favorite Fan Quote: “I don’t even like country music but I loooove Ruthie and the Wranglers!”
“Kindred spirits: Loretta Lynn, Bill Kirchen, Asleep at the Wheel and Delbert McClinton”
–The Washington Post
“I Got a Rocket in My Pocket”…is the kind of rootsy, high-spirited crowd-pleaser in which the Wranglers have long specialized. –The Philadelphia Inquirer
AWARDS
Ruthie and the Wranglers have been awarded more than 30 Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES) including: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Someday) and Song of the Year and in February 2013, the band received emeritus status in the Country Duo Group and Female Country Vocalist categories. Wrangler guitarist Andy Rutherford was nominated for 2015 Country Instrumentalist and Roots Rock Instrumentalist and pianist/vocalist Bill Starks was awarded 2015 Songwriter of the Year!
MEDIA
In the early days, Ruthie and the Wranglers appeared on The Nashville Network including “Crook and Chase,” “This Week in Country Music” and “Prime Time Country” … appeared on every TV network in the Washington, DC area as well as coverage in other states and internationally … been featured in Billboard, No Depression, Blue Suede News, Pollstar, Gavin, Dirty Linen, Associated Press and other national and international publications … been aired on hundreds of radio stations internationally including Americana and variety formats and have ranked in the Top 10 on the Americana Radio Charts.
RECENT DC AREA VENUES
The Birchmere, Strathmore, Gypsy Sally’s, State Theatre, IOTA Club & Café, Jammin’ Java, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Barns at Wolf Trap, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, The Hamilton, Rams Head On Stage.
PAST LOCAL & NATIONAL FESTIVALS
“Blueridge BBQ Festival,” “BlackRock Center for the Arts,” “Jam on the River,” “AMJAM” American Music Festival, “Rocky Gap Music Festival,” “Chicago Country Music Festival, “Riverbend Festival,” “Six Flags America Country Music Festival,” “Crystal River Jam,” “Jim Beam Country Caravan” “Bethlehem Musikfest,” “Takoma Park Folk Festival,” “Washington Folk Festival”
And, other past venues include Jovita’s, Continental Club, Giddy Ups, Opal Dinine’s in Austin; Jack of the Wood in Asheville NC; Exit Inn, Opry Plaza, Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville; Rodeo Bar in NYC; Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa and many others.
RECORDINGS
CDs: Ruthie and the Wranglers Live at Goose Creek (Goose Creek Music), Americana Express and Someday, (Azalea City Recordings), Ruthie and the Wranglers Live at Chick Hall’s Surf Club, Life’s Savings and Wrangler City (Lasso Records); Vinyl single: Rockabilly Song #5 and Harper Valley PTA (Spinout Records); Compilations by Rounder, Run Wild, Oasis Rock, “Americana Motel,” “A Case for Case” a Peter Case Tribute album performing on Tom Russell track on the Hungry for Music label AND Azalea City Recordings Samplers I-V.
Find Ruthie and the Wranglers on their website , on Twitter, and on Facebook! Download a high-resolution of Ruthie and the Wranglers here.
