Ruth Underwood, born as Ruth Komanoff on May 23, 1946, is an American musician who is best known for playing the xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, and more [1][2][4][5]. Her remarkable musical journey primarily revolves around her collaboration with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, spanning from 1968 to 1977 [1][5].

Underwood's musical foundation was firmly rooted in the classical tradition. She embarked on her musical education at Ithaca College, where she studied under the guidance of Warren Benson [1][3][5]. Later, she continued her training at Juilliard, honing her skills with mentors like Saul Goodman (timpani) and Morris Goldenberg (percussion) [1][5].

In 1967, her regular attendance at the Garrick Theater in New York City, where Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention performed as the resident band, led to her association with Zappa, marking the beginning of their collaboration in December 1967 [1][5]. In May 1969, she married Ian Underwood, a fellow Zappa musician proficient in keyboards and saxophone, although their marriage ended in divorce in 1986 [1][2][4][5]. Professionally, she operated under both her birth name, Ruth Komanoff, and her married name [1][5].

By 1982, Ruth Underwood had transitioned away from performing, opting instead to focus on her family [1][5]. As a classically trained percussionist, her versatility extended to a wide array of instruments throughout her illustrious career, including marimba, synthesizer, vibraphone, and drums [1][5]. Underwood's legacy is that of an iconic figure, held in the same regard among contemporary percussionists as Jimi Hendrix or Poison Ivy Rorschach are among guitarists [1][5].