Country outfit Ruthie & the Wranglers first made its mark in a big way on the band's home turf in the Maryland and Washington, D.C., region before venturing out to win fans in a wider arena via recordings, beginning with the band's 1997 debut, Wrangler City. Life's Savings followed a year later, and Live at Chick Hall's Surf Club appeared on music-store shelves in 2000. The band earned no less than a solid dozen awards from WAMA, the Washington Area Music Association. The association dubbed the band Best Country Group, an honor that was conferred for four consecutive years beginning in 1997. Wrangler City walked off with awards for both Best Country Album and Best Debut Recording in 1997. Two years later, the band's Life's Savings album snagged awards for Album of the Year and Best Country Album, while "What Mama Don't Know" took home Song of the Year, and the band walked off with the award for Artist of the Year. In 2000, the band's third album, Live at Chick Hall's Surf Club, won in the category of Best Country-Roots/Rock Recording. Over the years, leader Ruthie Logsdon also picked up half a dozen awards from WAMA. The association named her Best Female Country Vocalist in 1998, an honor she earned again in 2000 and 2001. Also in 2000 and 2001, Logsdon took home honors in the category of Best Female Roots/Rock Vocalist. WAMA also dubbed Logsdon Songwriter of the Year in 2000. Logsdon started out in the D.C. area in the all-female band Plum Crazy during the late '80s. Rounding out the Wranglers are Joel App on drums, Phil Mathieu on guitar, and Greg Hardin on bass. In addition to his duties on bass, Hardin also writes songs and sings. He performed previously with another Washington-based band, Junior Cline & the Recliners. Before Hardin came aboard, Mark Noone covered the bass for the Wranglers. He took home awards from WAMA in 1997 and 1998 in the category of Best Male Country Vocalist, and sang lead for such bands as the Wanktones and the Slickee Boys. Mathieu, who joined the Wranglers in 1997, also belongs to the Washington Guitar Quintet. His background includes a stint of touring with Charlie Byrd. App joined the group in 1998. His background includes performing with the Rhythm Masters on tour. The group has appeared on numerous radio programs and television shows, among them Crook & Chase, This Week in Country Music, and Prime Time Country. Festival performances include Washington's American Music Festival, Florida's Crystal River Jam, Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Arts Festival, and Jam on the River in Philadelphia, among others. ~ Linda Seida, All Music Guide