Nate Ruess, full name Nathaniel Joseph Ruess, was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on February 26, 1982, to parents Larry Ruess and Bess Zinger. Elizabeth Ruess is his older sister’s name. He had pneumonia multiple times as a toddler, forcing his family to relocate to a farm near Glendale, Arizona in 1986.
He received his high school diploma from Deer Valley High School in 2000. Nate Ruess used to be a member of punk bands in high school and wanted to pursue a music career after graduation. He obtained a job in a legal firm to support his artistic goals.
