RELEASED FOR DOWNLOAD ONLY. SEE"LINKS" SECTION FOR PARTIAL LIST OF ALTERNATE DOWNLOAD SITES.IN THE BEGINNING is the recording that Rick Ruskin fans have been waiting for. This album contains 25 selections - 17 from Rick’s three ground breaking Takoma Records releases, RICHARD RUSKIN, MICROPHONE FEVER, AND SIX-STRING CONSPIRACY plus 8 duet and ensemble pieces from his legendary ON THE CHEAP LP.This is a CD everyone will enjoy regardless of musical tastes.Rick Ruskin started playing guitar in 1962 and in just one year became a respected professional musician in his native Detroit, Michigan. In 1964, while still in Jr. High School, he was chosen to open the bill for the Reverend Gary Davis at Detroit's legendary Retort Coffee House. This engagement resulted in a fast and permanent friendship with the master blues, ragtime, and gospel guitarist. Rev. Davis was so taken by the young Ruskin's skill and eagerness, that he invited Rick to spend that summer with him at his Long Island home. By the end of the summer, Davis stopped teaching Rick new material and told him,"It's time you started paying attention to your own music." Ruskin has been doing that ever since.Rick Ruskin's achievements as a musician and composer are many andvaried:Original Compositions and/or Arrangements Used By:Mel Bay PublicationsA&E NetworkABC-TVNBC's-TVHewlett PackardSecond Story TelevisionArmand Hammer ProductionsTEAC Corporation of AmericaFostex ElectronicsJames B. Lansing SoundBACK-UP CREDITS:Lead Guitarist for Jackie De ShannonAcoustic Guitarist for Olivia Newton-JohnRhythm Guitarist for Tanya TuckerJeremiah Johnson soundtrackA Boy and His Dog soundtrackKid Blue soundtrackComposed the film score for American Film Institute's,GATLIN AND THE BOYRECORDINGS:The Gospel Acording To, w/Vivian Williams) Lion Dog MusicOnce Upon A Time, Lion Dog MusicWords Fail Me, Lion Dog MusicTurn the Page, Beachwood RecordsAgainst Tradition, (with Karen Leigh Williams) Soundboard MusicSounds Familiar, (with Lewis Ross) Revere RecordsSongs, Hymns and Carols, (with Lewis Ross) Revere RecordsOn The Cheap, (with Lewis Ross) Lion Dog MusicJohn Fahey Visits Washington, D.C., Takoma RecordsSix String Conspiracy, Takoma RecordsChristmas with John Fahey: VOL.II, Takoma RecordsMicrophone Fever, Takoma RecordsRichard Ruskin, Takoma RecordsINSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS & BOOKS:Words Fail Me - The Complete Transcriptions, Slice Of Life PublicationsThe Takoma Sessions, John August Music/Mel BayFingerstyle Groove Guitar, Video ProgressionsAcoustic Fingerstyle Guitar, Video ProgressionsFingerstyle Christmas, VOL. I, Video ProgressionsFingerstyle Christmas, VOL. II, Video ProgressionsPUBLISHED ARTICLES:Acoustic Guitar MagazineFingerstyle Guitar MagazineFRETS MagazineA SELECTED LIST OF PLACES RICK RUSKIN HAS PERFORMED:The Occasional Cafe - WACoffee Gallery - CABoulevard Music - CAThe Fret House - CATemecula Art gallery - CAMcCabes - CAFreight and Salvage - CAThe Ice House - CACalifornia Traditional Music Society - CAUCLA - CAUSC - CAUCSB - CAU of M - MIWayne State University - MIChaps - MIElderly Instruments - MIPortland Guitar Society - ORThe Rose Festival - OROregon College of Education - ORWestern Washington University - WAUniversity of Puget Sound - WAUniversity of Minnesota - MNMonroe Center Coffee House - WAThe Backstage - WAThe Crystal Star - WAThe Epicurean - WAThe Antique Sandwich - WAStill Life Coffee House - WABumbershoot - WAFolk Life Festival - WAMuseum of History and Industry - WAWhat Reviewers Have Said About Rick Ruskin:"Sometime in the mid 90's, I got three instruction VHS tapes of Rick Ruskin. I recently bought two of his CD's off of itunes and he is truly awesome. ....Rick Ruskin's music, while guitaristic with things like hammer ons and bends and so forth -- technique is always secondary to the music. You could compare him to Pete Huttlinger in that regard. I have played for about 25 years since I was a teenager and just in the last few years, I feel my own playing has improved because I have concentrated on musical phrasing -- playing loud notes loud and soft notes soft and shaping a phrase to fit the music. Rick Ruskin's music is a great example of how sometimes its not how many notes you play but how you play them that makes the difference between art and crap. Do yourself a favor and check him out." (Posted on the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum -UMGF.COM)"... In these days of all the high-energy slaps and electronics effects,it is most rewarding to find an inventive guitarist who can deliver the guitarin the original steel and wood sound.....Amazing talent"(VICTORY MUSIC REVIEW)"...so brilliant at times that he seems to transcend normalapproaches to the guitar....Ruskin may be the smoothesttechnical player around. Flashy, fast, inventive andmusical and that isn't easy." (GUITAR PLAYER)"...a standout guitarist..." (BILLBOARD)"...the detail and precision of Ruskin's playing are wellknown among fingerpickers..." (GUITAR PLAYER)"...He has impeccable technique and the good taste and senseto know that merely showing off technical wizardry can bedeathly boring." (MILWAUKEE WEEKLY)"...one of the best finger-style guitarists in thecountry..." (FOLK SCENE MAGAZINE)"...Ruskin's touch is peerless, his playing is flawless..."(ARTS MAGAZINE)"...he is one of the most refined and expressive guitarplayers I've heard...Ruskin has enjoyable stage presence..."(DON CREERY - WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY)"...Ruskin creates some of the most beautifully toned guitarsolos ever heard..." (SAN DIEGO NEWS PRESS)"...Ruskin is one of the finest people I've heard in along time. His vocals come across with ease and abrilliance that brings to mind Cat Stevens...As a guitarist,he is unbelievably great. The man has a style that makeseach song new and exciting to listen to..."(TOM WILBERING, WMHW-FM)"...Though I have nothing against Leo Kottke, 'the greatestfolk guitarist on earth does seem a bit overstated. Isuggest you listen to Steve Goodman, RICHARD RUSKIN, MerleTravis, Doc Watson, Chet Atkins, William Ackerman or FredEpping before you crown the King." (PEOPLE)