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Meet New Country Artist and Writer…….Ed Ruscher
Ed Ruscher is a 43 year old husband, father, veteran, former college football coach, and believe it or not an Eagle Scout. Ed is the sum of his parts and the road he has traveled resulted in the release of his new country album:
Corn Fed or Grain Fed
Ed was born May 31, 1963 kicking and screaming in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the son of Ed and Bettejane Ruscher, and according to those parents he was never quiet from the time he launched himself from the womb! Upon emerging into the delivery room he bent onto one knee and sang “Suwannee how I love ya, how I love ya…! (Well I guess you had to be there).” He attended a small Lutheran parochial school named Calvary from 1st to 8th grade. It was there in the 8th grade that given the choice by Mr. August Schwark between a “whoopin’” or singing he chose to sing. Much to the Ed’s chagrin he sang well enough that Mr. Schwark made him sing solo in front of the entire class! Well his male classmates ribbed him something fierce, but the ladies…. well that classroom is where Ed figured out that the ladies like to be sung to. He received enough encouragement from those ladies that he enrolled in choir at the giant public high school he was about to attend, Perry Meridian.
At Perry Meridian he adjusted to having 1100 in his freshman class, this versus the 16 he had attended Calvary with for 8 years. He joined the freshman choir and met lots of new folks. He was encouraged by Guy Rumsey, Music Department Director to audition for the Swing Choir, and became the first freshman in school history to make that choir.
Needless to say, at this time he had not acquired the requisite amount of testosterone he has today, so this young man was a tenor! Vince Gill would have been proud. Throughout high school he sang anything anyone put in front of him….classical, madrigal, pop, you name it, he sang it! He also was part of a couple of garage bands that used his high voice to perform covers of Styxx, Journey, and Triumph to name a few. He also played football, and swam competitively, becoming a highly regarded breaststroker.
After graduation he attended Indiana University and began his matriculation towards a Bachelor of Science degree. Along the way, often distracted by shiny things, he went to Purdue to walk on the football team as a meat squad linebacker. Ah, the gold helmet with a “P” on the side distracted him long enough that all of the money he had saved for college was gone, and there was no one lining up with a scholarship!
So off to sunny San Diego and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot he merrily went. It was here that he acquired the keen sense of knowing when he had done something incorrectly. Errors committed here were pointed out quickly and effectively by the camp counselors also known as Drill Instructors. He spent a few years on active duty before returning home to finish his college education, and continued to serve in the USMC reserves. Remember this fact; it comes into play later in the story.
After graduation from college he moved south to Clearwater, Florida where his Yankee parents had emigrated. He wound up like most recent graduates…selling life insurance. He sold it for a company that had a guy wrote his name in really big letters on the Declaration of Independence. They also sponsor a big college football bowl game.
This career lasted about as long as it took for him to develop hearing loss from the sound of phones being slammed down on their receivers by prospective insurance customers. Nothing ends a phone call as abruptly as, “hi this is Ed Ruscher from (see above reference) I’d like to talk to you today about life insurance.”
Well by happenstance Ed called on a high school in Lakeland, Florida where he was unsuccessful at selling any life insurance. He did however manage to get hired on as a teacher, football coach, strength coach, women’s tennis coach, bus duty guy, lunch room guy, and chief cook and bottle washer. It was at this job that Ed met Howard Schnellenberger (yes that guy, The Coach).
Since Ed’s days at Purdue where Strength Coach Greg Lehman had made such a strong impression on him, he had always wanted to be a college strength and conditioning coach. Ed inquired if the University of Louisville had a position open, and lo and behold they did. Ed got the job working as part of the “greatest story in college football history.” This is how Coach Schnellenberger sold it to him hook, line, and sinker during his interview.
It was here that Ed worked with renowned strength coach Ray Ganong, who had helped build the 1984 National Championship program at the University of Miami. Ed worked with all sports at U of L except men’s and women’s basketball (there isn’t enough space on the internet to go into the politics of that situation at U of L back then).
In Ed’s 6 years there he gained the opportunity to work with some of the greatest college athletes in the country. U of L won the Fiesta Bowl and the Liberty Bowl during Ed’s tenure. He also helped prepare over 24 players who would play in the NFL, and helped many players into the baseball farm league system. He also had the opportunity to work with many former U of L basketball players who were playing in the NBA and abroad after they left U of L.
During this time at U of L he wrote a monthly column in Ironman Magazine, and wrote articles for Flex and Musclemag International magazines. He also penned 2 manuscripts for health and fitness tomes. He taught seminars on healthy lifestyles and weight training to corporations and other large groups while at Louisville. He also spoke to many fan groups, PTA’s, and other groups about Cardinal Football and staying off of drugs.
During the 1990 football season the Cards went 10-1-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl over Alabama 34-7. That alone would have been enough for a normal man, but not for Ed! He got to miss the bowl game and travel to sunny Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. This government sponsored vacation package was loaded with all the glam and glitz the Department of Defense could muster. It was there as part of 8th Tnk. Bn., he helped invade and free Kuwait from that Sadaam guy. He missed the bowl game, but got some nice trinkets when he got back.
Ed dreamed of other things in the spring of 1994, namely money in his bank account. Working for U of L while emotionally and professionally rewarding, was not financially rewarding. 15 hours a day, 6-7 days a week, is what it takes to do it right in the world of college football. Working these hours for 6 years however, caused Ed to reach a point where many of the winos in Haiti earned more per year than Ed did. So out into the world he traipsed looking for more money for his family.
Ed did some personal fitness training, and while successful, the nastiness of a bitter divorce and some greedy people along the way, he just could not make enough money. He had to pay the lawyers, creditors and many waiters, bartenders, and other hospitality industry personnel to keep the current and former female companions in his life happy.
This unfortunate financial shortfall meant his finances and career needed a boost. He got a job selling water treatment chemicals and his life was never the same. Starting out in cooling towers, boilers, and waste water treatment, he learned the ropes. A couple of companies later he sells all of that and process chemicals such as zinc phosphate, iron phosphate and machining coolants. All of this sounds boring to most, but it is interesting if you manufacture anything. The bottom line is that chemical sales have given Ed a good career to provide for his family.
During the time he was coming (very cynically I might add) out of his divorce, he met “The Head Redhead,” his current wife Mary. Their courtship and romance is the subject of the title track of the album “Corn Fed or Grain Fed.” The Head Redhead had 4 wonderful sons, Keith, Kyle, Chas, and Nate. These 5 people are responsible for Ed becoming the man he never thought he could be. It is funny how having people depend on you makes you buck up and become focused on achieving goals. Ed’s family is the near center of his universe with God being the center. It is for them he strives for success.
Ed’s first song ever written was Corn Fed or Grain Fed inspired by his wife. In fact each of his songs has been written since meeting his wife and gaining his 4 wonderful sons. Ed describes his wife as his best friend, wife, lover and his muse. Since the day he promised eternal devotion to her at God’s altar his life has been blessed and fruitful. The blessings of having 4 sons is indescribable to Ed, they have helped to make his life complete.
The album was recorded and mastered at Krystal Music Studios in Campbellsville, Kentucky under the experienced ear of Danny Bailey. Ed found Krystal Music by accident while on a sales call in Campbellsville. His second oldest son was getting married and he had written the song “40 Shades of Hell.” This tribute to the pitfalls of marriage (too many pillows, knick knacks, and candles) was intended to be played at the dollar dance portion of the wedding reception. Ed was looking for some fellow good old boys to help him record the song and they were in plentiful supply at Krystal.
The other songs on the album were written in response to many events in Ed’s life. “Your Ever Lovin’ Momma,” is a cynical tribute the liars in the American automotive industry and of course to ex wives; “It was an Accident,” was inspired by a Bill Engvall standup routine. “Gulf Shores Day,” was inspired on the laziest vacation Ed’s life. “Hit Your Knees,” well lets just say that is a come to Jesus moment in Ed’s life.
“Tellin’ Lies and There Ain’t No Proof,” was inspired during a Texas Hold Em tournament where the first liar didn’t stand a chance. “The Gifts of My Life,” is a love song from Ed to his wife and sons. The song “Momma You Loved Me,” was written at the request of Ed’s oldest son prior to his wedding. He needed a song to dance with his mother to, and so instead of looking for one, Ed wrote one. The song “Not For Glory,” is a tribute to Marines old and young who fight for this land, this flag, and our freedoms.
So there you have it, the sum of Ed Ruscher’s parts. Parts that resulted in this album and the blessings that are his life right now. Enjoy the album, and may God Bless You!
Ed Ruscher can be contacted at the following:
Ed Ruscher
Big Lats Music LLC
502-773-0290 Cell Phone
www.edrusher.com Personal Website up by Feb 15th 2007
[email protected] E mail
Vital Statistics
Name Ed Ruscher
Height 6’2“
Weight 250 Pounds
Chest 53 Inches
Waist 36 Inches
Thigh 29 Inches
Bicep 18.5 Inches
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Ed Ruscher Lists the following Influences
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Ronnie Dunn-Tracy Byrd-Garth Brooks-Toby Keith-Trace Adkins
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Acoustic
