The Egg Presents: Ruthie Foster/Katie Martucci

With support from Katie Martucci

Ruthie Foster’s musical journey is as eclectic and vibrant as her soulful voice. Born into a family steeped in gospel tradition, her earliest influences were the voices of her mother, grandmother, and the gospel singers she grew up listening to — artists like the Gospel Keynotes and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Despite a deep love for music, Ruthie initially shied away from the spotlight, preferring to play guitar, piano, and write songs for others.

Growing up in Gause, Texas, she was drawn to the diverse sounds and arrangements of local gospel choirs and musicians. With her grandmother’s vocal coaching and encouragement from her mother and the church community, she recognized her own power as a songwriter, musician, and singer — standing out as a young Black girl with a guitar in a choir scene dominated by pianos.

After studying music at a community college in Waco, Ruthie enlisted in the Navy and was selected to sing for the Navy band Pride, where she honed her skills as a vocalist and performer. A development deal with Atlantic Records took her to New York City, where she immersed herself in the songwriting community.

When her mother fell ill she stepped back from music to return to Texas and care for her, a period of introspection that later shaped her voice as a singer-songwriter and storyteller. Drawing on her roots, she crafted blues-, folk-, and gospel-tinged songs about love, loss, and resilience.

Turning down a major record deal to pursue authenticity, she signed with independent label Blue Corn Music and released Runaway Soul (2002), The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster (2007), The Truth According to Ruthie Foster (2009), Let It Burn (2012), Promise of a Brand New Day (2014), Joy Comes Back (2017), and Healing Time (2022). She has also released three live albums: Stages (2004), Live At Antone’s (2011), and Live at the Paramount (2020).

Now a five-time Grammy nominee, Ruthie Foster has achieved her first Grammy win. Her latest album, Mileage, released on Sun Records, won Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards — a first-ever Grammy win for Sun Records.

With soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Foster continues to carve out a path that is uniquely her own.

Katie Martucci is a Brooklyn-based indie folk/pop songwriter whose presence and warmth leave audiences spell-bound and renewed. Her latest release, Note to Self, is a collection of songs about the “unspoken third thing in the room” — stories surrounding friendship, imposter syndrome, her own personal journey with epilepsy, and more. Drawing inspiration from artists like Madison Cunningham and Emily King, Martucci’s songs are lush and cinematic.

"No matter what Katie Martucci chooses to sing, it absolutely captivates us. Her voice is incredible, warm, and personal." – Ear to the Ground Music