Album Notes

Karl Rucker`s bewildered parents watched their progeny bang out passages from beethoven`s symphonies on the family piano at the age of four in their comfortable home in chicago,and realized that their son would not follow the path of his parents-both doctors-into a stable profession.

Little Karl`s talents quickly spread to trumpet,piano,drums,guitar and bass throughout his childhood until, at the age of fifteen, he found himself in a band(THE SPECIALS), signed to a label, with recordings set up for his first album.

This led Karl travelling the country on a package tour, often with the likes of the jackson 5. he went on to play bass with the chi-lites and many other R&B bands of the era.

Moving to Hawaii at the age of nineteen,to play with Jesse Morgan and later Los Angeles, karl has toured and recorded with numerous artists including: Diana Ross,Donna Summer, Chaka Kahn, The Butts Band(formerly THE DOORS),Long John Baldry, Cher, Ike&Tina Turner, The Village People, Deborah Harry, Irene Cara, Steven Stills, Tanya Tucker, Brenda Russell, and Jonathan Cain(JOURNEY),He was also band leader writer and producer for NINA HAGEN, with whom he worked for more than ten years.

Karl also became one of the favorite "back room boys" for top producers often being called to come in to the stuido in the dead of night to fix tracks on famous artist`s albums.

Travelling extensively throughout the world, he settled in germany for several years befor returning to Los Angeles to score the music for Keith Antar Mason`s highly acclaimed play "SEXUAL ILLEGAL".

Karl has now turned his considerable talents to the challenge that has preoccupied him since the beginning of his musical odyssey: to use his abilities and background in R&B, classical, and rock to create a swirling kaleidoscopic soundscape of new music that is mystical ,romantic, healing, and uplifting.

He has written, produced and performed his first CD entitled " OVER THE RAINBOW " at his state-of-the-art recording stuido in Los Angeles, and is looking forward to channeling his unquestioned talents in broadening the appeal of contemporary music.