Susan Ritchie Music

Susan Ritchie MusicSusan Ritchie MusicSusan Ritchie Music

Susan Ritchie Music

Susan Ritchie MusicSusan Ritchie MusicSusan Ritchie Music
  • Home
  • About
  • Tour
  • Listen
  • Contact
  • Blog & News
  • EPK
  • More
    • Home
    • About
    • Tour
    • Listen
    • Contact
    • Blog & News
    • EPK
  • Home
  • About
  • Tour
  • Listen
  • Contact
  • Blog & News
  • EPK

About Susan

  

Her perfectly curated covers may draw you in, but her award-winning originals will cement your faith in the real artistry coming out of the Central CA Coast. Never hiding behind over-synthesized production or trendy vocal styles, Susan Ritchie’s soulful and pure voice will feel like a good whiskey on a foggy day - comfortable, uplifting and just the answer the day needed. 


Performing soul, blues, rock and folk, ringing with tones of Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi, Susan Ritchie consistently grows her audience with both her intimate solo acoustic performances, and the uptempo sets backed by her full band of seasoned musicians. An accomplished guitarist, Ritchie’s rhythm and finger-picking styles are at the center of her songwriting and performances. Ritchie connects with her listeners through heartfelt songwriting and everyday experiences that wink to the experiences we all share. 


Early Age & Influences


Ritchie started playing guitar at the age of eight. She proved to be a dedicated student and soon had a repertoire of folk songs to entertain family and guests. She studied classical guitar briefly, but the allure could not compete with the songwriters of the time who were a perpetual soundtrack in the Ritchie home. 


Susan credits the finger-picking style of James Taylor as her first inspiration. Among her other early influences are Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and virtually all of Motown. 


Frustrated by having what her mother called a “sweet voice,” her musical world was forever changed by hearing Bonnie Raitt. It was an epiphany to hear Raitt’s sweet voice delivering a blues lyric with sass and attitude. Raitt’s voice was like a sweet and savory dish, and the young Susan Ritchie finally had a recipe to follow while developing her own musical palette.


Songwriting


Ritchie wrote her first song at the age of 11, and she hasn’t stopped since. After college she performed in coffee houses and clubs on the central coast, but she decided to dedicate herself to her most important gig – motherhood.  As a single parent for most of her daughter’s childhood, she put the performance part of being a musician on the back burner. But, after meeting her husband of 14 years, Kevin Bratcher, a music fanatic and accomplished luthier, music started weaving back into Susan’s life in powerful ways.


In 2015 she undertook a 52-week songwriting project, writing a song every week for a year and posting each song on YouTube.


Making Records


In 2016, Susan made an album of 11 of those songs she wrote in her 52-week writing project.  Produced by Randy Rigby, the album was a song-writing sampler that the two hoped could be a basis for future co-writing and pitching opportunities. Tragically, Rigby died suddenly a few months later. 


In 2021, Ritchie met studio engineer Rob Vermeulen of Robbo Music in Morro Bay, CA. Vermeulen produced Ritchie’s 2022 six-song EP release, How Many Miles?. The song "Cloudy Day" won the 2022 New Times Music Award for best R&B/blues song. Working with Rob was the impetus for the formation of the Susan Ritchie Band, which quickly rose in popularity on the central coast, playing premier venues and concert series. Following a prolific writing period, Susan released a 10-song album, Life Is For The Living in November 2023.  The album includes big, bold productions, as well as tracks featuring beautiful acoustic guitar.  The song "The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" was a finalist in the 2023 New Times Music Award for the R&B/blues category.


Susan's World Class Band


Susan  Ritchie's live shows, with her full ensemble in play, is the best  musician collection in all of the Central California Coast! Her band  includes a hand-picked team of exceptional players, and they are:

​

Rob Espinosa (electric guitar and backing vocals) has an impressive musical resume,  including being musical director, guitarist and vocalist for one of San  Francisco’s seminal classic rock bands, It’s a Beautiful Day. Rob has  played with Vince Gill, Glen Campbell, Tommy Smothers, Huey Lewis, Kenny  G, the Gatlin Brothers and the late John Denver, among many others.


Rob Vermeulen (bass and backing vocals) grew up in the rockin’ 60’s in the  Netherlands. He picked up the ukulele when he was 11 years old and laid  up with a broken leg. Ten years later he was leading several bands and  touring Europe. Now he is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer  and audio engineer.  He is the owner of Robbo Music Recording Studio in  Morro Bay, CA. Collaborating with top talent, Rob has recorded hundreds  of songs, resulting in over 100K CD sales and 1M+ YouTube hits. 


Daryl VanDruff (drums) was born and raised in Los Angeles.  He started the drums at  age 10 and was part of the LA music scene for many years.  An  adventurous spirit led him to a job change, when he began a 25-year  career as a firefighter/paramedic.  Now retired from firefighting, Daryl  plays drums with a variety of bands, including Tipsy Gypsies, and is  one of the busiest and most sought after drummers on the central coast.

Show More

Let's Get Social


Copyright © 2025 Susan Ritchie Music - All Rights Reserved.


Powered by