Aurora "Rory" Block (born
November 6, 1949, Princeton, New Jersey, United States) is an American
female blues guitarist and singer, a notable exponent of the country
blues style.Aurora Block was born in Princeton and grew up in Manhattan. Her father, Allan Block, ran a sandal shop in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and the influence of the Greenwich Village folk music scene, such as Peter Rowan, Maria Muldaur, and John Sebastian, tempted Block to study classical guitar. At the age of 14, she met guitarist Stefan Grossman, who introduced her to the music of Mississippi Delta blues guitarists. Block began listening to old albums, transcribing them, and learning to play the songs. At age 15, she left home to seek out the remaining blues giants, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis, and Son House, and hone her craft in the traditional manner of blues musicians; then she traveled to Berkeley, California where she played in clubs and coffeehouses.
After retiring temporarily to raise a family, Block returned to the music industry in the 1970s with middling success until signing with Rounder Records in 1981, who encouraged her to return to her love for the classical blues form. Since then she has carved out her own niche, releasing numerous critically acclaimed albums of original and traditional songs, including many Robert Johnson covers, such as "Terraplane Blues" and "Come on in My Kitchen". Block has won five W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998) and three for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999, 2007). She also won NAIRD awards for "Best Adult Contemporary Album of the Year" in 1994 for Angel of Mercy and again in 1997 for Tornado.
Rory Block.1981- High Heeled Blues
Rory Block.1988- Best Blues And Originals
Rory Block.1989- Turning Point
Rory Block.1991- Mama's Blues
Rory Block.1992- Ain't I A Woman
Rory Block.1994- Angel of Mercy
Rory Block.1995- When A Woman Gets The Blues
Rory Block.1996- Tornado
Rory Block.1997- Best Blues And Originals Vol. 2
Rory Block.1997- Gone Woman Blues The Country Blues Collection
Rory Block.1998- Confessions of a Blues Singer
Rory Block.2002- I'm Every Woman
Rory Block.2003- Last Fair Deal
Rory Block.2004- Rory Block, Maria Muldaur, Eric Bibb- Sisters & Brothers
Rory Block.2005- From the Dust
Rory Block.2006- The Lady and Mr. Johnson
Rory Block.2008- Blues Walkin' Like A Man- A Tribute To Son House
Rory Block.2009- Lovin' Whiskey
Rory Block.2011- Shake 'Em On Down
Rory Block.2012- I Belong To The Band A Tribute To Rev. Gary Davis
Rory Block.2014- Hard Luck Child A Tribute to Skip James
Rory Block.2016- Keepin' Outta Trouble A Tribute To Bukka White
Rory Block.2018- A Woman's Soul A Tribute To Bessie Smith
Rory Block.2020- Prove It On Me
