About Me

Biography

Professional Bio

Patrick Ruckman is a versatile guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and passionate educator based in Oak Lawn, Illinois, in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. His stylistic range spans jazz, fusion, rock, R&B, and pop — demonstrating a dynamic musical language shaped by influences including Tom Petty, Steely Dan, Pat Metheny, Snarky Puppy, Depeche Mode, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, just to name a few.

Currently serving as the jazz guitarist for the Moraine Valley Community Jazz Ensemble, Patrick brings the improvisational spirit of jazz to every performance. He’s also a dedicated member of the Moraine Valley Community Concert Band, holding down the low end on tuba — a testament to his years of musical curiosity and commitment, having played both guitar and tuba since the age of 12.

With more than two decades of hands-on experience in music, Patrick’s background as a software developer uniquely informs his modern approach to music production, studio work, and live sound, giving him a unique insight into working with music software and other electrical aspects of being a musician. His deep understanding of music theory is matched by an advanced level of instrumental skill and a genuine drive to create, perform, and share his musical vision.

Patrick is now stepping into a new chapter, opening his studio and expertise to the world: performing, teaching guitar to the next generation, and providing guidance for musicians interested in leveraging technology for their craft. His mission is to foster a resurgence in the musical arts, helping build vibrant music communities and supporting new talent through education and collaboration.

Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, Patrick Ruckman delivers artistry built on devotion, professionalism, and a lifetime of exploration.

This was certifiably written by me, Patrick Ruckman, a certified human! 👍 It's true, I can pass a CAPTCHA.

Quirky Bio

Patrick Ruckman is a bona fide human (CAPTCHA-passing since the early 2000s) and an irrepressible musical explorer based out of Oak Lawn, Illinois—the southwest suburbs just a guitar solo away from Chicago.

Playing guitar and tuba (sometimes not at the same time) since age 12, Patrick’s musical passport has stamps from jazz, fusion, rock, R&B, and pop, with more influences than most streaming platforms can handle. If you’re looking for a comparison, try somewhere between Tom Petty and Pat Metheny, with a side order of Steely Dan, Snarky Puppy, Stevie Wonder, Depeche Mode, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd. No genre is safe from his curiosity.

By day, Patrick is a software developer and self-taught tech wrangler—which means his studio setup is a curious junction of analog soul and digital wizardry. Signal chains, pedals, DAWs, mysterious cables…he speaks fluent MIDI. So whether you need guidance decoding your mixing software or wrangling a stubborn amp, he’s your guy.

At present, Patrick wields his jazz guitar for the Moraine Valley Community Jazz Ensemble and anchors the low end for their Concert Band on tuba. His career is more about depth and exploration than flashy accolades—though two decades of theory, programming, and performing make for a rare edge in both music and mentoring.

Now stepping into public gigs and teaching, Patrick aims to create, perform, and pass the torch. He’s keen to help new songwriters, future tech-savvy musicians, and anyone interested in musical nerdiness—and to spark a movement restoring music’s place in everyone’s lives.

Is he the world’s fastest shredder? No. Is he a real human? Yes. Is this bio written by an AI? Well, not according to his CAPTCHA history—and definitely not if you ask his amps. If you’d like to learn from him or jam, he’s only a click away.

Let’s make music a movement again—no robot invasion required.