Bert Ruiter
Encyclopedia
Bert Ruiter is a Dutch bass guitarist, record producer
, and composer
.
Ruiter was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum
. When he was twelve he started playing guitar
by ear; later he switched to bass guitar
. In 1966 he began his career by replacing Dick Ankersmit as bass guitarist for The Caps, with singer Hans van Hemert
and guitarist
Roy Beltman. Afterwards, he played in the groups Fullhouse and the Jay-Jays.
In September 1971 he replaced Cyril Havermans
as the bass guitarist in Focus
. He remained with Focus until the group dissolved in 1978. He then joined Earth and Fire
, the group in which his wife Jerney Kaagman (whom he married in 1974) sang. The two later left Earth and Fire, and Ruiter worked with Kaagman on her solo
album
s, gradually assuming more of a role as producer and arranger
. In 1999 Ruiter rejoined Thijs van Leer
and drummer
Hans Cleuver with guitarist Menno Gootjes, for a new incarnation of Focus, but internal wrangling split the group after only a few live dates in Holland.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Ruiter was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
. When he was twelve he started playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
by ear; later he switched to bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. In 1966 he began his career by replacing Dick Ankersmit as bass guitarist for The Caps, with singer Hans van Hemert
Hans van Hemert
Hans van Hemert is a Dutch ASCAP award winning record producer and songwriter. Mouth & MacNeal and Luv' are among the pop acts he produced...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Roy Beltman. Afterwards, he played in the groups Fullhouse and the Jay-Jays.
In September 1971 he replaced Cyril Havermans
Cyril Havermans
Cyril Havermans is a Dutch musician, best known for being in the progressive rock band, Focus.-Life:Cyril Havermans was bassist and vocalist for a number of Dutch pop bands in the 1960s: Peter and the Beats , The Heralds , Spacial Concept , and Big Wheel...
as the bass guitarist in Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
. He remained with Focus until the group dissolved in 1978. He then joined Earth and Fire
Earth and Fire
Earth and Fire were a progressive rock group formed in the Netherlands by brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts. Most popular in the 1970s, Earth and Fire came to produce many chart topping hits in the Dutch pop scene. Though they experienced success in the Netherlands, their music never quite made it...
, the group in which his wife Jerney Kaagman (whom he married in 1974) sang. The two later left Earth and Fire, and Ruiter worked with Kaagman on her solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, gradually assuming more of a role as producer and arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
. In 1999 Ruiter rejoined Thijs van Leer
Thijs van Leer
Thijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Hans Cleuver with guitarist Menno Gootjes, for a new incarnation of Focus, but internal wrangling split the group after only a few live dates in Holland.
See also
- Fender Jazz BassFender Jazz BassThe Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...