San Gabriel Valley Tribune Interview
Steve was interviewed recently by Wes Woods II of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune newspaper.
Claremont flute player and his collaborator are nominated for a Native American Music Award
CLAREMONT – Native American flute player Steve Rushingwind Ruiz has been playing a simple alto recorder since age 5 because his parents could not afford a more elaborate instrument.
“Growing up as a kid we were a very poor family,” Ruiz said. “And I wanted to play an instrument with passion since I can remember. I don’t remember not wanting to play. Every year I’d go to school, and they’d have music, and I always wanted to play a trumpet or something, but my mom and dad could never afford to get me anything. So I would get what’s free. And that was a recorder.”
CLAREMONT – Native American flute player Steve Rushingwind Ruiz has been playing a simple alto recorder since age 5 because his parents could not afford a more elaborate instrument.
“Growing up as a kid we were a very poor family,” Ruiz said. “And I wanted to play an instrument with passion since I can remember. I don’t remember not wanting to play. Every year I’d go to school, and they’d have music, and I always wanted to play a trumpet or something, but my mom and dad could never afford to get me anything. So I would get what’s free. And that was a recorder.”
Now 51, the recorder has paid off. Ruiz has been nominated with guitarist Michael Mucklow for Best New Age Recording and Best Producer in the 2011 Native American Music Awards for their album “Ancient Elements.”
The duo has also won a 2011 New Mexico Music Award for the song “Old Chief’s Pipe” off the album.
Ruiz, of Native American and Mexican decent who now lives in Claremont, graduated from Garey High School in Pomona in 1978. He has made a name for himself with his landscape artwork as well as his music.
As a child he spent time in the studio of his uncle, artist Alfred Flores, who was an oil painter for more than 40 years.
“I’ve had no schooling for learning how to paint or any of my art. I’m self-taught,” Ruiz said. “That’s my education.”
Ruiz put the recorder down after playing it through high school and took up guitar, but he saw a Native American flute being played in the 2002 Nicolas Cage movie “Windtalkers.”
“There was a Najavo Native American who was playing a flute when they were in battle,” Ruiz said. “And I thought, `What is that? What is that instrument?”‘
The next day, there happened to be a large festival and a man was selling similar flutes and he purchased one.
Ruiz went back the following year to purchase a larger flute.
“It was natural for me,” Ruiz said. “It’s taken me years, since then, to get where I’m at now, but I’ve always felt this connection with it.”
He recorded his first album in 2009 and then started working with Mucklow after his producer recommended the guitarist.
“I lived in the same town as this guy, in Joshua Tree. I didn’t bother to call him. Six months later I move to Pomona and he moved to New Mexico. That’s when I connected with him. It was very strange. So, he sent me over some tracks. Because I heard his music, he heard my music and said he was like `Oh gosh, this is incredible.’ And I said the same thing. So he sent me a track and I played it on my computer and I can just play right to his stuff. I couldn’t believe it. I wrote him back and said `Hey, this is going to work.’ So then after that he started sending me compositions and I would compose and we both were composing and we came up with our first album `Ancient Elements.”‘
Ruiz, who divorced in 2001 but remarried and has three children and two granddaughters, describes the award nominations as “incredible.”
“We can’t even believe where we’re at now,” he said. “We’re flying to New York on Thursday. The Nammys are almost equivalent to the Grammy in the Native American spectrum. So it’s not like small awards. It’s the highest you can go with the flute. A lot of the NAMMY (winners) go on to the Grammys … but right now I’m just excited doing what we’re doing.”
The group released its second album “Among The Ancients,” in May 2011.
“I think we’ve topped it,” Ruiz said, adding other people have told him the same. “Now, we’re going to go into the studio and do a third album.”
The duo’s musical connection is one-of-a-kind, Ruiz said. “He’s amazing and it’s so funny. I’m half Native American and half Mexican and he’s from England. You can’t get any more English than that. So it’s a comical kind of pair but he’s got so much honor toward the Native Americans. He’s a brother. He’s like my brother now.”
[The group's website is www.rushingwind-mucklow.com]
Ruiz’s music and art studio is in Upland, near the dividing line with Claremont.
“I walk across the street and I’m in Claremont,” Ruiz said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Ruiz’s friends described his talents as “amazing.”
“He’s one of our best friends,” said Susie Thorp, of Pomona, where Ruiz used to live, adding she and husband Juan are godparents to his daughter Sienna. “He’s just an amazing person. A very talented musician and painter as well.”
Juan Thorp described Ruiz as “very chill, very fun, active, and he wants to go and hang out. A great guy, funny, charismatic and a great father.”
Juan said Ruiz’s success in musicianship and art is no accident.
“I see both go hand and hand with him,” Juan said. “He used to have a studio in Joshua Tree. He had his easel next to his flute. He would have sage burning and he’d be painting. Then he’d take a break and play some flute.”
