Rory Block – born Aurora Block in Princeton, New Jersey on November 6, 1949 – is a traditional country blues guitarist and singer. Emerging from the Greenwich Village folk-blues scene in the early 1970s, she built her career on an uncommon foundation: deep, firsthand study of pre-war blues masters. Originally a classical guitarist, she was mentored by Stefan Grossman and became a virtuoso acoustic blues guitarist known for her fluid slide work and driving percussive style. Rory Block’s playing channels the spirits of figures like Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis, and Skip James. She made her recorded debut in 1967 as ‘Sunshine Kate’ on the album How to Play Blues Guitar. Her solo career began in 1975 with the release of her self-titled album. That debut was followed by a series of critically acclaimed albums including I’m in Love (1976), High Heeled Blues (1981), Blue Horizon (1983), Rhinestones & Steel Strings (1984), House of Hearts (1987), Confessions of a Blues Singer (1998), The Lady and Mr. Johnson (2006), and Heavy on the Blues (2025). Rory Block has also released a series of tribute albums to her musical influences including Robert Johnson, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, Bukka White, Bessie Smith, and Bob Dylan. With a career that spans decades and an extensive catalog of recordings, Rory Block stands as both a guardian of the blues legacy and a forcefully original artist, bridging past and present with authority, respect, and unmistakable style.
