Local singer combines the old and the new

Photo courtesy of artist

CLASS ACT. Heather Ruiz is attracting attention with her captivating performances.

Heather Ruiz is as comfortable singing pop standards from 50 years ago as adult contemporary material. With her vocal range, she could sing opera if she wanted to. A young woman cut from the same cloth as the female vocalists of the big band era, Ruiz is clearly doing something unique in the local music scene.

Ruiz was a shy child growing up in Puyallup. Adults around her wondered whether she could even speak. Singing is what pulled her out of her shell. At a Christmas party at age 3 she offered to sing a song, her ABCs.

“Most people do not feel comfortable on stage. I feel most comfortable on stage,” she remarked. Offstage she feels she is somewhat introverted.

At 13 she began taking lessons from Jack Gorrecht at Garray Music Studios in Puyallup. By 16 she was teaching lessons, something she still does.

She also took dance lessons from Dance Theatre Northwest and performed often with the group. That helped develop the stage presence she utilizes while singing on stage. “That really helped a lot.”

Ruiz began recording demos at 15. She has wanted to do a proper album for some time, and spent the last few years working on her debut, “Remember The Passion,” which was released recently. It contains some pop standards as well as original material.

In early 2007 she began working with songwriter and producer Kenny LaMar. She also worked with songwriter Sue Ann Carwell, who did some backing vocals on some of Ruiz’s original songs.

She got in recording sessions in between working and wrapping up her studies for a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Washington-Tacoma.

The album contains covers of pop classics such as Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” and “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head” by Dean Martin. Her father turned her on to such artists, as well as acts like Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Her versatility is a strong suit as well as an indicator of her diverse musical tastes. Brass sections appeal to her, and Ruiz loves the big band sound. “I wanted to showcase my versatility,” she said.

She notes how many people load songs from numerous genres on their iPods. “I figured, why not put it all on one CD? Why go down the same road as everyone else? I wanted to bring people back to an era of unforgettable melodies,” she said. “It has been an adventure.”

Her desire to do a top-notch album led her to recording with a 17-piece jazz band at Triad Studios in Redmond. She also recorded at Studio X in Seattle and mastered the songs at RFI CD Mastering in Seattle.

“I put everything I had into it,” Ruiz commented.

Some of her originals reveal a Celine Dion influence. Ruiz said Dion is her favorite singer, and she caught her show in Las Vegas twice. “I was absolutely floored. I had tears in my eyes.”

When she performs live she sings to pre-recorded tracks. Ruiz wants to assemble a band, but her style of music makes this challenging. For one, to recreate the music on her album she would need a small orchestra. Many jazz musicians are older and approach performances in a businesslike manner; they want to know their work hours and pay scale in advance. The type of band she needs may not be financially feasible right now. “I am still an unknown artist. I have to deal with the resources I have,” she said.

The Seattle/Tacoma area attracts national attention for its rock acts, but can a singer like Ruiz get noticed here? She hopes she will not need to move away to advance her career, but realizes that might be necessary. “I probably will have to venture out.”

For now she is working hard lining up gigs, promoting her album and planning for a music video.

Ruiz donates a portion of money from her performances and album sales to United Way of Pierce County.

Her commitment to giving back to the community stems from her health issues. Ruiz was born with spina bifida, a condition that can hinder walking and damage organs. She underwent surgery to fuse some vertebrae at 18 months. The condition led to scoliosis, which led to another surgery at Children’s Hospital in Seattle at 12.

She would like to do a benefit concert for the hospital that treated her.

“I can pursue my dreams. Not everyone is that lucky,” she said. “I have always enjoyed helping people. Music brings a smile to people’s faces. If I can touch one person I guess I am doing my job.”

Heather Ruiz performs at the Endless Summer Deck Party at Freighthouse Square, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 6, and at 21 Commerce at 9 p.m. Sept. 19.

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