The American worldbeat rock band Rusted Root was formed in 1990 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, establishing a distinct musical identity through a rich fusion of acoustic, rock, and global music traditions. The group was originally founded by Michael Glabicki on lead vocals and guitar, Patrick Norman on bass, Liz Berlin on percussion and vocals, Jim Donovan on drums, Jenn Wertz on vocals and percussion, John Buynak on guitar, mandolin, and pennywhistle, and Jim DiSpirito on percussion. Their signature sound relies heavily on a robust, multi-layered percussion section that draws deeply from African, Latin American, Indian, and Native American musical influences. Michael Glabicki has openly credited the popular success of Peter Gabriel's landmark 1986 album So as a primary inspiration for incorporating worldbeat elements into his own songwriting. Lyrically, the band explores diverse themes, frequently incorporating references to Christianity and Judaism. Over the course of their career, Rusted Root has achieved substantial commercial success, selling more than three million albums worldwide.
The group attained widespread mainstream prominence in 1994 with the release of their platinum-selling studio album When I Woke. This breakthrough project eventually carried over to the Billboard 200 album chart, where it secured a peak position at number 51 on October 7, 1995. The album was propelled by the enduring popularity of its major hit single, Send Me On My Way, which made a notable impact by peaking at number 72 on the Hot 100 chart on September 23, 1995. The single demonstrated exceptional cultural longevity, finding a permanent place in the public consciousness through prominent placements in numerous feature films and television commercials.
Rusted Root sustained their chart presence with subsequent studio projects over the next several years. Following their breakout success, the band returned to the Billboard 200 with the release of Remember, which climbed to a peak position of number 38 on November 9, 1996. Two years later, the group issued a self-titled studio release, simply called Rusted Root, which entered the Billboard 200 chart at a peak rank of number 165 on November 21, 1998. Into the new decade, the band continued recording and touring, releasing the album Welcome To My Party, which earned a Billboard 200 peak position of number 129 on April 27, 2002. Beyond their core studio releases, the group's recorded output expanded across multiple formats through the years, including the 2004 release of Rusted Root Live and the 2005 compilation album The Best of Rusted Root: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection. Their early and developmental years were also documented through various extended plays issued throughout the 1990s, including early self-titled work, Christ Monkey, Live, Evil Ways, and Airplane.
As the band progressed through the decades, their recording and touring footprint was accompanied by several personnel shifts. Early members Jim Donovan and Jenn Wertz departed in 2005 and 2008, respectively. The group continued forward, issuing a fan-funded studio album titled The Movement in 2012. Following extensive touring that extended through 2015, Rusted Root entered an indefinite hiatus. During this period, principal songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Michael Glabicki formed a new musical ensemble named Uprooted, collaborating with former members of Rusted Root and continuing to perform and tour actively into the early 2020s. Meanwhile, the stable core of the original group maintained its legacy through enduring catalogue sales and continued cultural resonance, anchored by the foundational percussion-driven style that defined their rise in the 1990s.
Last Updated: 2026-08-21
