Eddie Russ Bio
Eddie Russ was an impressive jazz keyboardist-compose… Read Full Bio ↴Eddie Russ Bio
Eddie Russ was an impressive jazz keyboardist-composer-arranger who worked with numerous legends through several decades, including Sonny Stitt, Sarah Vaughn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Roland Kirk, Hank Mobley, Cal Tjader, and Clark Terry, among many others. Russ came into his own in the 1970s with trend-setting excursions into jazz-funk that mirrored James Brown’s forays into hip-hop and dance.
Since the 70s his commercial fame in England eclipsed that earned in the U.S., but his dedication and contribution to jazz in Michigan is a career highlight he cherished the most. Russ earned awards from the Michigan Council for Arts (1986), “Best Keyboardist” by Arts Midwest (1986), and his trio made a cameo appearance in the motion picture “American Beauty, Ltd.”, winner of the 1990 Berlin Film Festival.
Russ, born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, started piano lessons at age 11 and made his performing debut at 14. His teenage music activities included sitting in at all the jazz clubs with almost any artist who came through town. A popular hangout came to be the Musicians Club, where he credited learning jazz from major name figures.
After graduating from Penn High School in 1952, Russ attended Pittsburgh Musical Institute and spent eight years studying music. At 21, Russ formed his first band J-Nut, featuring Russ’s piano alongside bassist Bobby Boswell and drummer Chuck Spadafore. In 1960 he moved to New York and spent five years recording many sessions with various artists. During this time he also taught at Oscar Peterson’s Advanced School for Contemporary Music in Toronto. His next move to Albion, Michigan, soon found him mingling with Ann Arbor and Detroit musicians and establishing other musical associations throughout Michigan.
His career took a major turn for three years in Traverse City at the Park Place Hotel, playing with bassist Mike Grace and drummer David Koether. There, Russ honed his creative hand and developed a bankable collection of original compositions. After the Park Place gig ended, Russ journeyed back to Albion to form the group Mixed Bag, with Koether, bassist Ron Brooks, saxophonist Larry Nozero, guitarist Jerry Glassell, and drummer Danny Spencer.
Russ’s Mixed Bag playtime fortuitously created opportunities to record five albums with legendary alto saxman Sonny Stitt (then, a Saginaw transplant from Boston), including “Portrait of a Legend” (Jazz Masters), and three solo albums for the Monument label (“Take A Look At Yourself,” “See The Light”). His seminal 1974 album, “Fresh Out” (Soul Jazz Records) with the hit single, “The Lope Song,” took Europe by storm.
In 1974, Russ began a 10-year residency at the Michigan Technological University Summer Youth Program for 2-weeks each summer. MTU Director of Jazz Studies, Don Keranen had heard about Eddie through contact with Mike Grace and hired the Eddie Russ Trio (Russ, Grace, and drummer Danny Spencer) as the foundation of the teaching staff. Also, on staff there was guitarist Mike Irish (current Director of Jazz Studies at MTU), and reknowned Twin Cities trumpeter Bob Kase. Beginning in 1978, Milwaukee drum-legend Steve Zenz, and Pearl Django bassist Rick Leppanen replaced Grace and Spencer on the faculty. Russ, then formed the band Eddie Russ and Friends featuring Kase (trumpet), Keranen (saxes), Russ (keyboards), Irish (guitar), Leppanen (bass), and Zenz (drums).
In 1977 while playing a Grand Rapids club, Russ hooked up with European promoter Martin Bialias, which spawned assorted bookings abroad. That year Russ spent five weeks in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Netting rave reviews helped pave the way for return visits in 1979-80. Starting in 1980, he made three annual trips to Jamaica with Eddie Russ & Friends, serving as professorial mentor and bandleader. By then Russ’s material was acquiring West Coast momentum with regular airplay on Los Angeles area radio stations.
In the mid-80s Russ spent considerable time jamming in Michigan clubs when not teaching at Aquinas College, where he met a prized pupil and bassist named Paul Keller. This fueled a move to Ann Arbor, placing him closer to his many musical jazz comrades. That same year, 1986, also found Russ part of the birth of the now famous Bird of Paradise jazz club. During this period, he became a regular guest artist at Midwest colleges and universities, especially touring with the award-winning University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mike Irish. Washtenaw Community College music professor Morris Lawrence was yet another jazz educator eager to recruit his expertise.
In 1992 Russ went back to Europe for a tour of Holland and England, again sponsored by Soul Jazz Records. In fact since the early 80s Russ garnered unmatched notoriety abroad compared to less glowing stateside press clippings. Thanks to the British dance-jazz scene, groove-laden recordings like “Fresh Out” and the No. 1 LP “See The Light” (1981) firmly catapulted Russ to international stardom.
In his last four years Russ joined young saxophonist sensation Shawn ‘Thunder’ Wallace for three CD recordings, including “A Whole Lotta Thunder” (MIJAWA Records). He also appeared on “BET Jazz Central” cable specials with Wallace and Detroit jazz singer Naima Shambourguer. Russ’s last solo recordings were live dates at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Academy, “Live at Blue Lake, Vol. 1” and “Live at Blue lake, Vol. 2.”
And in March 1995 Russ joined forces with Keller and the 16-piece Bird of Paradise Orchestra at Washtenaw Community College for a special one-time tribute concert to Eddie Russ, featuring Russ’s revered songbook. Eddie’s last appearance with a university jazz ensemble as a guest artist was at Michigan Tech in November of 1995 for “An Evening With Eddie Russ”.
Eddie Russ died at age 62 in November 1996 after an extended bout with chronic kidney failure. Eddie’s passing left a void on the international and national jazz scenes - and he is sorely missed, as well, in Flint where he was a frequent performer in area venues and at the Flint Jazz Festival. Russ’s last appearance at the Flint festival was in 1995. That this year’s Flint Jazz Festival is dedicated to the memory of Eddie Russ is a tribute to his contributions to the Flint jazz scene and an indication of the high regard he enjoyed in Flint as a performer and a person.
Eddie Russ was an impressive jazz keyboardist-compose… Read Full Bio ↴Eddie Russ Bio
Eddie Russ was an impressive jazz keyboardist-composer-arranger who worked with numerous legends through several decades, including Sonny Stitt, Sarah Vaughn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Roland Kirk, Hank Mobley, Cal Tjader, and Clark Terry, among many others. Russ came into his own in the 1970s with trend-setting excursions into jazz-funk that mirrored James Brown’s forays into hip-hop and dance.
Since the 70s his commercial fame in England eclipsed that earned in the U.S., but his dedication and contribution to jazz in Michigan is a career highlight he cherished the most. Russ earned awards from the Michigan Council for Arts (1986), “Best Keyboardist” by Arts Midwest (1986), and his trio made a cameo appearance in the motion picture “American Beauty, Ltd.”, winner of the 1990 Berlin Film Festival.
Russ, born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, started piano lessons at age 11 and made his performing debut at 14. His teenage music activities included sitting in at all the jazz clubs with almost any artist who came through town. A popular hangout came to be the Musicians Club, where he credited learning jazz from major name figures.
After graduating from Penn High School in 1952, Russ attended Pittsburgh Musical Institute and spent eight years studying music. At 21, Russ formed his first band J-Nut, featuring Russ’s piano alongside bassist Bobby Boswell and drummer Chuck Spadafore. In 1960 he moved to New York and spent five years recording many sessions with various artists. During this time he also taught at Oscar Peterson’s Advanced School for Contemporary Music in Toronto. His next move to Albion, Michigan, soon found him mingling with Ann Arbor and Detroit musicians and establishing other musical associations throughout Michigan.
His career took a major turn for three years in Traverse City at the Park Place Hotel, playing with bassist Mike Grace and drummer David Koether. There, Russ honed his creative hand and developed a bankable collection of original compositions. After the Park Place gig ended, Russ journeyed back to Albion to form the group Mixed Bag, with Koether, bassist Ron Brooks, saxophonist Larry Nozero, guitarist Jerry Glassell, and drummer Danny Spencer.
Russ’s Mixed Bag playtime fortuitously created opportunities to record five albums with legendary alto saxman Sonny Stitt (then, a Saginaw transplant from Boston), including “Portrait of a Legend” (Jazz Masters), and three solo albums for the Monument label (“Take A Look At Yourself,” “See The Light”). His seminal 1974 album, “Fresh Out” (Soul Jazz Records) with the hit single, “The Lope Song,” took Europe by storm.
In 1974, Russ began a 10-year residency at the Michigan Technological University Summer Youth Program for 2-weeks each summer. MTU Director of Jazz Studies, Don Keranen had heard about Eddie through contact with Mike Grace and hired the Eddie Russ Trio (Russ, Grace, and drummer Danny Spencer) as the foundation of the teaching staff. Also, on staff there was guitarist Mike Irish (current Director of Jazz Studies at MTU), and reknowned Twin Cities trumpeter Bob Kase. Beginning in 1978, Milwaukee drum-legend Steve Zenz, and Pearl Django bassist Rick Leppanen replaced Grace and Spencer on the faculty. Russ, then formed the band Eddie Russ and Friends featuring Kase (trumpet), Keranen (saxes), Russ (keyboards), Irish (guitar), Leppanen (bass), and Zenz (drums).
In 1977 while playing a Grand Rapids club, Russ hooked up with European promoter Martin Bialias, which spawned assorted bookings abroad. That year Russ spent five weeks in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Netting rave reviews helped pave the way for return visits in 1979-80. Starting in 1980, he made three annual trips to Jamaica with Eddie Russ & Friends, serving as professorial mentor and bandleader. By then Russ’s material was acquiring West Coast momentum with regular airplay on Los Angeles area radio stations.
In the mid-80s Russ spent considerable time jamming in Michigan clubs when not teaching at Aquinas College, where he met a prized pupil and bassist named Paul Keller. This fueled a move to Ann Arbor, placing him closer to his many musical jazz comrades. That same year, 1986, also found Russ part of the birth of the now famous Bird of Paradise jazz club. During this period, he became a regular guest artist at Midwest colleges and universities, especially touring with the award-winning University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mike Irish. Washtenaw Community College music professor Morris Lawrence was yet another jazz educator eager to recruit his expertise.
In 1992 Russ went back to Europe for a tour of Holland and England, again sponsored by Soul Jazz Records. In fact since the early 80s Russ garnered unmatched notoriety abroad compared to less glowing stateside press clippings. Thanks to the British dance-jazz scene, groove-laden recordings like “Fresh Out” and the No. 1 LP “See The Light” (1981) firmly catapulted Russ to international stardom.
In his last four years Russ joined young saxophonist sensation Shawn ‘Thunder’ Wallace for three CD recordings, including “A Whole Lotta Thunder” (MIJAWA Records). He also appeared on “BET Jazz Central” cable specials with Wallace and Detroit jazz singer Naima Shambourguer. Russ’s last solo recordings were live dates at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Academy, “Live at Blue Lake, Vol. 1” and “Live at Blue lake, Vol. 2.”
And in March 1995 Russ joined forces with Keller and the 16-piece Bird of Paradise Orchestra at Washtenaw Community College for a special one-time tribute concert to Eddie Russ, featuring Russ’s revered songbook. Eddie’s last appearance with a university jazz ensemble as a guest artist was at Michigan Tech in November of 1995 for “An Evening With Eddie Russ”.
Eddie Russ died at age 62 in November 1996 after an extended bout with chronic kidney failure. Eddie’s passing left a void on the international and national jazz scenes - and he is sorely missed, as well, in Flint where he was a frequent performer in area venues and at the Flint Jazz Festival. Russ’s last appearance at the Flint festival was in 1995. That this year’s Flint Jazz Festival is dedicated to the memory of Eddie Russ is a tribute to his contributions to the Flint jazz scene and an indication of the high regard he enjoyed in Flint as a performer and a person.
See The Light
Eddie Russ Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'See The Light' by these artists:
A.D.O.R. Early morning I'm so alone In the darkness a place called…
A.P.G. Crew Don't you ever think I'm calling in the middle of…
Aldo Nova You took to the light And they call you a fool You…
Alex De Guirior Marsal Ventura & Submission Deejay [feat. Dee Dee] I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Amos Lee Even when I lose, I win Even when I fail to…
Asaka Tu-tu-turu-ruru Tu-tu-turu-ruru Tu-tu-turu-ruru 待ち遠しいの分だけ コ…
Beams Oh baby, why don’t you sleep? The blanket of the night…
Bo Bice There's a meeting across the river Just past the smokescree…
Boy in the Shadows I fell into the water I stumbled through the storm I crawled…
Carla Olson & Mick Taylor Yeah, I got broken hands, God Feel so loose and I…
COCINA - Ghost Many a sin I have witnessed And in many indeed…
Da Tweekaz & Code Black & Paradise I can see the light fading through you Is it something…
Da Tweekaz x Code Black x Paradise In your eyes I see your broken soul And there's nowhere…
Darren Styles Breeze & Hixxy in your eyes i see your broken soul and there's no…
Def Leppard Well I came down here from manhattan To see the…
DJ-Wolfus in your eyes i see your broken soul and there's no…
Dream Evil Just like a shadow in the street Under the moonlight, feeli…
DuMonde ok, I'm just strolling along, I'm sad, dissapointed, and no …
E.B.O What if I fall tonight Would you Pick me up my love What…
Earth Wind & Fire Lookin' through the clouds, what do you see? Sky of…
Earth, Wind & Fire Larry Dunn, Philip Bailey & Louise Hardy Lookin' t…
Empty Sentiment Wake up on the day I'm gonna suffocate Butterflies with butt…
Force 3 See the light it’s lowing overhead overhead See the path it…
Foreign Beggars & Bare Noize All those days watching from the windows All those years out…
Gao the Arsonist Wake up on the day I'm gonna suffocate Butterflies with butt…
Ghost Many a sin I have witnessed And in many indeed…
Go Go Berlin Try to explain how it all went down I…
GOT7 니가 너무 예뻐서 그래 니가 너무 예뻐서 그래 나는 너만 보면 원래 나는…
Green Day I crossed the river Fell into the sea Where the non-believer…
Hattori Katsuhisa / M.I.D Look at my eyes What are you looking for? See the light 내…
Healey Band Jeff Can you see the light, Can you see the light of…
Healey Jeff Can you see the light? Can you see the light of…
Healey Jeff Band Can you see the light, Can you see the light of…
Hillsong Worship Arise my soul Remember this He took my sin And He buried it …
Hixxy & Recon in your eyes i see your broken soul and there's no…
jacques le noir Convince yourself to see the light In the darkness so define…
Jamie Wong-Li 亲爱的我已经在回家的路上 日落的美 留不下我 你就在我们的老地方等着我 一起找这世界 See what light ca…
Jaques Le Noir Convince yourself to see the light In the darkness so define…
Jeff Healey Can you see the light? Can you see the light of…
Jefferson Starship I want to go to the stars I want to go…
Jericho Road It doesn't matter where you are Or what you're doing; You co…
Julien Elsie I would share with you my passion You donґt want to…
Kep1er Look at my eyes What are you looking for? See the light 내…
Kevin Levrone Out in the cold I walk alone This trail of tears…
L.A.B. Back in the woods I thought I knew most everything no…
Lana Wolf Mama thinks of what she never did with her life Papa…
Lenii Looking out to the night with me We live in a…
Locked Inside You saw the light And shut it out When you knew the…
Loki Rothman Forget your friends Forget your heroes And all the people th…
Los Lonely Boys all of the things we do sometimes they don't seem right but…
Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi All those days watching from the windows All those years out…
Marsal Ventura Alex De Guirior & Submission Deejay feat. Dee Dee I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Marsal Ventura Alex De Guirior & Submission Dj [feat. Dee Dee] I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Matrimony Used to be that I would wait alone Waiting for you…
Mick Taylor And Carla Olson Yeah, I got broken hands, God Feel so loose and I…
Mike Oldfield I been waiting at this frontier And it seems like a…
Minty Style Everything I know has gone now Everyday I go I blow…
Minty's Style Everything I know has gone now Everyday I go I blow…
N.U.M.B Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Call it a day The city's ablaze The …
No Distance Paradise See the light In the dark Little hope is always there Won't…
Noisecontrollers Bass Modulators You′re fighting the good fight Don't give up If you fall to…
Olivia Ambani I wish that I could make you see the light But…
Paradise I can see the light fading through you Is it something…
Paradise [KB Project Remix] In your eyes I see your broken soul And there's nowhere…
Paradise! In your eyes I see your broken soul And there's nowhere…
Penance All you feel is pain Huddled there in the dark Looking for…
Pulsedriver In your eyes I see your broken soul And there's nowhere…
ralo Blue hundreds on me, ooh Yeah, Fa, Goon! YSL and Famgoon, he…
Red Circuit A foreboding leads through mysterious fields And nobody kno…
Riddlin' Kids Never thought this time would come this time I can't…
Rolexz I see the light I see the light I see the light I…
Roman Müller Might not see the light Well I remember I was only 17 Steal…
S.P.U.L. Back in the woods I thought I knew most everything no…
S.P.Y When you see the light You could imagine Where you can go An…
Saidian A ray of light deep in the dark All the shadows…
Sami J. Laine I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Set Mo V1 At the front lines staring into fields of sorrow Got my…
She Hates Emotions I don't want to see the light I don't want to…
Simple Minds Summer's gone winter's in your eyes I can feel the thunder…
Smif N Wessun Love is pain My momma showed me the way The day she…
Smif-n-Wessun Love is pain My momma showed me the way The day she…
Snap! Do you, do you, do you, do you see the…
Sparklehorse Away with golden crows I know their souls are old The wave…
Starpoint Oh Oh, Oh Oh I let myself go Oh Oh, Oh Oh I…
Stephen Sanchez She was gone before the morning came Down the fire escape Sh…
Swedish House Mafia But I know One day, I'll see the light But I know One…
T-Spoon Shamrock: Joy... Life... Pain... Red... Green... Blue... …
The Como Brothers Struggling to make a dent Nothing left to circumvent the tr…
The Dream You're hurting Drops dripping Death is waving "hi" Not knowi…
The Elected You work too hard You blew out your heart And in the…
The Flame See the light See the light See the light of my life Light…
The Jeff Healey Band Can you see the light, Can you see the light of…
The S.O.N. Brothers Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Call it a day The city's ablaze The …
Thomahawk You thought you would see the light Hoping to escape somehow…
TobyMac I know this road is gettin' hard I heard you say…
Travis Greene I see the light coming No matter what it is Then I'll…
True Vibe It doesn't matter where you are Or what you're doing You cou…
T‐SPOON Shamrock: Joy... Life... Pain... Red... Green... Blue... I'l…
Venus Dragon Ah ah ah ah, Ah ah ah ah ah Ah ah…
Vosai I wanna see the light I wanna see the light I wanna…
Ya-Ya (Woah, woah, woah, woah) (Let's go) Shit Aye Woods light tha…
Young Mazi & Young Thug Blue hundreds on me, ooh Yeah, Fa, Goon! YSL and Famgoon, he…
亜咲花 Tu-tu-turu-ruru Tu-tu-turu-ruru Tu-tu-turu-ruru 待ち遠しいの分だけ コ…
Green Day I crossed the river Fell into the sea Where the non-believer…
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S B
This one never fails to blow my knackers off!!!
James Shopshire Jr
Never heard this cover before. Excellent work. Just bought it on Amazon!
Dennis Jean-charles
This must be one of the best,if not the best jazz funk record,of all times,brilliant!!!!!.
Soulsa Productions
I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you but that's an awfully bold statement to make. There are just so many amazing jazz funk albums that came out in the 70s and the early 80s. I have a large record collection and I'm discovering gems from that era all the time! :)
neil mac
certainly on a par with Zaius
Billy lowers
Yes yes yes
D Munz
Nice how he stayed with the structure of the orignal arrangement and simply expanded from there.
Yuri Flaherty
Such a beautiful timeless piece of music. I love it.
Dazzer1234567
This track is just crazy, reminds me of some Johnny Hammond vibes..............try it with a glass of Stellenbosch Bushoine Pinotage 2019!
happydays sunny
Canvey island blues &soul 👍😎⭐ classic 😎 GOLD MINE 🇬🇧