Azalea City Recordings’ Artists, Ruthie & the Wranglers, play rockin' American Roots music (also known as FUN!) and are based in the Washington, DC area. From original Americana Country to rousing Surf instrumentals, their clever lyrics, high energy and spritely hillbilly harmonies set them apart from the rest.

Ruthie and The Wranglers’ albums have consistently ranked high on Americana, Folk and Roots music radio charts around the world. Their clever songwriting skills were penned by Billboard Magazine as “...nothing short of brilliant,” Dirty Linen, No Depression and The Washington Post raved about the latest CD “Americana Express.”

              THE NEW CD, AMERICANA EXPRESS, packs 12 tracks with
              creativity, talent and fun. The CD opens with the revved-up tune,
              “In the Tank,” featuring a welcome collaboration of all three
              accomplished lyricists (Logsdon, Hardin and Starks).

The band has grown to a 5-piece—bringing in piano and three-part harmonies. The group’s diverse instrumentation and some special guests help satiate the band’s desire to travel in some new directions.

Newcomer to the band’s permanent line-up, Andy Rutherford, shows off his baritone guitar on “In The Tank”—a revved up rocker featuring lyrics and vocals by Logsdon, Hardin and Starks! Accordion adds Tex-Mex flavor to “Life and Death and Hope and Dreams,” a tune penned by Greg Hardin. SurfTango shows guitarist Phil Mathieu’s knack for thinking outside the box and is a perfect follow up to the last CD’s popular instrumental “Surftilicus.” On track eight, pianist Bill Starks adds his timely sing-along anthem about staying “one step ahead of the Repo Man” and “The Last Word in Love” cries out to Bluegrass lovers with its lonesome duo harmonies and Bluegrass musicians Akira Otsuka, Ronnie Simpkins and Ira Gitlin help set the tone.

Ruthie’s voice (along with her songwriting) has gracefully matured since their last release SOMEDAY (praised by The Washington Post as “songs vibrant or clever enough to make most of what passes for country music these days sound dead on arrival.”) It’s on track four, “Turn Back Time”—Logsdon’s powerful tribute to past mistakes—where we hear a new sound infusing the band. The intimate and striking Not to Love You also resonates in the new direction.

The Rock and Roll swing style of “Ka-Ching,” the humor in “I’m So Sad Since You Left Me” and the lament “All the Honky Tonks are Closin’ Down,” keep the album sparkling with diversity.

RESUME: Recent Awards: Ruthie and the Wranglers have been awarded more than 25 Washington Area Music Awards including: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Someday) and Song of the Year.

Media: The Nashville Network: "Crook and Chase," "This Week in Country Music" and Prime Time Country ...appeared on every TV network in the Washington, DC area as well as coverage in other states and internationally ...been featured in Billboard, No Depression, Blue Suede News, Pollstar, Gavin, Dirty Linen, Associated Press and other national and international publications ...been aired on over 200 radio stations internationally including Americana and variety formats and have ranked in the Top 10 on the Americana Radio Charts.-

THE BAND: Lead vocalist and songwriter, Ruthie Logsdon, and her band have racked up more than 25 WAMMIES and including Country Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year from the Washington Area Music Association. Ruthie grew up singing along at home with her Dad and his guitar and harmonica. Although geographically the Logsdons were city folks, they held family hoedowns singing Hank Williams & Jimmy Dickens at any opportunity. After attending Bluegrass festivals, a few private guitar lessons and watching Country TV stars like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, Ruthie had enough influences from her rootsy background combined with her Rock ‘n’ Roll and Punk-influenced college days to create the beginning of Ruthie and the Wranglers. Add Ruthie’s favorite musicians and you get diverse talent and unstoppable energy. She was proud to discover she is related to the late Jimmie Lloyd Logsdon - Decca recording artist and author of “I Got a Rocket in My Pocket”... Ruthie is definitely carrying on a family tradition!

Concert Highlights: "Strathmore Hall," "Blueridge BBQ Festival," "BlackRock Center for the Arts," "Jam on the River," "AMJAM" American Music Festival, 10th Annual "Rocky Gap Music Festival," "Chicago Country Music Festival, "Riverbend Festival," "Six Flags America Country Music Festival," "Crystal River Jam," "Jim Beam Country Caravan."

Past Performance Venues: Jovita's, Continental Club, Opal Dinine's, - Austin; Jack of the Wood - Asheville NC; Exit Inn, Opry Plaza, Wild Horse Saloon - Nashville; Rodeo Bar - NYC; Skipper's Smokehouse - Tampa and others. DC Area venues: The Birchmere, Strathmore, 9:30 Club, State Theatre, Iota Club & Cafe, Jammin' Java, Kennedy Center, Roots Cafe, Chick Hall's Surf Club, Barns of Wolf Trap, Ramshead Tavern, Arena Stage and more.

Recordings - CDs: "Americana Express" and "Someday," on Azalea City Recordings, "Ruthie and the Wranglers Live at Chick Hall's Surf Club," "Life's Savings" and "Wrangler City" on Lasso Records; 7" vinyl single on Spinout Records; and compilations by Rounder, Run Wild, Oasis Rock, "Americana Motel," "A Case for Case" a Peter Case Tribute album performing on Tom Russell track on the Hungry for Music label.

The Live Show: Take in a live show and find out why SC (South Carolina) Free Times penned Ruthie as a "twang queen of the highest order." She'll charm you with a heart felt ballad and shout out a rocker like a red hot pistol! Mathieu's standout guitar work will transcend you into new dimensions, off the beaten path of typical american music. If you're not having fun at a Ruthie and the Wranglers show, you'd better check your pulse!

Favorite Fan Quote: "I don't even like country music but I loooove Ruthie and the Wranglers!"

HOME / TOUR DATES / BIO / VIDEOS / REVIEWS / PHOTOS/MUSIC / CONTACT US

Greg Hardin, bassist, vocalist, and key songwriter, brings his lead vocals, backing harmonies and bullseye bass guitar beat to the band’s primo show. Greg has a passion for creating timeless lyrics with true musical spirit—his song Babe Ruth’s Piano” was named 2004 Song of the Year by WAMA.  Lead guitarist and award winning
multi-instrumentalist (elec. guitar, baritone guitar and steel guitar), Andy Rutherford; pianist/vocalist/songwriter, Bill Starks; and drummer Robbie Magruder (Mary Chapin Carpenter/Lowen and Navarro) set the standard for quality musician-ship and high-powered “rock-ability."

Andy

Rutherford

Bill Starks

Robbie

Magruder