Biography

Often compared to the Grateful Dead, this multi-instrumentalist US outfit appeared on the scene the same time as similarly-styled, acoustic-based jam bands such as the Dave Matthews Band and Sister Hazel. The band's origins lay in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the late 80s, when singer-songwriter and guitarist Mike Glabicki began writing songs with fellow vocalist and songwriter Liz Berlin. By the start of the 90s, local University of Pittsburgh students Jim Donovan (drums, percussion) and Patrick Norman (bass, percussion, vocals) had joined up with Glabicki and Berlin, and began playing under the name Rusted Root. Second guitarist John Buynak and vocalist Jenn Wertz completed the original line-up, as the band issued an independently produced debut, Cruel Sun. The album sold extremely well (eventually selling over 100,000 copies), and led to a deal with Mercury Records. The major label debut, When I Woke, which featured new member Jim DiSpirito (b. Daniel James DiSpirito; percussion), was a sizeable hit (eventually going platinum in the USA) and the band toured with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. Wertz left Rusted Root the following year, prior to the recording of Remember. This album and 1998's self-titled release were unable to sustain Rusted Root's initial chart success, and the members took an extended hiatus at the end of the decade. Wertz replaced DiSpirito on the band's comeback album Welcome To My Party.
DISCOGRAPHY: Cruel Sun (Ignition 1992)***, When I Woke (Mercury 1994)****, Remember (Mercury 1996)****, Rusted Root (Mercury 1998)***, Welcome To My Party (Island 2002)***.

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