Ruthie Foster at Susanna’s Kitchen

From houses of worship to houses of blues, Ruthie Foster has always been one to rattle the rafters with a clear, powerful voice at home with gospel, folk, pop, and especially soul. Described by Rolling Stone as “pure magic to watch and hear,” her remarkable voice which was honed in Texas churches has the ability to move audiences to tears or ecstasy — sometimes in a single song. On July 18, Ruthie Foster brings that amazing voice back to Susanna’s Kitchen Coffeehouse.

Foster descends from a line of strong women hailing from tiny Gause, Texas, a church-filled town about 90 minutes northeast of Austin. Her family was full of gospel singers. Her early influences included those “sisters in the amen corner” who encouraged her young voice. Other influences came from legendary acts like Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, but Foster developed a unique sound unable to be contained within a single genre.

After high school, Ruthie moved to Waco, studying music and audio recording at a community college. Later she joined the Navy, singing for the Navy band “Pride,” and nourishing her love for performing. After leaving the service, Ruthie moved to New York City to pursue a career as a professional musician. Atlantic Records got wind of Foster’s talent and offered her a recording deal, with the intent of cultivating her as a budding pop star. It wasn’t long before Foster recognized she wasn’t interested in a pop career, preferring instead to explore the various strains of American roots music of her childhood and beyond. When her mother fell ill in 1993, Foster left New York and her recording deal and returned to Texas to be with her family.

In the years since her mother’s death in 1996, Ruthie solidified her place as a renowned singer/songwriter, beginning a musical partnership with Blue Corn Music, touring internationally and even playing at Carnegie Hall. Three of her albums have received Grammy nominations, and she has won numerous awards for her music. Her most recent album is Joy Comes Back, released in 2017.

Susanna’s Kitchen Coffeehouse is located at the corner of RR 12 and CR 1492 (at Wimberley United Methodist Church). Doors open by 7:00 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at the door only: $25 for adults, $5 for kids. Pizza, tamales, pie, coffee and soft drinks are available. Proceeds benefit The Barnabas Connection, Operation Good Shepherd, Camp Good Sam, and provide scholarships for Bright Beginnings Preschool.