Louis Armstrong, Memphis Minnie, Slim Harpo, Ringo Starr, Bo Diddley, Bill Dowey, Muddy Waters, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Bob Marley, Albert King, Lil Green, Big Bill Broonzy, Johnny Bower, Robert Johnson, Stephen T. Hodges, Max Webster, Howlin' Wolf, Mr. Smutty, Ponty Bone, Buddy Guy, Hank Williams, Johnny Winter, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Cowsill, Joe Jackson, Madeleine Peyroux, David Wilcox, Duke Ellington, Led Zeppelin, Ronnie Hayward, Nina Simone, The Eyeball Kid, Sitting Bull, Dan Tapanila, Lightnin' Hopkins, Nat King Cole, Teenage Head, Otis Spann, Squirel Nut Zippers, Mose Allison, Jim Jarmusch, Precious Bryant, Johnny Eck, Robert Crumb, Lonnie Johnson, Slim Gaillard, Warren Zevon, Zuzu Bollin, Sweet Daddy Siki, Lester Quitzau, Stompin' Tom Connors, Latin Playboys, Bessie Smith, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Grand Funk Railroad, Hoagy Carmichael, Wes Montgomery, Rickie Lee Jones, Vincent van Gogh, Buckwheat Zydeco, Fats Waller, Eddie Shack, Johnny Cash, The Clash, Charlie Christian, Tim Williams, Spalding Gray, Roy Buchanan, James Brown, Hound Dog Taylor, Pee Wee Crayton, Magic Sam, Lucinda Williams, Timothy Leary, T-Bone Walker, Red Green, Dad, Dave Alvin, Little Junior Parker, Songship, Long John Baldry, Woody Allen, Rush, George Formby, Uncle John, Chief Dan George, Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday, Django Reinhardt, Leon Redbone, Little Walter, Kieth Richards, Duanne Allman, Graham Parker, Mississippi John Hurt, Emmett Miller, The Louvin Brothers, Herald Nix, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Martin Mull, Big Mama Thornton, Lighthouse, Roy Forbes, Frank Sinatra, Chris Cran, Professor Longhair
John Rutherford manages a career encompassing several facets of the Canadian music industry. As a musician Rutherford is a member of several bands recording and performing on a regular basis. He produces records and has written and produced music for film and television. A guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Rutherford also plays ukulele and features a vintage banjo-ukulele as part of his roots / blues sound.
John is a member of Calgary roots music juggernaut the Highwater Jug Band with fellow musicians Tim Williams, Suitcase James, Mark Sadlier Brown and Cedric Blary. The band has performed at clubs, concert venues and music festivals throughout western Canada including a summer 2007 tour of British Columbia with a stop at the Vancouver Island Music Festival as well as a 2008 tour of the same region playing the Harrison Festival of the Arts. Released January 2007 the HJB self-titled debut recording reached number 5 on the Alberta-wide CKUA Radio Network top 30 chart and has received both provincial and national airplay on CBC Radio Canada. In January 2008 the Highwater Jug Band CD showed up at number 18 in the CKUA Top 100 of 2007.
Half of the acoustic duo No Guff, Rutherford has worked extensively with legendary guitarist Dan Tapanila. No Guff's CD "They're Red Hot" released in 2002 received national airplay in Canada on CBC Radio programs including The Vinyl Cafe, Saturday Night Blues and DiscDrive. "They're Red Hot" reached 4 on the CKUA top 30. The duo has toured clubs, concert halls and festivals across Canada including the Saint John Jazz and Blues Festival, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Vancouver Island Music Festival and Calgary Folk Music Festival. No Guff live performances have been featured on national CBC radio broadcasts.
Rutherford has recorded and performed with the Ronnie Hayward Trio appearing on two CDs with Hayward, "Too Many Chiefs" and "The Lonely One in Town" touring both in Canada and Europe.
Rutherford's other musical encounters include working and recording with Calgary blues singer Bill Dowey, Fort McLeod songwriter John Wort Hannam and with the critically acclaimed Edmonton based collective "Front Porch Roots Revue". Rutherford has opened shows for John Hammond, David Wilcox, Johnny Winter, Neville Brothers, Buddy Guy, Charlie Musslewhite, Omar and the Howlers and many more. As part of festival workshops Rutherford has performed on stage with Colin Linden, The Holmes Brothers, Bill Bourne, Danny Michel, The Bills, Chad VanGaalen, Roy Forbes, John Reischman and the Jaybirds, The Wailin' Jennys, Lester Quitzau, Mae Moore, Tom Russell and Suzie Vinnick among others.
John is an avid record collector with several areas of special interest.
Hey John, Thanks so much for the add. Your music is great and you have great taste too! Be sure to visit my tribute page to The Blue Shadows and listen to the songs of 'the band that scared Nashville'. Take care.
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
Please check out our new comedic “vampire bankers” music video. The guy who directed this also directed Madonna’s first music vid. We think it’s pretty funny. It’s available as a free mp3 download on http://www.ukejackson.com
Thanks for being our friend! Uke Jackson and the NY Ukulele Ensemble
Hey John, how's it going? I just posted a roughly mixed version of a song off of my new solo album. The song's called Pretty Thing, it would be cool if you could check it out. Oh and, how was having the song of the year or whatever for the Calgary Folk Fest? - Michael
Hey John thanks for having me down last night. Sorry I split so fast, my girlfriend just headed over as soon as I was done so we ended up taking a cab back to my place. By the way, I really liked your new songs again last night. See you on Canada Day. - Michael
Hey John, this stuff sounds cool. I'm glad to have gotten a chance to listen to your music. Looking forward to working with you at the Alberta Sessions. - Michael
