On the Billboard
Alyssa Ruffin
A
lyssa Ruffin is an international, multi-awardwinning, genre bending Recording Artist, and
Singer-Songwriter. She was born in Mason City, Iowa where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Big Boppers plane crashed "The Day Music Died", and later moved to Denver, Colorado. She is a proud Military wife, and Mission 22 Ambassador, advocating for Veteran Suicide prevention, awareness, and treatment programs for Military Veterans and their families. Alyssa is also an advocate for Female Empowerment, Mental Health, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, and Domestic Violence. She is currently based out of Prattville, Alabama, and working on music in Nashville, Tennessee.
68 WQMagazine.com
Q& A What made you get into music? My mom was my first musical inspiration. She was always singing and playing guitar. When I was little, she was in a singing competition and made it to the finals in Nashville, Tennessee. When she returned home, I watched the competition back with her. There was a little girl in the competition and although I was always inspired by my mom, seeing that little girl on the same stage as my mom was the extra inspiration I needed to get started. That day, I told my mom I wanted to sing. From that moment on, she took me along to all of her gigs, band practice, karaoke, and eventually put me into every singing competition she could find. She had me performing at fairs, festivals, talent shows, anything she could find. When I was 9 years old, she took me to my first concert. We saw Wynonna Judd. My mom distracted security and I hopped on stage to slip Wynonna my moms demo. Wynonna put her hand on her hip and said, got on her microphone and said “What can I do for you honey?” She held the mic near my mouth and I replied “let me sing”. Of course she didn’t take me seriously but the sound of that sold out coliseum roaring stayed with me all of these years. It was a life changing moment for me. Shortly after, I performed with my mom at the Buddy Holly Anniversary Memorial Event in Clear Lake, Iowa. We performed for the Legendary Buddy Holly’s wife, Maria Holly. Maria hugged me that night, and told me to never stop singing.
How would you describe the sound of your music? I have an eclectic taste in music and that reflects in my music and singing style. I would describe it as guitar driven Country meets R&B, with a hint of Pop, Rock, and Blues.
