An exciting live performer, Michael maintains a large following in Los Angeles, N.Y. and consistently sells out concerts throughout Europe. Michael Ruff is the kind of musical artist whom everyone likes to "discover" and turn their friends onto.

"I've spent most of my career playing live; Michael says. "I've never been a fulltime session musician, so it seems perfectly natural to me to sing and play at the same time, even in a high-pressure recording situation.

"I'm always writing songs to pitch to movie producers. Even though the music sometimes is not chosen for the film, I'll end up with a good song, so it's worth it," Ruff says with a laugh. Two tunes came from this process. "I Will Find You There" was composed with Whoopi Goldberg's "Jumpin' Jack Flash" film in mind, while "Seeing For The First Time" was inspired by "Fern Gully: The Last Rain Forest."

"Because I write the songs for myself, I'm very pleased when other artists like my material enough to record it. It's as if the music is already there, and when the time is right, a song will just come pouring out. When I listen back to my songs, I can truly say, This is my life'. I feel that we, as human beings, have basically the same feelings within each of us."

"When people tell me they relate to my lyrics, I smile because it means that l've been able to connect to some of these universal truths."

Artists Who Have Recorded Michael's 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), Hawaiian Style Band (title song “Ohana”) “Wonderful Life”, On the upcoming all star tribute CD to Nicolette Larson, NEW covers by Brenda Russell and Marylin Scott and many others... (Michael has been associated with eight grammy nominations).

Musical Director/Keyboardist For, And Recorded with Such Artists as:
Lionel Richie, Chaka, David Sanborn, Rickie Lee Jones, Stevie Nicks, Al Jarreau, Karla Bonoff, Brenda Russell, The Jacksons, The Winans, Dianne Schuur, Todd Rungren and many others.

He Has Written And Performed Music for Feature Films and TV including:
“Impulse”, Don’t Tell Her It’s Me” “Back To Reality”-Showtime (ACE award winner), HBO feature presentation theme, “Rainbow Maker”(theme for Disneys “Polly”), , and songs featured in “Thirtysomething”,“Young and the Restless”, “Hyperion Bay” , “All My Children”, “Baywatch”, National Geographic and Music for countless Commercials.