Ruth was born inColumbia, Missouri. She has performed at venues in Missouri and nationally on tour. She ispaternally related to country music singerRoy Acuff.[1]
Ruth performs in the following bands as the lead singer and performer:[2]
Ruth Acuff: A self-named "indie-folk" group that includes her on harp and lead vocals, husband Jeff Mueller onupright bass, and sister Mary Leibovich on a single drum or doing vocals with a full drummer.
The Royal Furs: Apsychedelic rock band where Ruth is the lead singer and performs with a theremin. Other members include Noel Feldman on drums, Joshua Wright on bass guitar, and Mike Marshall on lead guitar.
In addition, she is a backup singer and guitarist on aMissouri-basedPink Floyd tribute band called Interstellar Overdrive, and tours and collaborates with pianist Merry Ellen Kirk.
Ruth began performing with a lever harp in 2010, going to a Lyon & Healey pedal harp in 2014. She has nicknamed the harp "Haru." She performs original work and does both acoustic and electric performances.
Acuff and Jeff Mueller at Cafe Berlin, Columbia, Missouri May 2018
Acuff, Jeff Mueller, and Mary Leibovich at Cafe Berlin, Columbia, Missouri, May 2018
The Royal Furs perform primarily original psychedelic rock music, as well as a fewcover versions of popular psychedelic 60's era songs. She sings and plays theremin for this band.
The Royal Furs current lineup
The Royal Furs at Rose Music Hall, Columbia Missouri, December 2018
Joshua Wright and Ruth Acuff, The Royal Furs at Rose Music Hall, Columbia, Missouri, April 2017
Her 2013 album,This is the Dream, performed as harpist, was classified as "Indie-folk" with "echoes ofAmericana...as well as traces of an earthier form ofchamber music."[3] The Royal Furs has been described as "...pure 1990s Alternative Nation."[4]
