Hi, I’m Dave!

I’m very glad to meet you here.

You know, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be able to make my full time living as a performer and teaching artist. As the great Mick Moloney once said to me (I’m paraphrasing), “to entertain and educate….I don’t think there could be a higher calling.”

That has stayed with me for a long time.

I didn’t set out to do this as my life’s work, of course.

In fact, I left college with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Business!

Music was strictly a hobby for me at that point (a hobby that “Stairway to Heaven” had a lot to do with, by the way, but that’s another story.)

Circumstances have a funny way of altering our courses though, don’t they?

My discomfort in the corporate world led to my fledgling beginnings as a full-time musician in 1992, and a devastating case of tendinitis in 1994 took me out of the world of four-hour-long performances in clubs and into the world of educational entertainment.

I’m really glad it all happened that way!

Now, I perform for and work with groups of adults, kids, school students and others, connecting history and culture with music while having as much fun as possible.

I work in schools.

I do educational concerts for adults.

I research “heritage” music and regional culture.

I record.

I play in a band or two.

I run a whole series of distance learning programs.

I coach other artists.

I teach people to play the spoons.

I play electric guitar in an original “jam band.”

Emmy Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of being involved in some pretty remarkable projects and efforts, including an Emmy-winning PBS documentary called “Songs to Keep,” an award-winning website called “W is for the Woods,” a ten-year run as a “Speaker in the Humanities” for the New York Council for the Humanities (NYCH), a new appointment as a Public Scholar for NYCH, a concert tour in the U.K., articles for The Huffington Post, a slate of well over 2,000 school performances, a network TV appearance, a global online singalong for 27,000 students . . . even a listing on Wikipedia!

But really, it’s the everyday work I get to do in schools, museums, libraries, music festivals and community events that keeps me going.

It’s always about connecting with people – – drawing them into the important stories and themes, presenting the history and culture behind the music, giving them opportunities to participate in the experience, and sharing my excitement for the songs and the people who made them.

Smiles and laughter are always my barometers to let me know how I’m doing.

Leaving people happy; helping them take pleasure in their learning . . . that’s what it’s really all about for me.

A lucky guy indeed.

What Else?

Quite a few years ago!

When I’m not working, I’m often with my family. I might be watching a Buffalo Bills game with my sons, or fighting them about car keys, or trying to get out with my wife for dinner, or just spending time all together when we can.

I love to bike, hike in the Adirondacks (and elsewhere), take walks, read (mostly non-fiction), travel, and learn new things.

We live in an old (1901) Victorian home in the city of Buffalo, which, despite what you may have heard about the weather, is a fantastic place to live.

We can walk to restaurants, shops and grocery stores right from our front door, and we love the change of seasons.

(Yes, we do have seasons here – – all four of them.)

Oh, and I really like to cook. I don’t get to do it nearly as often as my wife does (and she’s way better at it!), but when I do, it’s often something spicy, ethnic, smoky, local, or all of the above.

What do you like to cook?

I’d love to hear from you. I can be reached directly by email (“dave” at “daveruch.com”) or phone 716-998-2001.

Intro Blurbs for Bookers

You may be in the position of introducing me to your audience, or writing about an upcoming performance in your newsletter. Feel free to use or adapt any of the following.

For Schools

Dave Ruch (rhymes with “duck”) has been visiting schools for over twenty-five years and LOVES working with kids. He’s brought an assortment of musical instruments with him today all the way from Buffalo, and a great bunch of songs to help us (celebrate…../learn about…..). Please welcome…Dave Ruch!

For something more detailed, this can be combined with information found in this section.

For Adult Audiences (Historical Societies, Museums, Colleges, etc)

Dave Ruch (rhymes with “duck”) is a Public Scholar for the New York Council for the Humanities and a full-time musician, researcher, and performer who travels regionally and internationally from his home base in Buffalo NY. He gives hundreds of concerts and workshops each year for schools, music festivals, historical societies, museums, community events and more, and writes for the Huffington Post and his own blog.

Dave specializes in historical and traditional music from New York State – – Erie Canal songs, Adirondack ballads, Native American chants, Great Lakes ditties and other forgotten music from New York’s farms, battlefields, lumber camps and kitchens.

His most recent CD, entitled “The Oldest Was Born First”, features thirteen tracks of New York State music, and will be available for purchase here tonight along with a selection of books and other items.

Tonight’s concert is entitled (name of presentation you’ve booked).

Please join me in welcoming…Dave Ruch!

For something more detailed, this can be combined with information found in this section.

For Family Concerts

Dave Ruch (rhymes with “duck”) has been playing music since the days when he was too little to carry his trombone home from school. (His much stronger friend Ron Rubino had to do that for him.) He’s been a full-time performer and educator for over thirty years, and he’s here today from Buffalo NY with a whole bunch of great instruments and songs. (Insert any special theme for the concert, if there is one.) Please join me in welcoming…Dave Ruch!

Looking for something to send to the media? Please see the “Press Releases” section below.

Press Releases

For Public Events – Alert the Media!

Here are some ready-to-go, downloadable press releases. Just plug in your organization’s details and distribute widely.

Dave Ruch performs a Children’s Concert
Dave Ruch performs a General Audience Concert
Dave Ruch performs an Erie Canal Childrens Concert
Dave Ruch performs an Erie Canal General Audience Concert
Dave Ruch performs Songs of New York State for all ages
Dave Ruch performs Traditional and Historical Songs of NYS for adults
Dave Ruch performs Songs of the War of 1812
Dave Ruch performs Songs of the North Country

Photos

Downloadable Press Photos

Let Everyone Know That Something Fun's Happening!

Educational Concerts for Kids and Adults with Dave Ruch

Poster art by Mike Gelen

I’ll be sending you a few of these about three weeks before the program, but feel free to print, hang and distribute as many additional copies as you like.

Heavier paper stock works especially well for flyers that will be posted publicly, but really, any old paper will do.

Download a high-resolution .pdf to print

Other Projects

Organ Fairchild

Revisiting my electric guitar roots

Described as “a musical party that won’t quit,” this group was formed in late 2019 with a few old friends from my rock and roll days. We played just a few shows before COVID hit, but the response was immediate with major festival, club and drive-in series bookings.

The group went on to be voted #1 out of 64 original bands across the state in the NYS Music “March Madness of Bands” competition!

Learn more at organfairchild.com

The Canal Street String Band

New York State Presenters Network Roster Artists!

Photo by Joseph Tecza

With three voices, fifty-five strings and a pair of cow bones, The Canal Street String Band puts a brand new shine on some seriously fun old (and new) American music.

Band members:

Phil Banaszak – fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals
Dave Ruch – guitar, mandolin, banjo, bones, vocals
Jim Whitford – string bass, dobro, guitar, vocals

About Dave