Born Pittsburgh, PA (February 5, 1923), Wyatt Robert "Bull" Ruther was an prominent jazz bassist who started playing trombone in high school before picking up the double-bass. He studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Pittsburgh Musical Institute, then played in New York City as part of the early Dave Brubeck Quartet featuring Paul Desmond (1951–1952). Meanwhile he joined the Erroll Garner trio (1951-1955). He toured with Lena Horne in 1953 and recorded an album in 1955 for RCA Records under his own name alongside Milt Hinton and Wendell Marshall entitled "Basses Loaded."

Following this he played with Toshiko Akiyoshi in 1956, then studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. While in Canada he played with the Canadian Jazz Quartet (1956–1957) and Peter Appleyard (1957). He played in the U.S. during the same period with Ray Bryant, Zoot Sims, Bob Brookmeyer, and Chico Hamilton. He toured with George Shearing in 1959 and then played on a world tour with Buddy Rich in 1960-1961. In 1962-1963 he played in Gerry Mulligan's quartet, then joined Count Basie in 1964-1965.

Later in the 1960s, Ruther worked freelance in the San Francisco area, and played at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle from 1971 to 1973. He then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and played with Fraser MacPherson from 1975 to 1979. He played at the Ankor Hotel in Vancouver in the early 1980s, and while there worked with Sammy Price, Jay McShann, and Dorothy Donegan. In the late 1980s and early 1990s he played with Stan Getz, Lou Stein, John Handy, Benny Carter, and Jerome Richardson. Late in life he played regularly at the Bix Supper Club in San Francisco where he was present until his death.

Wyatt Ruther passed away at the age of 76 of a heart attack on October 31, 1999.

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