Bill Ruppert

Bill Ruppert (born June 10, 1954) is an American musician, known as one of the most prolific and widely heard studio guitarists, logging nearly 8,000 sessions in a career spanning over 30 years.

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, Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Chuck Mangione and Richie Havens. In conjunction with Electro-Harmonix, he has created a series of Effectology videos 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. 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. Topics ranging from inventing Halloween sounds to re-creating Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn' to generating Caribbean steel drum effects 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)

Television shows (partial list) Miami Vice (Pilot)Kristin with Kristin ChenowethLate Line with Al FrankenDempsey Makepeace (USA)180 North (ABC)WTTW promos (Chicago PBS)CBS NewsWGN News

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. SearsMontgomery WardJC PenneyCarson Pirie ScottMcDonald'sPizza HutHardee'sFord MotorsChevroletHyundaiMazdaPontiacChryslerOldsmobileCokePepsiDell Computer7-upNokiaJohn DeereHallmarkCellular OneExxon MobileOscar MayerChef BoyardeeNestleSC Johnson & SonsKeeblerKellogg'sRed LobsterFannie MaeApplebee'sTGI Friday'sWhite CastlePopeyes ChickenState FarmBP AmocoAlberto CulverFox SportsToys R UsAllstateAnheuser BuschCoorsMicheloebBudweiserLeinenkugelLong John SilverBob EvansSonyBayerProcter & GambleDove SoapKraft FoodsBlue Cross Blue ShieldTombstone PizzaVerizonWrigleyGerber FoodsPolaroidKentucky Fried ChickenWalt DisneyCountry InsuranceNorelcoAveenoWisconsin LottoIllinois LotteryMrs. DashAce HardwareFlorida Dept. of CitrusCarrierNationwideSuaveTropicanaMidas MufflerCar-XBig LotsUnited AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesScrubbing BubblesJuicy Fruit7-ElevenJimmy Dean FoodsSubwayCorona BeerJim BeamDodgeDiGiornoThera FluDairy BoardBoeingBird's EyeOfficeMaxUS Post OfficeCelebrexKimberly-ClarkPhillp MorrisBisquickSara LeeSix FlagsBarilla PastaNabiscoUS ArmyMinute MaidTWAShoutMorgan StanleyCarnival CruiseATAGatoradeMeadSkittlesDollar Rent-a-CarRent-a-CenterSam's ClubAleveOrange CrushGlade Plug-InsHamburger HelperClark GasolineYellow FreightBob EvansBarbieGI JoeHershey FoodsSargento FoodsSubaruFantastikBusch GardensParamount PicturesBetty CrockerHarrah's CasinoWheatiesBuickBocaAmerican AirlinesPert PlusLand's EndCheeze-ItsKawasakiJiffy LubeOscar MayerOffABC TelevisionCBS TelevisionPBSZip-LocEmerson ElectronicsCraftsmanCap'n CrunchAmerican Medical Assn.Rotor-RooterESPNPillsburyMr. CleanOld El PasoLuvsAce HardwareCool WhipPaylessMotor SportsHondaRent A CenterNexiumMcDonald'sWhite CastleFordGELaQuintaHumanaSC JohnsonCiCi's PizzaDowneyBudweiserSamsungOld Style BeerAuto ZoneOldsmobileCitgoDomino's PizzaBow FlexCase-IHChicago BullsOre-IdaElectro-HarmonixKemper AmplifiersMars CandyMinistar GuitarsDialKohlerLevi'sDurasoftLowenbrauMilton BradleyBusch BeerChili'sJewel FoodsToyotaIllinois TourismKellogg'sFirestoneTampaxTombstone PizzaKeeblerCelestial SeasoningsChicago Fire (soccer)WeberCadillacHuffyCheetosJohn Madden FootballLeo BurnettFrosted FlakesGatoradeSecretStarkistSunkistWrigleyGeorgia PowerGladeHardee'sK-MartRaidLa-Z-BoySara LeePaylessChicago Field MuseumArbonneMattelFriendly'sFebrezeFrito-Lay

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