MARSHA
Marsha happily had no escape from music when she was born. She was surrounded by it, reaching back several generations on both sides of her family.
Her greatest influence was her mother, who was an accomplished pianist and trumpet player. Her wide-eyed (eared) years recall listening to her mother play Malagueña on the piano and scattering the family jazz and folk albums across the living room floor, studying every detail she could.
A 5th generation piano player, Marsha climbed up on the bench at the age of 4 for her first lessons. She still has her first composition, “Shadows of Wind” in D minor. She was classically trained but played everything from ragtime to pop, and could play by ear even though she thought her hero, Elton John, was a woman at first listen.
At 11, Marsha’s parents gave her a guitar for Christmas and soon she was obsessed with her new favorite instrument.
At 13 her first guitar performance was at the county fair where the set list of 4 songs included Dueling Banjos. She played both parts using a neighbor’s electric guitar (call it her first first “solo”). She also sang in a cover band—best known for imitating Rod Stewart—and played guitar in the school talent shows. Marsha’s musical journey has led her to a vast array of other instruments including trombone , hand drums and a brief stint on the fiddle (ouch) But her passion for guitar prevails.
Marsha plays electric and acoustic guitars and occasionally the mandolin for Mother Rukkus.
She is currently in treatment for GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome).
BECCA "BEX" MCCANN
Becca ‘Bex’ McCann is the lead singer of Mother Rukkus. Starting with the piano at age 6, she has always had a deep love for all kinds of music.
Singing came naturally to her and at age 9 she was selected to be in her district honor choir. Shortly after that, she started playing the clarinet and that carried her through college.
At Arizona State University Bex sang with the Pitchforks, a new all women’s acapella group during its founding year, forming lifelong friends through the bond of music. The Pitchforks are still going strong at ASU.
Guitar was the one instrument that Bex did not learn to play, but in 2013, she decided to change that by signing up for lessons through Girl Guitar Austin! In the company of all women, while drinking wine, it was the perfect fit.
This adventure led to her meeting her current band mates and other fabulous and talented women artist in Austin, TX. And history continues to write itself. Keep Austin Rockin’!
TERRI MORRIS
Terri was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to Austin in 2001 with her family. Being a teenager in the late 60’s, she was heavily influenced by the San Francisco music scene.
She has played guitar since she was twelve years old and took up bass, mandolin and harmonica in 2012 when she joined Girl Guitar, a local Austin music adventure. While still living in the Bay Area she played guitar and sang with two bands.
Terri enjoys playing bass in Mother Rukkus, a band formed with fellow Girl Guitar students in 2014.
As a singer-songwriter she is always working on new music and is currently finishing her first recording project, with a CD due out in 2018.
MARGARET MOORE
Margaret Moore loves her role in Mother Rukkus as a rhythm guitar player and back-up vocalist.
She’s always loved to sing—in the choir at church, in school plays (proudly winning the lead in the Christmas play in 5th grade!), and any time anyone would let her.
She started playing guitar when she was twelve. Folk music soon began to win her over, and she learned songs sung by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Carolyn Hester, and a host of others.
She and her best friend played for different groups and events all through high school. Margaret arrived in Austin to attend UT in 1966, and being able to play and sing got her into a lot of parties and introduced her to many good friends.
Among them were Kenneth Threadgill and his band members. Which led to her meeting Janis Joplin…but that’s a long story and you’ll have to buy her a glass of wine to tell it.
In 1977, she went to work as an Assistant D.A. and found some fellow music-makers. They formed a “courthouse band” they named Sylvia and Shysters. Sylvia was a gifted musician who played piano and sang regularly at Donn’s Depot.
Sylvia and the Shysters performed there, too, along with a number of other venues for a couple of years. Years later, Margaret’s son-in-law, who was thrilled with her band history, sent her an article about Girl Guitar. She signed up, and the rockin’ continues!
CHRIS VITANZA
Chris Vitanza was born and raised in Erie, PA, where her childhood desire to play the drums ended before it began.
In those days, good Catholic girls didn’t tap a beat. Instead, she unenthusiastically played the clarinet.
Her music studies gave way to athletic pursuits. She played tennis for Penn State after having been a top ranked state player while in high school.
Chris picked up the sticks later in life, which is unsurprising since she had run afoul of so many other religious and social proscriptions along the way.
She returned to music with Austin’s Girl Guitar where she also wrote songs and played acoustic and electric guitar.
In addition to Mother Rukkus, Chris plays the drums for the H-bombs.
ABOUT
Mother Rukkus
Mother Rukkus is a sisterhood of five female musical artists who simply love to make music together.
Formed in October, 2014, the band played its first set at the Austin Marathon in February of 2015. Since then, Mother Rukkus has played regularly in Austin at Opa and the Carousel Lounge, and other gigs in Round Rock and Austin.
The ladies met through Girl Guitar Austin, the amazing music school founded by Mandy Rowden. Each of them took various classes there and found themselves regularly in band classes together. Friendships formed, and so did a deep desire to further their musical experience.
When asked what their musical genre is, they often reply, “songs we like.” And, they like a lot of different kinds of music. Each of these ladies plays more than one instrument, and they love to adapt their sets to the venue and the occasion. They play rock and roll, but they also play quieter acoustic sets, which they call their “coffee house” music. Check out their set lists to see how varied their tastes are.
The Mothers charm their audiences with great harmonies and engaging stage presence. Their enjoyment of each other’s talents and the music-making they love is what keeps them going, and loving it more, even through personal crises and life’s twists and turns.
These women will tell you: Life is better when you keep on rockin’!
You should listen to Your Mothers! New Original Song — "Guitars and Girls
Mother Rukkus Set List
Copyright 2018, Mother Rukkus