Aurora "Rory" Block
(born November 6 1949, [1] in Princeton, New Jersey) is an American female blues guitarist and singer, a notable exponent of the country blues style.
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RORY BLOCK TICKETS
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Career
Aurora Block was born in Princeton and grew up in
Manhattan. Her father,
Allan Block, ran a
sandal shop in
Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and the constant presence of members of the Greenwich Village
folk music scene, such as
Peter Rowan,
Geoff Muldaur and
John Sebastian,
made an impression on the young girl, who studied
classical guitar. At the age of 14, she met guitarist
Stefan Grossman, who introduced her to the music of
Mississippi Delta blues guitarists.
[2] Block was fascinated, and began listening to old
albums, transcribing them, and learning to play the songs. At age 15, she left home to seek out the remaining blues giants, such as
Mississippi John Hurt,
Reverend Gary Davis and
Son House, and hone her craft in the traditional manner of blues musicians
; then she traveled to
Berkeley,
California where she played in
clubs and
coffeehouses.
After retiring temporarily to raise a family, Block returned to the
music industry in the 1970s with middling success until signing with
Rounder Records in 1981, who encouraged her to return to her love for the classical blues form. Since then she has carved out her own niche, releasing numerous critically acclaimed albums of original and traditional songs, including many
Robert Johnson covers, including "
Terraplane Blues" and "
Come on in My Kitchen". Block has won five
W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998), three for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999, 2007).
Her many albums, such as
Turning Point
,
Angel of Mercy
and
Tornado
have featured her own songs, while
Mama's Blues
,
Ain't I A Woman
and
When A Women Gets The Blues
spend more time amongst her blues models like
Tommy and Robert Johnson, and the blueswomen
Lottie Beaman and
Mattie Delaney.
[3]
Block continued to tour, although not as heavily as in earlier times, and she's often accompanied by her grown son
Jordan Block, who also plays on her albums. She remained busy in the early part of the 2000s, releasing six albums, including a
live recording. 2005's
From the Dust
drew raving critical reviews, as did 2006's
The Lady and Mr. Johnson
.
Discography
Year
| Title
| Label
| Number
| Notes
|
1967
| How to Play Blues Guitar
| Elektra
| 324
| Credited as "Sunshine Kate", with Stefan Grossman, reissued in 1978 as Kicking Mule 109
|
1975
| Rory Block
| RCA Victor
| 0733
|
|
1976
| Rory Block (I'm in Love)
| Blue Goose
| 2022
|
|
1977
| Intoxication, So Bitter Sweet
| Chrysalis
| 1157
|
|
1979
| You're the One
| Chrysalis
| 1233
|
|
1981
| High Heeled Blues
| Rounder
| 3061
|
|
1983
| Blue Horizon
| Rounder
| 3073
|
|
1983
| Rhinestones & Steel Strings
| Rounder
| 3085
|
|
1986
| I've Got a Rock in My Sock
| Rounder
| 3097
|
|
1987
| Best Blues and Originals
| Rounder
| 11525
|
|
1987
| House of Hearts
| Rounder
| 3104
|
|
1990
| Color Me Wild
| Alcazar
| 1003
| Children's album
|
1991
| Mama's Blues
| Rounder
| 3117
| Live
|
1992
| Ain't I A Woman
| Rounder
| 3120
|
|
1994
| Angel of Mercy
| Rounder
| 3126
|
|
1994
| Women In (E)motion
| Tradition & Moderne
| 107
| Live, 1988
|
1995
| When A Woman Gets The Blues
| Rounder
| 3139
| 1996 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
|
1995
| Turning Point
| Munich
| 145
|
|
1996
| Tornado
| Rounder
| 3140
|
|
1997
| Gone Woman Blues: The Country Blues Collection
| Rounder
| 11575
|
|
1997
| The Early Tapes 1975-1976
| Alcazar
| 111
|
|
1998
| Confessions Of A Blues Singer
| Rounder
| 3154
| 1999 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
|
2002
| I'm Every Woman
| Rounder
| 3174
|
|
2003
| Last Fair Deal
| Telarc
| CD-83593
|
|
2004
| Sisters & Brothers
| Telarc
| CD-83588
| With Eric Bibb and Maria Muldaur
|
2005
| From The Dust
| Telarc
| CD-83614
|
|
2006
| The Lady and Mr Johnson
| Rykodisc
| RCD 10872
|
|
2008
| Blues Walkin' Like a Man: A Tribute To Son House
| Stony Plain
| SPCD 1329
|
|
2008
| Country Blues Guitar - Rare Archival Recordings 1963-1971
| Guitar Workshop
| SGGW103
| With Stefan Grossman, reissue of How to Play Blues Guitar
plus 16 additional tracks
|
[4]
Festival appearances
- Long Beach Blues Festival - 1993
- San Francisco Blues Festival - 1999
- Notodden Blues Festival - 2006
See also
- List of blues musicians
- List of contemporary blues musicians
- List of Austin City Limits performers
References
- Allmusic biography
- Born to the Blues
- The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
- Mojohand discography