Chuck ruff (musician)
Encyclopedia
Chuck Ruff was an American
rock
drummer
well known for his work with Edgar Winter
on the popular instrumental "Frankenstein
".Allmusic credits
on May 25, 1951 and played in the rock group Sawbuck with Ronnie Montrose
and Bill Church
from 1968–1970. Ruff and Montrose later joined Edgar Winter with Dan Hartman
to form The Edgar Winter Group in 1972. It was with this band that he had his biggest successes: first with the album They Only Come Out at Night
(1973), featuring "Frankenstein
" which reached No. 1 in the U.S. in May 1973, and the top 15 single "Free Ride
", which reached No. 14 that same year. The album Shock Treatment, which featured the song "Easy Street", was also successful.
In 1977, Ruff joined Sammy Hagar
and performed on the albums Street Machine
(1979) and Danger Zone
(1979), including the song "Bad Reputation" which is in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High
.
In his later years, Ruff continued performing music in Reno, Nevada
with the Chuck Ruff Group, The Max Volume Band (played drums on the 2007 album, "Illuminaughty") and his last project, Geezersläw. Chuck Ruff was an inspiration and friend to the Reno music community, as well as his fans around the world; he died in San Francisco, California
on October 14, 2011 after a long illness. RGJ.com
Chuck Ruff played Gretsch Drums
throughout his career.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
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...
well known for his work with Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
on the popular instrumental "Frankenstein
Frankenstein (song)
"Frankenstein" is a rock instrumental by The Edgar Winter Group from their album They Only Come Out at Night.In live performances of the song, Edgar Winter further pioneered the advancement of the synthesizer as a lead instrument by becoming the first person ever to strap a keyboard instrument...
".Allmusic credits
Biography
Ruff was born in Reno, NevadaReno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
on May 25, 1951 and played in the rock group Sawbuck with Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
and Bill Church
Bill Church
William 'Bill' Church , started out playing bass in a band called Sawbuck in 1969, with Mojo Collins, Starr Donaldson, Ronnie Montrose and Chuck Ruff. As the band was beginning to record their first album, Montrose and Church left Sawbuck to join Van Morrison on his Tupelo Honey album...
from 1968–1970. Ruff and Montrose later joined Edgar Winter with Dan Hartman
Dan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
to form The Edgar Winter Group in 1972. It was with this band that he had his biggest successes: first with the album They Only Come Out at Night
They Only Come Out at Night
*They Only Come Out at Night is the fourth studio album by The Edgar Winter Group. It went to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, eventually sold two million copies, and features two of the band's biggest hits, "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride" .In 2006, the album was reissued on Super Audio CD...
(1973), featuring "Frankenstein
Frankenstein (song)
"Frankenstein" is a rock instrumental by The Edgar Winter Group from their album They Only Come Out at Night.In live performances of the song, Edgar Winter further pioneered the advancement of the synthesizer as a lead instrument by becoming the first person ever to strap a keyboard instrument...
" which reached No. 1 in the U.S. in May 1973, and the top 15 single "Free Ride
Free Ride (song)
Free Ride is a song written by Dan Hartman and performed by The Edgar Winter Group. The single, engineered by Jim Reeves, was a top 20 U.S. hit in 1973, hitting number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The song is sometimes mistakenly attributed to The Doobie Brothers or Boston, perhaps because of...
", which reached No. 14 that same year. The album Shock Treatment, which featured the song "Easy Street", was also successful.
In 1977, Ruff joined Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
and performed on the albums Street Machine
Street Machine (Sammy Hagar album)
-Song information:* The track "Wounded in Love" was co-written by Hagar's then-wife Betsy.* The track "Falling In Love" features backing vocals by Brad Delp, Barry Goudreau, and Sib Hashian of the group Boston.-Track listing:# "Growing Pains" - 3:46...
(1979) and Danger Zone
Danger Zone (Sammy Hagar album)
Danger Zone is a Sammy Hagar solo album, his last new studio album during his tenure with Capitol records. The album features appearances by Journey singer Steve Perry and Journey guitarist Neal Schon.-Song information:...
(1979), including the song "Bad Reputation" which is in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
.
In his later years, Ruff continued performing music in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
with the Chuck Ruff Group, The Max Volume Band (played drums on the 2007 album, "Illuminaughty") and his last project, Geezersläw. Chuck Ruff was an inspiration and friend to the Reno music community, as well as his fans around the world; he died in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on October 14, 2011 after a long illness. RGJ.com
Chuck Ruff played Gretsch Drums
Gretsch Drums
Gretsch Drums is a leading drum manufacturing company, based in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Their motto is "That Great Gretsch Sound!"- History :...
throughout his career.
Discography
- Sawbuck - Sawbuck (1972), Filmore Records
- They Only Come Out at NightThey Only Come Out at Night*They Only Come Out at Night is the fourth studio album by The Edgar Winter Group. It went to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, eventually sold two million copies, and features two of the band's biggest hits, "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride" .In 2006, the album was reissued on Super Audio CD...
- The Edgar Winter Group (1972), Epic RecordsEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A... - Shock Treatment - The Edgar Winter Group (1974), Epic Records
- Jasmine NightdreamsJasmine Nightdreams-Track listing:#"One Day Tomorrow" – 3:13 #"Little Brother" – 4:08 #"Hello Mellow Feelin'" – 2:47 #"Tell Me In A Whisper" – 3:25 #"Shuffle-Low" – 4:19...
- The Edgar Winter Group (1975), Blue Sky Records - The Edgar Winter Group With Rick Derringer (1976), Blue Sky Records
- Johnny and Edgar Winter Live (1976), Blue Sky Records
- Street MachineStreet Machine (Sammy Hagar album)-Song information:* The track "Wounded in Love" was co-written by Hagar's then-wife Betsy.* The track "Falling In Love" features backing vocals by Brad Delp, Barry Goudreau, and Sib Hashian of the group Boston.-Track listing:# "Growing Pains" - 3:46...
- Sammy HagarSammy HagarSam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
Band (1979), Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine... - Danger ZoneDanger Zone (Sammy Hagar album)Danger Zone is a Sammy Hagar solo album, his last new studio album during his tenure with Capitol records. The album features appearances by Journey singer Steve Perry and Journey guitarist Neal Schon.-Song information:...
- Sammy Hagar Band (1979), Capitol Records - Use It or Lose It - Michael Furlong Band (1984), Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
- Adam Bomb - Adam Bomb (1985)
- Illuminaughty - The Max Volume Band, Tadzhiq Music Group (2007)
Filmography
- In Concert (1972)
- Kenny RogersKenny RogersKenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
and the First Edition: Rollin' on the River (1973) - FlipsideFlipside (TV series)Flipside was a Canadian journalistic music television series which aired on CBC Television in 1974.-Premise:Jim McKenna produced and hosted Flipside, a Montreal-produced series concerning the music industry in Canada. Visiting artists performed on the series and were interviewed by McKenna. Guests...
(1973) - Don Kirshner's Rock ConcertDon KirshnerDon Kirshner , known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups, such as The Monkees, Kansas and The Archies.-Early life:Don Kirshner was born to Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor,...
(1974) - The Midnight SpecialThe Midnight Special (TV series)The Midnight Special is an American musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981...
(1974) - The Old Grey Whistle Test (1974)
- American BandstandAmerican BandstandAmerican Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
(1985)