On these pages, Boo Rits (aka Bruce Rits Gilbert) doesn’t need an introduction. If this is your first time hearing the name, you can dig through our archives to find many articles over the years.

Also, as mentioned in the interview, the Boo Rits Radio Hour has been going three years strong! Without that, Unlimited Sounds Radio would not be as vibrant as it currently is.

Naturally, as soon as I knew Boo Rits & The Missing Years had a new project and could benefit from an article, I jumped on the opportunity to publish something.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Bruce Rits Gilbert about the latest project – Gadgets & Whispers, dream collabs, selecting music for the Boo Rits Radio Hour, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Before anyone clicks play on Gadgets & Whispers is there anything you want us to know? Back stories? Creative ambitions? Specific inspirations that motivated you?

Gadgets & Whispers (release date: August 14, 2026) includes an eclectic group of songs, including 11 originals and two covers. The originals that I wrote are not really autobiographical, but sometimes have slivers of truth. “Lucky Boy” and “I’m Accidentally Doing Just Fine,” for example, both speak to the privileges that many of us had growing up. And some of the songs were inspired by songs written by others, including Robert Earl Keen, Carl Perkins, and Mark Knopfler.

Do you have a favorite song from this album? Any favorite moments from the songwriting or recording process?

I like all of the songs on the album. I mean, you know, if I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t have included them on the record. My 10-year old granddaughter, Jane, is the lead vocalist on two songs, an original called “I Am From” and a cover of Taylor Swift’s “The Best Day.” It would be easy to pick one of those as a favorite. And the record includes an original song by my four-year old granddaughter, Sadie May, which is very cool. But the one song that particularly stands out is “Lucky Boy.” That’s the first song that I ever wrote in three-quarter time. Nick Gunty helped me with it, and, after I recorded the vocals, I realized that I wasn’t the right guy to do the lead vocals in the song. So I convinced Nick to take the lead. And then we were able to convince Dave Senft, one of the founding members of an amazing indie folk group called Darlingside, to also do vocals on the song. I added some harmony vocals, too. And, next thing you know, the song is really good. If we had the proper public relations team and a marketing group, this song would be a hit. 

Tell us more about The Boo Rits Radio Hour. We’re up to 170-ish episodes now! Do you have a secret method for selecting the music for each show?

The Boo Rits Radio Hour is a radio show that simply features one hour of good music every week. The number one rule that I have for selecting each song for the show is that I have to like the song. So I start there. Sometimes, I do theme shows, so, for example, each song on the show might be about flowers or colors or the weather. And other times the songs might have little in common other than being songs that I like. As the folks who run the radio station say, the show generally features “Folk, Country Roots, and Retro Pop.” But, really, any genre could be included. If the music is good, I’ll play it. It’s hard to believe that the show has run for over three years now. It’s fun to do, and it’s amazing that you give me total creative control over the show and allow me to keep doing it. 

What is your earliest music memory? Or a moment that sticks out for driving you to create music?

Well, I grew up with the Beatles. I remember getting my folks to spot me a couple bucks to buy Meet The Beatles when I was 10 years old. And then I actually saw the Beatles in concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 4, 1964. I’ve been a Beatles fan ever since. But it was John Prine, who I started listening to in 1973, who is probably my biggest influence in writing and creating music. His songs are mostly relatively simple, three-chord folk/country songs, with meaningful, and often funny, lyrics. When I first started playing the guitar when I was in my 50s, I mostly sang John Prine songs. And then I realized that writing my own songs was something that I could do. Not that I ever could write a “John Prine” song, but trying to do that keeps me motivated. 

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why?

Based on what I said in the last question, you’d think that I’d say Paul McCartney or John Prine. And those would be great answers. But, if I could collaborate with Dolly Parton or Emmylou Harris, well, that would be about the most amazing thing. I think that those two have the prettiest voices in the history of the world, and I can’t even imagine how I’d feel if either of them sang or harmonized on one of my songs. 

I know it’s hard…but favorite song (or artist) of all time? Or Top 3 if you can’t choose one…?

You probably know where I’m going with this question. But I’ll be specific. “All My Loving” is probably my favorite Beatles’ song of all time. And my favorite John Prine song is “One Red Rose,” which we cover on Gadgets & Whispers. John’s version is a beautiful ballad, so we decided to do an uptempo version to make it our own. I think that John would have approved.  And to be a little more current, there’s a singer-songwriter and humorist named Elle Cordova who is absolutely amazing. She’s my current favorite singer-songwriter. Her entire catalogue is extraordinary, but I’ll mention one song, “Cassiopeia,” which is stunning. And I also have to mention an indie folk duo called Frances Luke Accord. Nick Gunty, who I collaborate with on Boo Rits & The Missing Years’ songs, and his musical parter, Brian Powers, have created some of the prettiest music ever recorded. 

Where’s the best place to connect with You?

If anyone wants to connect with me, they can find me on Instagram here: @brucerits. Or they are welcome to email me at bruceritsgilbert@gmail.com. 

I appreciate your time. Any last thoughts before signing off?

Thanks so much, Joshua, for allowing me to talk a little bit about Gadgets & Whispers and my musical journey. And thanks for broadcasting The Boo Rits Radio Hour every week. Congratulations on everything that you’re doing at the University of the Pacific. And thanks to everyone who takes the time to listen to Gadgets & Whispers!