BIOGRAPHY Michael was born in Salt Lake City on December 20, 1958. He is a singer/songwriter/keyboardist. His music can be called Soul or R&R&B (Romantic Rhythm and Blues!). During live performances, he makes each person in the audience feels as if the show were "just for them".
His first solo album, ONCE IN A LIFETIME (produced by Tommy LiPUMA) was released in 1984 in The States by Warner Bros. Michael has a great experience of live performances in touring and doing live performances with/for: Lionel RICHIE (for his Outrageous Tour in 1987), Chaka KHAN (in 1985), Rickie LEE JONES, David SANBORN, Stevie NICKS, THE JACKSONS, John Lee HOOKER and more.
Michael was based in Santa Monica before and now resides in Hawaii where he likes also surfing, beach volley and practising sports.
DISCOGRAPHY (Albums) - Once In A Lifetime (1984) - Warner Bros USA (studio album - on CD reissued by Warner Japan in 1992) - Track-listing: Walkin' With Somebody, Hometown, Let Her Stay, Love Go Round, Once In A Lifetime, Don't Ever Say Goodbye, Ariel, Dedication, More Than You'll Ever Know.
- Michael Ruff (1988) - La Califusa Records France (on CD exclusively - engineered and mixed by Guy Charbonneau at Le Mobile - North California, CA - limited edition: 1000 CDs pressed) - Track-listing: 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.
- Michael Ruff Band (1990) - Pladecompagniet/Sony Music Denmark (on CD - recorded in Denmark with Swedish musicians) - Track-listing: Cryin' All Over The World, I'd Still Be Loving You, Any Less Than This, What Kind Of World Is This, Seeing For The Very First Time, Talking To Myself, Once In A Lifetime, Come Together, Watching Like Angels, Stars In My Eyes, Tribute To You.
- Speaking In Melodies (1993) - Sheffield Lab USA (on CD - recorded live to 2-track at Ocean Way Studios - LA, California) - Track-listing: What Kind Of World, Lover's Mask, I Will Find You There, The Eyes Of Love, Seeing For The Very First Time, Any Less Than This, That's Not Me, Poor Boy, Watching Like Angels, Beside Myself, Wishing Well, More Than You'll Ever Know, I Will Find You There (Jam).
- Shake A Little (1995) - Border Music Sweden (on CD - 4 tunes recorded and mixed by Guy Charbonneau at Le Mobile - limited edition) - Track-listing: Shake A Little, You Walk Away, Be So Shy, Cry On My Shoulder.
- Feels Good - Live with Straitjacket (1996) - Easy Records Denmark (on CD - recorded live at Easy Sound Recording, Copenhagen, Denmark April 29th and 30th, 1996) - Track-listing: Can't Get You Out Of My Mind, Shake A Little, Girl Like You, Morning Sun, I Feel Good, You Don't Love Me, Treat Me Like A Child, No Ordinary Day, Be So Shy, In This Life, Wishing Well.
- Girl Like You (1996) - Artists Without A Label USA (studio album - on CD) - Track-listing: Shake A Little, Girl Like You, You Walk Away, Talking To Myself, I'd Still Be Loving You, More Than You'll Ever Know, Be So Shy, That's Not Me, Cry On My Shoulder, Treat Me Like A Child.
- Lovesongs And Lullabies (March 1999) - Auto-production USA (studio album - on CD) - Track-listing: Wasting The Rain, Wonderful Life, More Than You'll Ever Know, Leave The Light On, I'll Always Believe In You, Listen To The Moonlight, Marie, Thoughts Of You, Not Without You, Angels Lullaby.
Artists who have recorded Michael songs:
- Bonnie RAITT (Cry On My Shoulder on multi platinum Nick Of Time and Shake A Little on grammy nominated Road Tested),
- Huey LEWIS,
- David SANBORN,
- Kenny LOGGINS (The Art Of Letting Go on The Unimaginable Life),
- Karla BONOFF,
- Carl ANDERSON,
- Roberta FLACK,
- Chaka,
- BeBe WINANS (Seeing For The Very First Time on his debut CD),
- HAWAII STYLE BAND (title song Ohana)
and many more.
NEW covers by Brenda RUSSELL and Marilyn SCOTT (associated with 8 grammy nominations).
© Michael Ruff - 1998
