Michael Ruff
is the kind of musical artist whom everyone likes to "discover" and turn their friends onto. A consumate singer, songwriter and keyboardist, Ruff shows off his finely-honed skills on his second American album, the appropriately-titled Speaking in Melodies on the Sheffield Lab label.Michael Ruff's talent has during the past decade serving as the concert music director for Chaka Kahn, David Sanborn and Rickie Lee Jones; as band member with Lionel Ritchie, Brenda Russell, Karla Bonoff, Jose Feliciano, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, Randy Vanwarmer, The Wynans, The Beckmeir Brothers and members of Rufus; and performer on-stage with Al Jarreau, Kal David, Gerald Albright and Michael Paulo.Ruff also is known as a hot songwriter for artists such as Bonnie Raitt ("Cry On My Shoulder" on" her multi-Platinum Nick of Time album), Huey Lewis ("That's Not Me"), Roberta Flack ("More Than You'll Ever Know' and "Thought I Knew It All"), Vonda Shepard ("A New Marilyn"), Karla Bonoff ("All Walk Alone"), David Sanborn, Carl Anderson, Kal David and Chaka Kahn.Michael was born in Salt Lake City, but spent his school years growing up in Boston and Manchester, Connecticut. He began playing piano at three and was considered a prodigy by his teachers.In high school, Michael played in various groups that performed either blues, Top 40 or R&B. At 17, he was touring the east coast behind James Cotton, John Lee Hooker and other blues acts.A year later he joined Don Moore and backed this singer-songwriter in New York City clubs and Catskill Mountains resorts. "He encouraged me to start writing songs " Michael spent a couple of years living in Woodstock where he played with artists like Orleans, Paul Butterfield and David Sanborn.Ruff moved to New York City, met Randy Vanwarmer, toured with him and played on his album with musicians such as Tony Levin and Shane Fontaine.Ruff moved to Los Angeles where he recorded two albums with The Beckmeir Brothers and began doing session work with other artists.
The Tracks are:
That´s Not Me,
Love´s Got A Hold On Me,
Poor Boy,
More Than Ever,
Think About You,
More Than You´ll Ever Know
I´d Still Be Loving You.
Musicians on the Michael Ruff album: Michael Ruff, Snuffy Walden, Jimmy Haun, Peter Framton, David Williams, James Harrah, Buzzy Feiten, Jimmy Johnson, Cliff Hugo, Ralph Humpfrey, Armond Grimaldi, Per Lindvall, Leslie Smith, Joe Turano, Vonda Shepard, Mark Lennon, Kip Lennon, Brandon Fields, Nils Landgren & Paulinho Da Costa.
Available from LA Califusa Records/Original release year: 1988
