John Kruth is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, author and music journalist. He plays mandolin, guitar, banjo, harmonica and various flutes. Early in his career was spent in Milwaukee, he now lives in New York City.

Kruth has performed at Carnegie Hall, with composer John Coriglian, with playwright Sam Shepard, poet Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, performance artist Laurie Anderson, producer Hal Willner, folksinger John Prine, The Violent Femmes, The Meat Puppets, King Missile, Peter Stampfel, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Jim Belushi, Steve Buscemi, Eric von Schmidt, Stan Ridgeway, Bob Neuwirth, poet Bob Holman, Die Kreuzen, Cyberchump and members of Camper Van Beethoven.

Kruth has written two biographies, Bright Moments – The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, published in the U.S. and England in 2000 by Welcome Rain Books and To Live’s To Fly - the Ballad of Townes Van Zandt, published by Da Capo Books in March 2007. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Progressive, Frets, and Signal to Noise, he is also a regular contributor to Rave (India), Sing Out!, Wax Poetics and Fretboard Journal.

Kruth is a Professor of Music at Manhattan College and the College of Mount St. Vincent.