Rory Block

Rory Block
Birth name Aurora Block
Born November 6, 1949
Princeton, New Jersey, United States
Genres Country blues
Occupation(s) Guitarist, Singer
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1964–present
Labels Rounder, Telarc, Rykodisc
Website www.roryblock.com

Aurora "Rory" Block (born November 6, 1949,[1] Princeton, New Jersey, United States) is an American female blues guitarist and singer, a notable exponent of the country blues style.

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 influence of the Greenwich Village folk music scene, such as Peter Rowan, Maria Muldaur, and John Sebastian,[1] tempted Block to study 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 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;[1] 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, such as "Terraplane Blues" and "Come on in My Kitchen". Block has won five W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998) and three for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999, 2007).[1] She also won NAIRD awards for "Best Adult Contemporary Album of the Year" in 1994 for Angel of Mercy and again in 1997 for Tornado.[3]

Angel of Mercy, Turning Point, and Tornado included mostly original compositions. However, Mama's Blues, Ain't I A Woman and When A Woman Gets The Blues featured songs written by Tommy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Lottie Beaman, and Mattie Delaney.[4]

In 2010, Block released her autobiography in .pdf format and a limited print run titled When A Woman Gets The Blues.

Discography

Year Title Label Number Notes
1967 How to Play Blues GuitarElektra324Credited as "Sunshine Kate", with Stefan Grossman, reissued in 1978 as Kicking Mule 109
1975 Rory BlockRCA Victor0733
1976 Rory Block (I'm in Love)Blue Goose2022
1977 Intoxication, So Bitter SweetChrysalis1157
1979 You're the OneChrysalis1233
1981High Heeled BluesRounder3061Recorded at Bearsville Sound Studios, Produced by John Sebastian
1983Blue HorizonRounder3073
1984Rhinestones & Steel StringsRounder3085
1986I've Got a Rock in My SockRounder3097
1987Best Blues and OriginalsRounder11525
1987House of HeartsRounder3104
1990Color Me WildAlcazar1003Children's album
1991Mama's BluesRounder3117
1992Ain't I A WomanRounder3120
1994Angel of MercyRounder31261994 Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
1994Women In (E)motionTradition & Moderne107Live, 1988
1995When A Woman Gets The BluesRounder31391996 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
1995Turning PointMunich145
1996TornadoRounder31401997 Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
1997Gone Woman Blues: The Country Blues CollectionRounder11575
1997The Early Tapes 1975-1976Alcazar111
1998Confessions Of A Blues SingerRounder31541999 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
2002I'm Every WomanRounder3174
2003Last Fair DealTelarcCD-83593
2004Sisters & BrothersTelarcCD-83588With Eric Bibb and Maria Muldaur
2005From The DustTelarcCD-83614
2006The Lady and Mr JohnsonRykodiscRCD 108722007 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
2008Blues Walkin' Like a Man: A Tribute To Son House Stony PlainSPCD 1329
2008Country Blues Guitar - Rare Archival Recordings 1963-1971Guitar WorkshopSGGW103With Stefan Grossman, reissue of How to Play Blues Guitar plus 16 additional tracks
2011Shake 'Em On Down: A Tribute To Mississippi Fred McDowell Stony PlainSPCD 1344
2012I Belong To The Band: A Tribute To Rev. Gary Davis Stony PlainSP 359
2013Avalon: A Tribute to Mississippi John HurtStony PlainSPCD 1369Her fourth release in the Mentor Series.[5]

|- |2014||Hard Luck Child: A Tribute To Skip James||Stony Plain||SPCD 1373||

[6]

Festival appearances

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Allmusic biography
  2. ↑ "Born to the Blues". FLYP. 2008-11-24. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  3. ↑ "Rory Block Resume". Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  4. ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 94. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  5. ↑ Block, Rory (4 June 2013). "Avalon: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt". Stony Plain Records. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Grego Anderson. "Rory Block Discography". Mojohand.com. Retrieved 2009-10-25.

External links