Tommy Ruskin Tommy Ruskin's professional career began at age 17 as the drummer for the Roy Johnson Trio. Ruskin has played with many of Kansas City's top jazz artists including Marilyn Maye, Sammy Tucker, Pete Eye, Milt Abel and John Elliot. Mr. Ruskin has recorded with Julie Turner, Marilyn Maye, Pete Eye, Mike Ning, Jay McShann, Mike and Pat Metheny, Arch Martin, Ed Dix and Gary Foster. For the last 23 years, Ruskin has led the rhythm section for the Kansas City Jazz Workshop, the Topeka Jazz Workshop and the St. Joseph Missouri Jazz Workshop backing internationally renowned artists such as Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, Billy Eckstine, Bill Watrous, Eddie Daniels and Carl Fontana to name a few. Tommy Ruskin currently performs in a group along with his wife, singer Julie Turner as well as leading a group of his own. He appears regularly at Fedoras Restaurant and The New Majestic Steak House in Kansas City. Taken from: www.umkc.edu/percussion/Faculty.htm

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