Modern Texas Blueswoman

I first heard Ruthie Foster on the Oxford American's Texas compilation album, and she absolutely blew me away. As soon as I heard her, I couldn't believe I hadn't heard her sooner. Ruthie Foster can take you to the Delta or straight to the here and now. She has that power. I was also glad to see the lyrics to her song, "Mama Said," included in Her Texas: Story, Image, Poem & Song, a collection of works by Texan women released by Wings Press. Although I have never heard Ruthie Foster live, I did see where she (perhaps) had autographed the men's room wall at the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston.

Here is Ruthie Foster playing a groovy, bluesed-out cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs."