In many ways, Ellyn Rucker’s career is a what-if story
Rucker, who died in 2022 at age 84, was a prodigiously talented pianist and vocalist, as well as a rare beauty – although her daughter, Kristin Rucker, notes that she grew uncomfortable whenever aficionados described her as sexy. But because she didn’t devote herself to music full-time until after she’d raised her family and preferred sticking around Denver, her adopted hometown, over chasing fame in a more predictable music mecca, she became a cult favorite rather than a major celebrity.
Still, superstardom’s loss was a big win for Colorado – and for the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, which Rucker brightens with her induction.