BIOGRAPHY
The best way to get to know Rosanne Drucker, is through her music. From the real life childhood memory of her grandparents’ ten dollar Gold Cadillac, to the plaintive heartbreak of This is Sunday-there is a life here, keenly observed, deeply felt, and deftly conveyed in her songs.
Rosanne comes from an unusual musical family. Her parents are the world renown classical clarinetists, Stanley and Naomi Drucker. "I am in a different musical world from theirs," she says, "but the most important fundamentals about playing music, for me, come from my parents. The idea of being part of an ensemble, of listening,and serving the music, with my fellow players -- that crosses all genres. And in some subliminal way, I know the classic and romantic repertoire of their instrument, and it’s singular voice, has had its influence on me. It was a great foundation.”
“As a kid," she adds, "I played the clarinet, took piano lessons. I played some Mozart, heard lots of Brahms and Debussy.” Rosanne’s mother always had a full performance schedule of chamber music with her group the American Chamber Ensemble. Both parents loved jazz, and big band, too. And, of course,there was the New York Philharmonic, where Rosanne’s much acclaimed father was the multi-Grammy nominated first clarinetist. “There were lots of concerts!” says Rosanne.
There was always all kinds of music, and all kinds of musicians, at the Drucker's Massapequa, Long Island house. But from early on, Rosanne knew she wanted to be a singer. "Growing up, I was more consciously impacted by songwriters and artists like Hank Williams, James Taylor or Chrissie Hynde! My brother, Lee, and I, never wanted to be classical musicians. We were playing in clubs and bars before we were legal.” Brother Lee, is Lee Rocker, the bassist who brought the stand-up slap bass into the 1980’s top forty charts with the rockabilly trio the Stray Cats -- a band formed in the Druckers' garage. Since the Stray Cats days, Lee Rocker has been a respected song writer and solo recording artist, fronting his own powerful rockabilly/blues band.
“Roots music....Americana music... is where my heart feels at home," Rosanne says. "That’s where my writing has grown, and where my voice has always come from. Simple and straight forward -- that’s the music that moves me.” That is why, for the better part of ten years, Rosanne has been in Nashville, where music is the life blood of the town. “The most wonderful players in the world are here. I love living where I can hear Emmylou Harris, and Darrell Scott, Gretchen Peters, and Buddy Miller, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, and the Steele Drivers."
For Doin' Hard Time, Rosanne found a kindred soul and perfect musical partnership with guitarist and producer Mike Loudermilk. Mike is the son of legendary Songwriter Hall of Fame member, John D. Loudermilk. “Mike is an extraordinary player, and an incredibly intuitive musician,” enthuses Rosanne. The two forged a great creative connection. “He “gets” my piano playing, my chord voicings, and what I’m going for. I call him the code cracker!" The two went about finding just the right players for this recording.
-- this CD is a journey for the soul, uncontrived and distilled to its essence. Rosanne’s compelling songwriting, organic, acoustic arrangements, and powerful vocals reveal an artist of depth and authenticity.
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