Bill Ruppert (born June 10, 1954) is an American musician, known as one of the most prolific and widely heard studio guitarists, logging nearly 10,000 sessions in a career spanning over 30 years. As a first-call studio guitarist and

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

, Ruppert has worked with a roster of top artist and commercial clients since the 1980s. He recorded guitar with Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music,

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and

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. In conjunction with Electro-Harmonix, he has created a series of ''Effectology'' videos using effects pedals to imitate different instruments, recreate classic songs, and mimic real-life sounds. Working with Electro-Harmonix, Ruppert was one of the principal designers of the B9/C9 organ machines as well as the Key9 electric piano machine, Mel9 Mellotron emulator, Synth9 synth machine, Bass9 bass machine and String9 String Ensemble. Ruppert has also worked with the Kemper profiling amplifier company as a consultant and sound designer.

Life and career

Ruppert was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Frances and Clyde Ruppert. Clyde Ruppert was a saxophonist who played in the

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...

division of the

Air Force Band A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the tit ...

during WWII and later touring the world with Guy Lombardo Orchestra and other popular big bands. Ruppert's grandfather played drums with a young

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

during Goodman's early years in Chicago. Growing up in a musical family, Ruppert focused his goals in that direction. After graduating from college, Bill taught guitar/music in grammar school and college. By 1986, he was the first-call guitarist in the Chicago commercial studio scene.

Awards

Ruppert won a Clio Award in 1989 for his advertising music production role in the Durasoft Color Contacts commercial "Parachute" for Young & Rubicam, Chicago.

''Effectology''

In 2009, Ruppert began creating a video series called ''Effectology'', in which he recreated extraordinary sounds with a regular electric guitar and Electro-Harmonix gear. Topics ranging from inventing Halloween sounds to re-creating Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn' to generating Caribbean steel drum effects are covered. Ruppert is currently working with the design team at Electro-Harmonix creating new effects for electric guitar.

Selected discography

Ruppert played on hundreds of commercially released recordings and soundtracks. These lists represent only a small fraction of his recorded performances.

Album credits on guitar

* ''Made in California'' ( The Beach Boys, 2013) * ''Black Robes and Lawyers'' (William Michael Dillon, 2011) * ''Johnny Boy Would Love This: A Tribute to John Martyn'' (Various Artists, 2011) * ''If Only...'' (

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, 2007) * ''Squur Dance'' (B-Cow, 2007) * ''Hurricane Season'' (Shanna Zell, 2005) * ''Have a Little Faith'' (

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, 2004) * ''Rough Grooves Surface (''Tree Thirteen, 2004) * ''Change Is Good'' (Lonie Walker, 2002) * ''Couldn't Love You No More/No Little Boy'' ( John Martyn, 2000) * ''Times Like These'' ( Rick Danko, 2000) * ''Stars and Stripes, Vol. 1'' ( The Beach Boys, 1996) * ''No Big Surprise: Anthology'' (

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, 1994) * ''No Little Boy'' ( John Martyn, 1993) * ''Boomchild'' ( Dennis DeYoung, 1988) * ''Keys to the City'' ( Ramsey Lewis, 1987) * ''Simple Things'' (

, 1987) * ''Unfinished Business'' (

, 1987) * '' Bête Noire'' ( Bryan Ferry, 1987) * ''Save Tonight for Me'' (

, 1986) * ''Robin Angel'' (Robin Angel, 1986) * ''You Love Looks Good on Me'' ( Gene Chandler, 1985) * ''Marbles'' (Software, 1981)

Television shows (partial list)

Television and radio commercials (partial list)

Ruppert played on thousands of television and radio commercials. These lists represent only a small fraction of his recorded performances. The full list of credits is on record with the Chicago Federation of Musicians.

Personal life

Ruppert married Joan Tortorici, television writer/producer, in 1977.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruppert, Bill American session musicians American rock guitarists American male guitarists Guitarists from Illinois 20th-century American musicians Living people 1954 births 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians