Peter Madcat Ruth

1949年4月2日“瘋貓”出生在美國的一個普通家庭。
? ? 1963年，他上中學(xué)時曾到芝加哥的一所鄉(xiāng)村音樂學(xué)校里學(xué)習(xí)吉他。
? ? 1964年，對Sonny Terry 和 Brownie McGhee的口琴專輯產(chǎn)生興趣，特別是Sonny Terry的口琴演感染了他。
? ?1966年“瘋貓”遇到了一位傳奇式的芝加哥布魯斯口琴演奏家Big Walter Horton，隨后的幾年中“瘋貓”一直跟隨他定期學(xué)習(xí)口琴。在中學(xué)時期“瘋貓”用口琴同幾個演奏“鄉(xiāng)村音樂”的樂隊合作過，隨后又同幾個“布魯斯樂隊”一起演奏，這對他來說是鍛煉的好機(jī)會。
? ? 1969年他應(yīng)邀參加了密執(zhí)安州的Chris Brubeck先生組建的“新藍(lán)天”搖滾樂隊(New Heavenly Blue).使“瘋貓”擴(kuò)大了視野，增加了很多寶貴的經(jīng)驗。 ?
? ? “新藍(lán)天”搖滾樂隊因故解散后，“瘋貓”又加入了Darius Brubeck重奏團(tuán)。在這幾年中他幾乎花費(fèi)了所有的時間與樂隊的其他成員在馬路邊演奏爵士音樂和搖滾音樂。后來“瘋貓”與這個樂隊在全美國巡回演出，并到墨西哥、加拿大、歐洲、澳大利亞和新西蘭等國家舉行演奏會。?
? ? 1977年，他認(rèn)識到必須回到自己的音樂當(dāng)中來，那時與他同齡的年輕人都喜歡搖滾樂或搖擺樂，但是他一直鉆研鄉(xiāng)村音樂和布魯斯音樂，還不斷研究其它各種不同類型的音樂，“瘋貓”能夠在口琴上演奏出各種不同風(fēng)格的音樂，他始終認(rèn)為自己演奏的音樂很像他自己。有一段時間他在美國中西部的大學(xué)和咖啡廳獨(dú)奏，并且用各種不同風(fēng)格的樂隊伴奏，他也用口琴為許多音樂家伴奏?！隘傌垺痹诿篮蛥^(qū)洲的音樂學(xué)校、布魯斯協(xié)會和口琴節(jié)上已經(jīng)舉 辦了幾十個講座。?
? ? 1987年、1989年和1991年連續(xù)三屆世界口琴大賽都邀請他出席演奏會和擔(dān)任比賽評委，美國的電臺電視臺經(jīng)常播放他的節(jié)目，世界各地都能聽到他那美妙的琴聲，“瘋貓”已經(jīng)成為口琴界獨(dú)樹一幟的重要人物。橡樹出版社的口琴作家里查德.享特先生(Richard Hunter)在聽了“瘋貓”的音樂之后，評價說：“從任何角度看來，Madcat都是我們這個時代當(dāng)之無愧的最偉大的口琴家之一，他在十孔布魯斯口琴上的造詣簡直不可企及
? ? 1990年起，“瘋貓”邀請了一位女布魯斯吉他手Shari Kane組成了二重奏，開始了長期的合作演出，他們這種獨(dú)特的演出使觀眾們耳目一新，反應(yīng)相當(dāng)熱烈。此后他們在美國各地巡回演出，也出訪了加拿大、西班牙、巴西和波蘭等國家。
? ? 1992年他們在美國長海灘布魯斯人才研究競賽中與其他五人同獲大獎。他們錄制的《高速公路小調(diào)》(Key to the Highway) 獲得了1993年華盛頓WDCU-FM電臺和巴爾的摩市布魯斯協(xié)會主辦的“十張最佳布魯斯音樂CD”獎，現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)第三次再版并繼續(xù)在全美國播放。?
? 1994年和1995年他們的節(jié)目在美國國家電臺的《布魯斯舞臺》節(jié)目中通過200個地方電臺進(jìn)行聯(lián)播。
? ? 1997年8月23日，美國口琴促進(jìn)會(SPAH)把每年一度的“卓越的口琴演奏家”獎項授予了他。
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Peter Madcat Ruth?has established an international reputation through his exhilarating, riveting virtuosity on the harmonica. His expertise on this instrument has amazed audiences world-wide. He is equally at home playing blues, folk music, jazz, country, or rock and roll. Performance Magazine refers to him as "A harmonica virtuoso who is rapidly approaching legend status."
Madcat's music has been evolving for over 45 years. It started in the Chicago area in the early 1960's, with Madcat playing folk/blues on guitar and harmonica. By the late 60's he had immersed himself in the Chicago Blues and was studying harmonica with Big Walter Horton. In the early 70's Madcat moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he was a key presence in two of Ann Arbor's finest progressive rock bands: New Heavenly Blue and Sky King. By the mid 70's Madcat was touring the world with jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. In the 80's, Madcat went solo infusing the folk/blues tradition with elements of rock and jazz. In 1990, Madcat teamed up with guitarist/singer Shari Kane to form the duo Madcat & Kane. For the past nineteen years they have been touring nationally and internationally. And In 1998 Madcat teamed up with Chris Brubeck??to form Triple Play and also started performing with Big Joe Manfra in Brazil.
Madcat's experience is extensive. He has been an invited guest performer at many harmonica festivals in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. His harmonica playing is heard on over 100 CDs and LPs. National television and radio appearances, symphony orchestra performances, radio and television advertisements, and harmonica workshops all attest to Madcat's reputation as one of the best and most versatile harmonica players in the world.
Madcat is more than an expert musician. He is also performer who has such a good time playing music that audiences, ranging from pre-schoolers to senior citizens, delight in his performances. His enthusiasm is unpretentious and contagious.