By Patte Purcell
There are some of us, who even though we are not musicians, are doing our best to support Jazz and particularly smooth jazz here in the desert. I am honored to have a great friend and promoter Ruth Ruiz, who is one of the “Ladies of Jazz”.
Ever since she’s been a little girl, while others were listening to the Beatles, Ruth was dancing and singing along to her jazz favorites Nancy Wilson, Jazz Crusaders and Dinah Washington. Although singing and dancing were her two first loves her life took a different turn when she went into law enforcement.
She started as a secretary but became a deputy sheriff. She entered the Los Angeles Bureau of Investigations and the DA’s office as an investigator and rose to head up a large investigators office. As Ruth puts it “everything you saw on Law and Order, I did”. She investigated murders, rapes and other crimes. She was on the “Lieutenant’s list” when she started to have heart problems. Her doctor advised her to retire and that lead to her new career.
I first met Ruth at a party I attended at her home. It was an informal after hours party with lots of musicians who just jammed. Ruth loves the music and realized that there was a lack of booking agents to help musicians get gigs. As she puts it “they just want to play, they don’t want to have to worry about the business part”. This is how RR Class Act Entertainment began in 2010 as something fun she could do.
Her business has been growing by leaps and bounds and today Ruth is the #1 Jazz booking agent in the desert. National recording artist Slim Man and his band is his her top act, she books Joe Baldino, Smooth Brothers, Angie Whitney, Rose Mallet, Michael D’ Angelo (50’s 60’s music), Paul Elia (Dean Martin and standards. She’s picked up numerous venues in town to place her artists.
This brings us to her latest venture, smooth Jazz parties. Ruth is throwing a party on Sept 24 at the beautiful Miramonte Resort in Indian Wells. She’s calling it ‘Elements of Smooth Jazz and Soul’ and will be featuring Darryl Fitzgerald Walker and his band, with special guest smooth Jazz Guitarist Blake Aaron. For those that have never seen Darryl, he is the soulful lead singer and sax player from Greg Adams and East Bay Soul. Blake Aaron has had a number of smooth Jazz hits. Atlanta Daily World calls his new CD Soul Stories “a perfect blend of Jazz, Latin, R&B and Funk.” His new single “Wes Side Story,” was recently #1 on the Groove Jazz Charts, #2 on Amazon Sales and #9 on Billboard.
The party starts at 6pm and goes until 9:30 with an artist “Meet and Greet” after the show.
There will be a raffle to raise money for “Rosie’s Kids” a non-profit organization “Helping Kids Succeed”.
Xtreme Dean the Magician, is going to Emcee the event. There will be food and drinks available for sale. This totally danceable music will be perfect because the party will have a large dance floor. Ruth’s past promotional ventures include promoting “Red Hot Ballroom”. Ruth is quite the ballroom dancer. She’s also held a “Battle of the Bands” and is also working on two wine tasting events this season for charities.
I asked Ruth what her goals were and she said “Have Fun, Enjoy life, and Keep Jazz Alive here in our beautiful desert.”
If you love Jazz you will love this party that Ruth is putting on. Tickets are only $25 and can be purchased through www.purplepass.com If you’d like to have Ruth (RR Class Act Entertainment) book your venue contact her at 760-777-2328.
Patte Purcell – Muze Muzic
pattepurcell@yahoo.com
1-702-219-6777
