~ Welcome ~
"deadbeat boyfriend" is the recording & performance vehicle for Canadian singer-songwriter Gary J. Ruta. Born in Winnipeg, MB November 9th, 1960 and relocated to Edmonton, AB in 1972, he attended Archbishop O'Leary High School (Grad '78) where he studied music playing tuba in a variety of concert and stage bands. Lacking a horn after graduation, he switched to the guitar and began writing songs and performing at local open stages, a practice which he continues to this day. Musical influences include Burton Cummings & The Guess Who, The Eagles, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Hornsby, Hoyt Axton, Brian Sklar & Prairie Fire, Tom Phillips & The Men of Constant Sorrow.
A career as an industrial sales rep in northern Alberta kept him on the road for most of the 1980s, and taking a guitar along for company provided both the opportunity & inspiration for much of his earlier work as a songwriter. Subsequent self employment as a campground operator and computer consultant provided the means to establish Virtual Records and learn the fundamentals of digital audio recording. His self produced debut CD "Pretty Good Stories" was released in September, 2008 and is available on the independent Virtual Records label from the website on the Store Page
Mr. Ruta holds Diplomas in Marketing Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (1987) in Edmonton, AB and Computer Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (1999) in Calgary, AB as well as a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (1993) from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He currently resides in Calgary, AB and is represented by deadbeat management & productions 67139 Northland Village NW Calgary, AB T2L 2L2 email: info@deadbeatboyfriend.ca
~ Discography ~
Pretty Good Stories
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Trax
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01
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A Pretty Good Story
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(Ruta)
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3:41
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02
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Crying In The Rain
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(Ruta)
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3:04
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03
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Waiting On Low Rain
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(Ruta)
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3:31
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04
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Like A Rodeo
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(Phillips)
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4:44
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05
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That Cheatin' Song
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(Ruta)
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3:11
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06
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Stagefright
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(Ruta)
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2:53
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07
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High Level Blues
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(Ruta)
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2:32
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08
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Pas De Quoi
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(Ruta/Hanson)
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3:50
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09
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Believing In Whiskey
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(Ruta)
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3:50
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10
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Ford's Trucks
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(Ruta)
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3:05
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11
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Cilantro
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(Ruta)
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3:02
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12
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Pinball Wizard
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(Townsend)
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3:12
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"Great songs, singing, players and production . . . a high level of roots music knowledge and understanding."
- Holger Petersen
"Pretty Good Stories" is deadbeat boyfriend's debut CD. Produced by Gary J. Ruta, the album was recorded in the spring of 2007 & 2008 at Virtual Studios in Calgary, AB then fixed, mixed & mastered by Craig Learmont & Mark Troyer at Muzik Haus in Three Hills, AB and released on Virtual Records as #VR0801 in September, 2008.
Gary J. Ruta wrote 10 of the 12 songs, does all the singing & plays all guitars, 6-string banjo & some bass. The album also includes stellar musical performances by some of western Canada's best roots musicians including Denis Dufresne on fiddle & mandolin, Karl Sommerfeld on fiddle, Steve Pineo on mandolin, Craig Learmont on drums & bass, and Penny Sanborn on accordion.
Click on the links below to listen to
sample clips from deadbeat boyfriend's debut album
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