In a full-circle moment of musical history, Ruthie Foster took to the same Sun Studios room where Elvis Presley first recorded “That’s All Right” – the track that helped propel both the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Sun Records into superstardom. Backed by producer Tyler Bryant (of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown), Foster delivered a soulful, slow-burn version of the Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup classic, reimagining it through her own Delta blues lens.
The song appears on Mileage, her tenth album and debut for the legendary label – a release that also earned Sun its first-ever GRAMMY® nomination. Originally written and recorded by Crudup in 1946, “That’s All Right” became a landmark track when Elvis recorded it for Sun in 1954. Foster’s interpretation, however, returns the song to its blues roots, offering a fresh yet reverent perspective on a piece of music that shaped the foundation of American music.
“Tracking that song in a room with so much history was nothing short of magical,” Foster reflects. “You could feel the blues, the country, and the rock ‘n’ roll that had been recorded there. It was humbling and beautiful to perform that song, in that room, and to be part of the Sun Records legacy—one that has profoundly shaped American music and beyond.”
With Tyler Bryant’s raw, gutbucket acoustic guitar accompanying her, Foster’s slow, sultry vocals filled the room, evoking the spirits of the rock ‘n’ roll pioneers who once stood there. The black-and-white video not only captures the moment but also immortalizes the connection between Foster and the storied label.
Her rendition of “That’s All Right” serves as a beautiful memento of an iconic era in Sun’s history, coinciding with her own GRAMMY® nomination for Mileage in the category of Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 67th Annual GRAMMY® Awards.
The album reflects Foster’s journey as a queer Black female artist while honoring her East Texas roots. Co-written with Tyler Bryant and his wife, GRAMMY®-winning artist Rebecca Lovell of Larkin Poe, Mileage has been met with critical acclaim, with the title track recently landing on Spotify’s Best of Blues 2024 playlist.
Fans can stream Mileage here. For more information on Ruthie Foster’s upcoming tour dates, head here.
Ruthie Foster 2025 Tour Dates:
1/17 – 20 – Santa Rosa Beach, FL – 30A Songwriters Festival
1/26 – 2/2 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
3/1 – Lake Jackson, TX – Ruthie Foster with Brazosport Jazz Orchestra
3/6 – St Kilda, Australia – Memo Music Hall
3/7 – Queenscliff, Australia – Queenscliff Town Hall
3/8 – 3/10 – Port Fairy, Australia – Port Fairy Folk Festival
3/13 – Brunswick, Australia – Brunswick Ballroom
3/14 – Castlemaine, Australia – Theatre Royal
3/15 – 3/16 – Katoomba, Australia – Blue Mountains Music Festival
3/19 – Wollongong, Australia – Centro CBD
3/20 – Narrabundah, Australia – Harmonie German Club
3/21 – Chatswood, Australia – The Concourse
3/22 – Bowen Hills, Australia – Old Museum Brisbane
3/23 – Edge Hill, Australia – Tanks Arts Centre
3/29 – 4/5 – Coral Jubilee 35th Anniversary Cruise – Fort Lauderdale, FL
4/12 – St. Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Blues Festival
4/25 – Lewisburg, PA – Weis Center for the Performing Arts
6/1 – Belle Plaine, KS – Bartlett Arboretum