Hank Ruff

Hank Ruff’s sound is a product of the music he grew up on, blending the fiddle-and-steel twang of 90’s country with a modern edge. Raised in Southern Indiana, Hank was surrounded by hardcore country music from an early age. By 11, he had picked up a mandolin and was playing at bluegrass jams, soon transitioning to guitar and diving into his favorite ’90s country hits from the likes of Clint Black, Wade Hayes, and John Anderson. In high school, Hank decided to learn some newer country songs to play at parties hoping to impress the girls. This fusion of his old-school roots and modern influences is at the heart of Ruff’s music today.

Ruff began writing songs during his senior year of high school, many of them with his dad, including the fan-favorite “If the Boot Fits.” A graduate of Indiana University, Hank writes music that stays true to his life experiences, navigating young romance, heartbreak, late-night partying, and friendships forged along the way. These stories are woven into his music, creating songs that resonate with a wide range of listeners.

Hank’s 2022 EP, Hellbender, soared to the #1 spot on the iTunes all-genre chart, solidifying his place as a force to be reckoned with in the country music world. He’s shared the stage with country chart-toppers like Jelly Roll, Hardy, Jordan Davis, Rodney Atkins, and Warren Zeiders. Known for his high-energy performances, Hank continues to captivate audiences across the country.

Hank was born and raised in Southern Indiana, and has been playing country music around the state since the age of 11. Named after Hank Williams Sr., Ruff began playing the mandolin and playing at bluegrass jams, and eventually picking up the guitar and learning classic country songs like "Hey Good Lookin" and "Mama Tried". Ruff started playing with his dad's band, "The Dew Daddies", and soon after that he began writing songs with his dad by the time he was in high school. Most of Ruff's catalogue is comprised of songs that the two wrote together, including "If the Boot Fits". Filled with steel guitar and fiddle, these songs embody what Ruff and his music is all about: combining elements of the traditional country sound with modern influences, and bringing a little more of the classic elements of the distinctive country sound back into mainstream country music.