Local fiddler nominated for Canadian Country Music Award
News
Posted By STEPHEN UHLER
Updated 1 month ago
PETAWAWA -It has been a heck of a good month for Ben Rutz.
The Petawawa fiddler returned home from a celebrity golf tournament in British Columbia to find his debut CD had just been printed, with the first batch waiting on his doorstep.
Then he learned he was being nominated for Fiddle Player of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards, being held Sept. 12 in Edmonton.
This is just halfway through a busy year where he has wrapped up a two-and-a-half month tour with Juno Award and CCMA winner Johnny Reid performing in more than 40 shows, and within two more weeks will hit the road again for another 45 to 50-show tour, including being the headliner with Reid at a concert at Scotiabank Place Nov. 5.
"Touring with him is just a big honour," Rutz said, adding he is proud to include Reid among his close circle of friends.
The fiddler was the guest of honour at a CD signing event held at Moncion Grocers Petawawa Market on Friday, where he signed CDs, caught up with family, friends and fans, and with his dad Gillan played a few tunes for the grocery shopping crowd.
Rutz said work on his first album started about a year ago, when he was recording tracks at The Drive Shed in Toronto. The resulting disc is his gift to his fans in the Ottawa Valley and his family, particularly his grandparents, who first introduced him to the fiddle.
"This is not your traditional fiddle album," he said, stating he wanted to appeal to a younger audience while paying homage to Ottawa Valley fiddle tunes. While the collection of 10 songs, nine of which are instrumental, are mostly traditional songs, they are done up to an upbeat tempo.
Performing with Rutz on it is Reid, who lends his vocals to one song, and Stewart Cameron, who not only produced the album but performs on it along with some of his friends from the Matthew Good Band.
"It was a ton of hard work, but it has paid off," Rutz said.
Judging from the response he has been getting so far, the CD will be a success, at least locally. Arriving at the Petawawa Market Friday morning, Rutz said he was amazed some 30 people were already lined up to purchase the CD from him. During a 45-minute interview with The Daily Observer, another dozen were picked up by the public, many requesting he sign them.
"This is just fantastic," he said, and passed on a big thank you to the people of the Ottawa Valley for their unending support.
Rutz said he had a lot of people to thank for this, including Denis and Debbie Moncion and staff of the Petawawa Market, Brian Burton and staff at Star 96, Johnny Reid and his management, Bob's Music, Mill Music in Renfrew, his parents Gillan and Ann Marie, and sisters Amy and Alison.
Copies of the self-titled album can be obtained through myspace.com/benrutz,at Moncion Grocers Petawawa Market, Bob's Music and CD Plus in Pembroke, and Mill Music and Valley Heritage Radio in Renfrew.
Stephen Uhler is a Daily Observer reporter
