genR/E-fluid & 20 Years Later

Joe Ruiz, R/E, bending hip-hop, jazz, R&B into fluid music

Jensen Ruiz received a copy of a tape of the band Front Page Grace from his uncle, Cody Deal.

Sharing the past became the catalyst for the future album 20 Years Later.

Joe Ruiz was the lead singer in Front Page Grace, a 2005 college band from Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana. The band was a beginning for Joe Ruiz's musical journey. Joe Ruiz is R/E, also known as Rhymer/Educator. His reputation has been built on numerous singles and five standout albums, showcasing his unique ability to blend genres seamlessly.

Jensen Ruiz, a thirteen-year-old guitarist, told his dad, R/E, so let's make this album Headlines over, except let's make it better. Ruiz says, "The release marks a significant milestone in my musical journey, seamlessly merging the legacy of Front Page Grace with his ongoing work as R/E. If R/E music is the sum of my experiences, including Front Page Grace in the catalog only feels right. While it's musically different from anything I've released, it's a big part of my creative story.

"This project has been a deeply fulfilling experience, blending old memories with new moments. It has also served as a bonding experience for me and my children, with Jensen, Camryn, and Drake all contributing to the album. Their involvement showcases their talents and the family's strong bond and shared passion for music, adding a personal touch to the album."

The original Front Page Grace lineup included Joe Ruiz (Vocals), Norm Dial (Guitar), Rod Tackett (Bass), and Michael "Mizzle" Connors (Drums). They played local venues, recorded an album titled Headlines, and left a lasting impact before disbanding in 2006.

Ruiz's music is stylistically comfortable and familiar with an inventively engaging sound.

Ruiz began teaching at Laporte High School in 2016. Combining his business experience with his love for developing kids, he began teaching marketing. One day, a student walked into class and started rapping lyrics Ruiz had written in college. He thought the song was long buried on SoundCloud. The student enlisted others to encourage Ruiz to write a whole album. Music production and sharing had become more accessible and financially available to independent musicians. He decided to make one song and put it on Band Camp for a dollar. Half the proceeds would go to the PAX Center, and the other half would go to the cost of producing another song. The idea was successful. People bought the song for a dollar and gave twenty to fifty dollars for a download.

"I've had so much fun with this. I don't know why I stopped creating music," says Ruiz.

Ruiz opened for Vanilla Ice at the Laporte County Fair Grounds and Pitbull at Four Winds Field in South Bend, Indiana.

20 Years Later is an energetic rock album led by Jensen Ruiz's guitar and shredding solo lines expertly blended into the fabric of the total compilation. Ruiz's imaginative lyrics carry the album's story in a cohesive narrative of human internal conflict and semi-salvation from downfalls.

The song Telescope begins with a rich guitar barrage, showcasing Jensen Ruiz's skills as a lead guitarist. The strong guitar anthem is juxtaposed by the story of a mother and child flying literally in a plane and the extended metaphor of a mother trying to make sense of life to her son looking down through the clouds.

The song Haunted showcases Camryn Ruiz's expressive and harmonic voice. A deft bass rift carries the opening eerie, lyrical style of Haunted. "Love me till I die …  Help me forget at one time I ran errands for the devil," is expressed just before the song explodes into ringing guitars, releasing Ruiz' unrestrained voice and commanding lyrics. Camryn's sliding mezzo soprano is a perfect counterpoint to the rhythm and refrain of the music. Ruiz' and Camryn sing a perfect harmonic resolution above the authoritative and pounding rock finish.

"Half of my life ago, we recorded the music on the campus at Bethel,” says Ruiz. He is happy he recorded 20 Years Later with his family and old band-mates. Says Ruiz, "I wanted to look forward and not backward."

Front Page Grace 2024 are: Joe Ruiz (Vocals), Carmyn Ruiz (Vocals), Norm Dial (Rhythm Guitar), Jensen Ruiz (Lead Guitar), Rod Tackett (Bass). Mixed and mastered by Sam Henderson, recordingwithsam.com.

In the print copy of PAN-O-PLY, Joe Ruiz’s name is misspelled in the article’s title. We apologize for this error.