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Music
 

Bob Ruff 
Square Dance Caller
Bob Ruff in Square Dance Hall Of Fame  hall-of-fame.squaredancehistory.org
 
ID: 101

Bob Ruff  

Bob Ruff built an outstanding reputation as a teacher of new dancers; his recordings for Sets In Order Records, "the fundamentals of square dancing", are legendary. Bob was a teacher in Los Angeles schools and a recipient of Callerlab's Milestone Award. In 1956, Bob Ruff wrote "Teaching Can Be Fun" for Sets In Order Magazine's, Summer Asilomar institute.
SIO's article: The decision of what direction to take in the American dance activity was made years ago by Bob Ruff and his family when he chose to devote his efforts to the training of school faculty members in methods of introducing square dancing to the youth of today. A long career as a public school teacher pointed out to Bob the need for this wholesome recreation to fit not only into the school curriculum but to become a part of the life of today's young men and women. Starting while still active in the Los Angeles City School system, Bob introduced square dancing to his young students. Interest among other teachers led him to prepare some early teaching recordings and to develop systems for teachers to instruct with the aid of recorded calls and music. As time went on, his systems improved. New recorded material was prepared and Bob became involved not only in California but in Washington State, Nebraska and a number of other areas in conducting in-service courses for instructors. Over a period of more than three decades, Bob has made it possible for tens of thousands of young men and women to learn to dance. In many out-of-the-way corners of the globe, small clusters of English speaking men, women, boys and girls have, through Bob's effort, found an oasis in the sheer joy of square dancing together. Years as a club caller, as a staff member at vacation institutes, as a featured instructor/caller on instructional films, Bob personifies the true spirit of unselfishness. His exuberance for the activity has been contagious as testified by many hundreds of testimonials received from those who have learned to teach and call through his clinics and by way of his records. Because of his years of dedication to square dancing, his willingness to share his ideas and methods with others, we pay tribute to him as we add his portrait to the Square Dance Hall of Fame. And, because to Bob, square dancing always was and always will be a couple activity with sharing of responsibilities and efforts, we also salute his wife, Bates, along with Bob and, for the work they have accomplished together, we say thank you — well done!

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Recordings by Bob Ruff:
Sets In Order    Wagon Wheel    Warwick   
 
Am I Asking Too Much  Singing Call, Warwick 176  On our wish list
 
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown  (comments) (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 912
 
Big Sombrero Contra  (sample clip)  Contra, Wagon Wheel 919
 
Engine 9  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 913
 
England Swings  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 925
 
Gentle On My Mind  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 911
 
Glendale Train  (comments) (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 918
 
Goody, Goody / Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call (two vocals), Sets In Order 1108
 
Hey Lei Lee Lei Lee  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 914
 
Houston  (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 924
 
If They Could See Me Now  (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 915
 
In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Sets In Order 101
 
King Of The Road  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 922
 
Let A Smile  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Sets In Order 138
 
Long, Lonesome Highway  (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 916
 
Mississippi  (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 923  On our wish list
 
Papa  (sample clip) (cue sheet)  Singing Call, Sets In Order 104
 
Robinson Crusoe  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 917
 
Shindig In The Barn  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 921
 
Shortnin' Bread  (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Contra, Wagon Wheel 929  On our wish list
 
Sweet Personality  (comments) (sample clip) (cue sheet)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 927
 
The Race Is On  (sample clip) (cue sheet)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 928
 
Walking In The Sunshine  (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Singing Call, Wagon Wheel 926
 
You're Nobody's Sweetheart / Pride-O-Dixie  Singing Call (two vocals), Sets In Order 1113  On our wish list
 
You're Nobody's Sweetheart Now / Pride-O-Dixie  (comments) (sample clip) (cue sheet) (lyrics)  Patter (two instrumentals), Sets In Order 2118

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