Embarking on his professional music journey in the summer of 2010, singer-songwriter Tim Ruff eagerly bolted out of the gates with high hopes and a keen suspicion as to how his “acoustic crooner” style would go over in the real world.

Now, after the success of his first release, Winter’s Coming EP, the high hopes for a cheery reception have become reality. Tim’s shining personality (on and offstage) is quickly winning the hearts of listeners everywhere he plays. With songs filled with smiling melodies and jazzy chord progressions, this operatically trained musician with a taste for a sweeter sound and a shot of folk influence is often compared to artists Jason Mraz and Michael Buble.

Tim is originally from the magical shores of Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana where he first started writing songs. He is currently living in Pittsburgh, PA where he recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon University School of Music.

After a few years of writing songs for his own entertainment in college, he was urged by friends to play his songs for a live audience. Song after song started pouring out until a small act materialized. Nobody knew that a decision to compete in a battle-of-the-bands would be the snowball to soon become the avalanche.

Tim started playing guitar at the age of 14 and began writing his own music and lyrics at 16. His first music writing experience happened at the age of 10. He transcribed, by ear, Star Wars themes and the Titanic theme song to the recorder. He proceeded to play his work for the student body at a student concert. Not long after these noteworthy antics was Tim’s first dive into poetry. Tim was given an assignment to write a poem about Christopher Columbus sailing to the Americas. Tim had fallen in love with language and has not stopped rhyming since.

Influences: Jason Mraz, Michael Buble, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Jim Croce, Simon and Garfunkel

Sounds Like: Jason Mraz, Michael Buble, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Jack Johnson

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