“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” ”
For bookings and inquiries: ruthannsbaler@gmail.com
bio
Growing up in New York’s Catskill Mountains on a farm near Woodstock, Ruthann developed a deep connection to nature—one that led her to begin writing songs on her father’s 1950s-era Harmony guitar. A national songwriting award winner early on, she spent her 20s performing in coffeehouses while working as a reporter, her music shaped by the people she encountered and the stories they carried.
That instinct for storytelling continued to evolve when she moved to Boston in the 1980s. Drawn into the city’s vibrant folk scene, she found new inspiration in narrative songwriting and socially conscious themes, along with a strong, supportive community of musicians. Collaborations grew naturally out of open mics and coffeehouses, deepening both her craft and her sense of artistic connection.
By the time she released Life on Mars in 2009, her perspective had shifted in a more personal direction. As a new parent, she began writing from a place of quiet reflection, with the title track capturing a moment with her young son under the night sky.
That same impulse—to connect music with lived experience—also shaped her work beyond the stage. During the Iraq War, after learning about a local Vietnam veteran sending care packages to troops overseas, she founded Strike a Chord Concerts for Charity. The initiative brought together New England musicians in support of that effort and went on to benefit a range of local nonprofits.
Her 2018 album, Rivers & Trains, continues this thread of reflection, using images of rivers, trains, and roads as metaphors for life’s milestones and turning points.
In 2019, Ruthann returned to New York, reconnecting with the landscape where her songwriting began. She spent time on the family farm with her father until his passing in 2021. Her song “The Coldest Day of the Year” honors his life as a farmer and veteran, bringing her story full circle.
My son Sam with the old Harmony, serenading Annabelle.