Peggy Ratusz (Blues, Jazz, Tribute)

It was the diverse musical tastes of her parents and 7 other siblings that enabled Peggy to hear and appreciate all types of music. Growing up she listened to (and sang along with) pop queen, Linda Ronstadt and her blues idol, Bonnie Raitt. 

Influenced by what her dad was playing on the record player as well, she developed Jazz  vocalist idols in Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Nancy Wilson and Mel Torme. After high school, she attended a summer long Jazz vocal workshop in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Soon after, she headed out west for a new life and a new musical frontier.

Peggy moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1977 and toured with a folk rock trio from 1979 to 1985. Audiences began to experience how she could take a song and make it her own. The richness, power and emotion of her voice evoked positive reviews and acclaim. 

In 1985 it was time to head ‘em up and move ‘em out to “the live music capital of the world” known as Austin, Texas.

While in Austin, she stepped into the Blues pool and found herself fronting a band called The Bootleggers. She performed at popular clubs in Austin such as The Steam Boat, Babe’s, Maggie Mae’s, The Continental Club, Black Cat Lounge and Stubb’s BBQ. Throughout the 1990’s she was also a featured entertainer in show bands such as Hot Wax, Apollo Soul and The Copy Cats, covering Motown and Soul music from the 60’s and 70’s.

“Everything” has been the answer to the question she’s been asked, “What kind of music have you performed?” Asheville is giving the one they call the “ruby throated blues chanteuse,” Peggy Ratusz a platform to dip into the musical styles from her past while incorporating her own material from the present, as she comes around full circle with a full-bodied repertoire.

This Blues Mama *has been pulling from the cream of the Asheville music crop since moving here in 2002. Along with a 3 piece backing band (The Daddy LongLegs *or duo partner, Aaron Price (Bygone Blues) she was a semi-finalist in The Blues Foundation’s (Memphis, TN) International Blues Challenge in 2008, 2010 and 2016. She’s opened for Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Geoff Atchison, Karen Lovely, Taj Mahal, Danielle Nicole, the Beach Boys and the late greats, Denise LaSalle and Sean Costello.

Women Who Made Music History Concerts, LLC is her latest endeavor, co-producing and co-starring with local vocalist partner, Paula Hanke. Since 2016, the pair has successfully aligned themselves within the Performing Arts circuit, garnered a booking agent in Epic Arts Management, LLC and will be touring Florida and New York with their show that honors Linda Ronstadt, Love is a Rose with confirmed theater dates 2019-2021. www.loveisaroselive.com 

With three mostly original music releases to her credit, It Takes a Lot of Faith (An original track on that CD, Sexual High, was chosen to be part of Jomar Records compilation CD – National Women in Blues), Infused with the Blues, and Live at the Altamont Theatre, she’s been performing nonstop for nearly 45 years. Chosen *Best in Blues, *either placing or winning for the past 10 years and winning top honors for 3 consecutive years (2016, 2017 and 2018) in Blues, Peggy Ratusz is a cherished and respected matriarch of the local music scene. 

Behind the local scene she’s booked music at notable area venues such as Jack of the Wood, Tressa’s Downtown Jazz & Blues and The Block off Biltmore. A feature writer for the award winning local publication/magazine *WNC *Woman, she writes a monthly column *Women Making Music, *profiling women musicians in WNC. Her advocacy for female music artists was rewarded in 2016, winning the first ever “Artist That Gives Back” award through the Mountain Xpress reader’s poll. 

She wraps her hot buttered vocals warmly around ballads, wails out the blues, jump starts that jive and lays it on the line in ultra-pleasing, fun, authentic and convincing ways.