Bill Ruppert

{{Short description|American guitarist}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Bill Ruppert

| image = Bill-ruppert-guitar.jpg

| caption = Bill Ruppert, American guitarist

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois

| origin =

| death_date =

| genre =

| occupation = Session Musician

| instrument = Guitar

| years_active = 1980s–present

| label =

| associated_acts = Bryan Ferry, Phil Collins, Chuck Mangione, Maurice White, Richie Havens, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, The Beach Boys, Dennis DeYoung, John Martyn, Staple Singers

| website =

| current_members =

| past_members =

}}

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Bill_Ruppert_and_Electro_Harmonixs_Effectology|title=Bill Ruppert and Electro-Harmonix's Effectology|work=Premier Guitar|access-date=2017-06-06|language=en}}

As a first-call studio guitarist and session musician, Ruppert has worked with a roster of top artist and commercial clients since the 1980s. He recorded guitar with Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music, Phil Collins of Genesis, Chuck Mangione and Richie Havens. In conjunction with Electro-Harmonix, he has created a series of Effectology videos{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL234252C1DAAAAA5D|title=EHX Effectology with Bill Ruppert|website=YouTube|access-date=2017-06-06}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musictrades.com/profile6.html|title=ELECTRO-HARMONIX: Product development & marketing aimed at inspiring guitarists drives top pedal maker's business.|website=Music Trades|access-date=2020-01-01}} 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 division of the Air Force Band 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 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2010/03/pink_floyd_on_electric_shaver.html|title=Pink Floyd On Electric Shaver & Effects Pedals|work=NPR.org|access-date=2017-06-26|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.guitar-muse.com/ehx-effectology-bill-ruppert-2755|title=EHX's Effectology With Bill Ruppert|work=Guitar-Muse.com|access-date=2017-06-26|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Bill_Ruppert_and_Electro_Harmonixs_Effectology|title=Bill Ruppert and Electro-Harmonix's Effectology|access-date=2017-06-26|language=en}} Topics ranging from inventing Halloween sounds{{Cite web|url=http://makezine.com/2009/10/28/halloween-sounds-from-guitar-effect/|title=Halloween sounds from guitar effects + photocell mod {{!}} Make|date=2009-10-28|website=Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers|access-date=2017-06-26}} to re-creating Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn'{{Cite news|url=http://guitarkadia.com/emon/blog/electro-harmonix-effectology-series/|title=Effectology: Re-creating Classic Sounds with Guitar|date=2009-08-11|work=Guitarkadia|access-date=2017-06-26|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713233615/http://guitarkadia.com/emon/blog/electro-harmonix-effectology-series/|archive-date=2012-07-13|url-status=dead}} to generating Caribbean steel drum effects{{Cite web|url=http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2011/02/14/electro-harmonix-effectology-vol-20-the-caribbean-steel-drum-effect-by-bill-ruppert/|title=Using Your Guitar Like A Synthesizer – Bill Ruppert's Steel Drum Effect|last=synthhead|date=2011-02-14|website=Synthtopia|access-date=2017-06-26}} 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... (Howard Hewett, 2007)
  • Squur Dance (B-Cow, 2007)
  • Hurricane Season (Shanna Zell, 2005)
  • Have a Little Faith (Mavis Staples, 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 (Steve Goodman, 1994)
  • No Little Boy (John Martyn, 1993)
  • Boomchild (Dennis DeYoung, 1988)
  • Keys to the City (Ramsey Lewis, 1987)
  • Simple Things (Richie Havens, 1987)
  • Unfinished Business (Steve Goodman, 1987)
  • Bête Noire (Bryan Ferry, 1987)
  • Save Tonight for Me (Chuck Mangione, 1986)
  • Robin Angel (Robin Angel, 1986)
  • You Love Looks Good on Me (Gene Chandler, 1985)
  • Marbles (Software, 1981)

{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-ruppert-mn0001764039/credits|title=Bill Ruppert {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2017-06-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/Bill+Ruppert/a/albums.htm|title=Bill Ruppert Discography at CD Universe|website=www.cduniverse.com|access-date=2017-06-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.vivaroxymusic.com/musicians_69.php|title=Roxy Music - Musicians & Credits - on VivaRoxyMusic.com|website=www.vivaroxymusic.com|language=en|access-date=2017-06-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/303475-Bill-Rupert|title=Bill Rupert|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-06-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gene-Chandler-Your-Love-Looks-Good-On-Me/release/2526864|title=Gene Chandler - Your Love Looks Good On Me|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-06-26}}

Television shows (partial list)

class="wikitable"

|Miami Vice (Pilot)

|Kristin with Kristin Chenoweth

Late Line with Al Franken

|Dempsey Makepeace (USA)

180 North (ABC)

|WTTW promos (Chicago PBS)

CBS News

|WGN News

{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfm10208.com/williamcruppert|title=William C. Ruppert {{!}} Chicago Federation of Musicians|website=Chicago Federation of Musicians}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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.

class="wikitable"

|Sears

|Montgomery Ward

|JC Penney

Carson Pirie Scott

|McDonald's

|Pizza Hut

Hardee's

|Ford Motors

|Chevrolet

Hyundai

|Mazda

|Pontiac

Chrysler

|Oldsmobile

|Coke

Pepsi

|Dell Computer

|7-up

Nokia

|John Deere

|Hallmark

Cellular One

|Exxon Mobile

|Oscar Mayer

Chef Boyardee

|Nestle

|SC Johnson & Sons

Keebler

|Kellogg's

|Red Lobster

Fannie Mae

|Appleby's

|TGI Friday's

White Castle

|Popeyes Chicken

|State Farm

BP Amoco

|Alberto Culver

|Fox Sports

Toys R Us

|Allstate

|Anheuser Busch

Coors

|Micheloeb

|Budweiser

Leinenkugel

|Long John Silver

|Bob Evans

Sony

|Bayer

|Procter & Gamble

Dove Soap

|Kraft Foods

|Blue Cross Blue Shield

Tombstone Pizza

|Verizon

|Wrigley

Gerber Foods

|Polaroid

|Kentucky Fried Chicken

Walt Disney

|Country Insurance

|Norelco

Aveeno

|Wisconsin Lotto

|Illinois Lottery

Mrs. Dash

|Ace Hardware

|Florida Dept. of Citrus

Carrier

|Nationwide

|Suave

Tropicana

|Midas Muffler

|Car-X

Big Lots

|United Airlines

|Southwest Airlines

Scrubbing Bubbles

|Juicy Fruit

|7-Eleven

Jimmy Dean Foods

|Subway

|Corona Beer

Jim Beam

|Dodge

|DiGiorno

Thera Flu

|Dairy Board

|Boeing

Bird's Eye

|OfficeMax

|US Post Office

Celebrex

|Kimberly-Clark

|Phillp Morris

Bisquick

|Sara Lee

|Six Flags

Barilla Pasta

|Nabisco

|US Army

Minute Maid

|TWA

|Shout

Morgan Stanley

|Carnival Cruise

|ATA

Gatorade

|Mead

|Skittles

Dollar Rent-a-Car

|Rent-a-Center

|Sam's Club

Aleve

|Orange Crush

|Glade Plug-Ins

Hamburger Helper

|Clark Gasoline

|Yellow Freight

Bob Evans

|Barbie

|GI Joe

Hershey Foods

|Sargento Foods

|Subaru

Fantastik

|Busch Gardens

|Paramount Pictures

Betty Crocker

|Harrah's Casino

|Wheaties

Buick

|Boca

|American Airlines

Pert Plus

|Land's End

|Cheeze-Its

Kawasaki

|Jiffy Lube

|Oscar Mayer

Off

|ABC Television

|CBS Television

PBS

|Zip-Loc

|Emerson Electronics

Craftsman

|Cap'n Crunch

|American Medical Assn.

Rotor-Rooter

|ESPN

|Pillsbury

Mr. Clean

|Old El Paso

|Luvs

Ace Hardware

|Cool Whip

|Payless

Motor Sports

|Honda

|Rent A Center

Nexium

|McDonald's

|White Castle

Ford

|GE

|LaQuinta

Humana

|SC Johnson

|CiCi's Pizza

Downey

|Budweiser

|Samsung

Old Style Beer

|Auto Zone

|Oldsmobile

Citgo

|Domino's Pizza

|Bow Flex

Case-IH

|Chicago Bulls

|Ore-Ida

Electro-Harmonix

|Kemper Amplifiers

|Mars Candy

Ministar Guitars

|Dial

|Kohler

Levi's

|Durasoft

|Lowenbrau

Milton Bradley

|Busch Beer

|Chili's

Jewel Foods

|Toyota

|Illinois Tourism

Kellogg's

|Firestone

|Tampax

Tombstone Pizza

|Keebler

|Celestial Seasonings

Chicago Fire (soccer)

|Weber

|Cadillac

Huffy

|Cheetos

|John Madden Football

Leo Burnett

|Frosted Flakes

|Gatorade

Secret

|Starkist

|Sunkist

Wrigley

|Georgia Power

|Glade

Hardee's

|K-Mart

|Raid

La-Z-Boy

|Sara Lee

|Payless

Chicago Field Museum

|Arbonne

|Mattel

Friendly's

|Febreze

|Frito-Lay

Personal life

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

References