Pamela Ruby Russell

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

SoloAmericanaSinger/Songwriter

Making art that uplifts is what I strive for. Life’s short and deals tough hands. Playing those cards wisely and with courage, helps us move through our time together on this planet in profound ways. It’s about joy! From all I’ve seen in my life, what I’ve learned is worth sharing! That’s why I sing!

Biography

PAMELA RUBY RUSSELL & THE HIGHWAY OF DREAMS BAND
Her Songs and Photographs Along The Way

EMAIL: Highwayofdreams@gmail.com
CD WEBSITE: www.cdbaby.com/rubytunes

Lifes an adventure that goes by fast.
Life's very short but your dreams will last...
How well fly!

This wild woman artist generously shares her stories, photography and her Americana Pop songs with you!

BOSTON, MA Mark Baxter, vocal coach to Aerosmiths Steven Tyler, Goo Goo Dolls John Rzeznik, Amiee Mann, plus many other respected contemporary artists, says, HIGHWAY OF DREAMS is a journey into Pamela Ruby Russell's technicolor dreams. Exotic, lush, intimate, passionate & fun! A joy to listen to from beginning to end."

Mark echoes feelings voiced by her appreciative audiences. An Indie songwriter-recording artist born in New York City, Pamela settled in Boston, studied music with Dante Pavone, Mark Baxter, pianist Mike Dooner and participated in master classes including the amazing On Spontaneity seminar by famed pianist, Keith Jarrett. Performance venues include: NYC's revered LaMama Galleria; Bostons infamous Rat; Kendall Cafe, Borders Downtown Books & Music Store, the Milky Way, Boston City Halls Plaza Performing Artist Series and Plantings In the Parks; Newburyports Yankee Homecoming Festival; Marthas Vineyards Wintertide Cafe; Passim's, the Middle East, Jack's and Ryle's in Cambridge, MA; Trenton NJs Avant Garde Festival; Rob Roys in LA, CA; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Martinique, FWI, and France. WCVB-5 TV's Peter Mehegan interviewed Ms. Ruby on the popular newszine, Chronicle. A community and political activist for most of her adult life, Pamela has performed at MoveOn.orgs Boston concert and the 2004 Peoples Party during the National Democratic Convention. She has also served as an elected Neighborhood Council member in Boston, and a delegate to several state Democratic conventions. Besides marketing and performing her songs, Pamela is delving into the mediums of photography and film-making as there are a few other wild women in her family whose stories need telling.

Complementing her many achievements, including two time Billboard Song Contest award winner and Featured Local Artist on Bostons WBCN, Ms. Ruby can also be seen on the weekly New England Cable TV program, About The Arts. Created to provide visibility of New England artists, About The Arts goes behind the scenes with this engaging and passionate woman, from a rehearsal with her HIGHWAY OF DREAMS band, a session with her long time vocal coach, Mark Baxter, to an interview in which she shares poignant personal memories and performs solo on her hundred and twenty year old piano.

Her CD, HIGHWAY OF DREAMS, self-produced, along with guitarist Peter Calo (records/performs with Carly Simon, Linda Eder & Broadways Hairspray) with backing vocals by Robert Holmes (guitarist/writer/vocalist - Ultra Blue & Aimee Manns 'til Tuesday), includes musicians from nine different countries. Pamelas lyrics and melodies are a welcome gift, flowing from her many incarnations as: performer/producer/band manager, vocal coach; political/community activist; writer, photographer and budding film maker; Mexican circus elephant rider; cantina Tarot card reader; jewelry designer and poet in the French West Indies; Cape Cod restaurateur; and, last but not least, singing alone at midnight atop a sacred Mexican temple on Aug. 15, 1987, eve of the Harmonic Convergence! Her song, Avenue of Tears is about that amazingly magical night. Ask her about it sometime!

"There are common truths. You and I are not strangers. It is through the creation, teaching and sharing of honest thoughts and art that long lasting, meaningful connections are made and communication between people is possible. Making music and photographs that uplift, empassion and heal is what I strive for. Life is short and sometimes deals us not so easy cards. It is the playing of those challenging hands, wisely and with kindness, that helps us overcome and move through our time on this planet with grace, in a more profound and useful way. It is about joy! With all Ive seen in this bizarre, wonderful life, what Ive learned must be worth sharing! Thats why I sing, why I live!" she adds. Pamela has dedicated her life, time and energy to these principles.

NOTE: Radio testing research of the Highway of Dreams CD was done within Commercial Mainstream and Modern Radio markets by Loggins Public Relations, Inc., LA, CA. Participating stations: NMW, Billboard, FM Quarterback, R & R and Gavin commercially reporting stations. Five songs on the CD have received very strong recommendations as potential standards for target audiences.

Lyrics

Boxcar

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

BOXCAR

Nothing for nothing

That's the way of the road

Give it all you've got

Such a heavy load

Boxcar to boxcar

It's the whiskey that wins

Dreams that fade away

Just how bad were your sins?

Sisters of mercy

We've got soldiers in the rain

They've got choices to make

While tears fall from pain (2x's)

(SOLO)

Soldiers have mercy

Your sisters are in the rain

You've got choices to make

While our tears fall from pain

Soldiers have mercy

You've got sisters in the rain

You've got choices to make

While your tears fall from pain

Nothing for nothing

That's the way we were told

Live Baby (Let's Live)

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

LIVE BABY (Let's Live!)

Don't ever ask where the time has gone
Years pass on by
Can't hold on to the ones you've lost
Just live baby
Let's live baby
Live baby for today

Late at night when the moon is full
Tears how we cry
Life's very short but your dreams will last
Years how we'll fly

Live baby
Let's live baby
Live baby for today

(Repeat Chorus)

There's an angel in your heart
She's dressed in red and she's smiling She gives the gift of life and love
She guards you tenderly from above

(Solo)

Now I can finally let you go
Years passed on by
Deep in my heart you will never die
And I will live baby for today
Live baby
Let's live baby
Live baby for today Live baby Let's live baby Live baby for today

(Repeat Chorus)

Make You Cry

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

MAKE YOU CRY

I don't want to make you cry
I don't want to say good bye
I don't want to have to lie to you (2x's)

What are you thinking of
Saying I didn't give enough
You had my heart, I gave you love

I don't want to make you cry
I don't want to say good bye
I don't want to have to lie to you

What are you afraid of
Lying here beside me You want my love, I need your fire

Why do you always have to be so right?
What really matters in the deepest of nights?

I don't want to make you cry
I don't want to say good bye
I don't want to have to lie to you

(Solo)

Why do you always have to be so right?
What really matters in the deepest of nights?

I don't want to make you cry
I don't want to say good bye
I don't want to have to lie to you
I don't want to make you cry...

Avenue of Tears

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

AVENUE OF TEARS
(Written on top of a temple in Mexico at 12:00 AM on 8/16/87)

Only knew you for one life time
Some dreams never die
The Ancient mystery you showed me
We walked down the Avenue of Tears

All those years
With so many fears
All those years
We walked down the Avenue of Tears

Beating drum in the morning light
Don't ever look back
As hot as your touch oh the sun burns
We reach across two thousand years

Faces turning to the love star
Cold wind over my soul
Lonely spirits in the night cry
Free them a new day nears

All those years
With so many fears
All those years
We walked down the Avenue of Tears (2x's)

There was passion in our embrace
And now you are nowhere to be found
I close my eyes I see your face
Flying high my feet are solid on the ground
(Solo)
All those years
With so many fears
All those years
We walked down the Avenue of Tears

All those years Across the mountains to the valley
All those years From the river to the sea
All those years Smile, no more tears
All those years Don't be afraid child No more fears

We walked down the Avenue of Tears
We walked down the Avenue of Tears
We walked down the Avenue of Tears
Don't be afraid child No more fears No more tears

Almost Gave My Heart Away

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

The light was bright in the morning
and some kind of feeling grabbed hold
Dreaming's not the best move now babe
Clouds the vision leaves you cold

A river can't take away this thirst
A longing for a lasting love
It didn't take much to figure out
There's a whole lot more than the stars above

Oh this feeling
Can't you see
Almost gave my heart away
Without a thought
Almost gave my heart
Almost gave my heart away

Those deep dark eyes that hypnotize
I was lost in a whirlwind gaze
The street lamp cast a special glow
In my heart this memory stays

So I'll just keep on dreaming
Sometimes even dreams come true
It's the loving that keeps us alive
That's why I'm giving this song to you

Oh this feeling
Can't you see
Almost gave my heart away
No trace of fear
Almost gave my heart
Almost gave my heart away
(SOLO)
Oh this feeling
Can't you see
Almost gave my heart away
Oh this feeling Can't you hear
Almost gave my heart away Oh I'm reeling Do you care Almost gave my heart Almost gave my heart Almost gave my heart away

Tengo Razon

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

TENGO RAZON
[Written in Mexico while traveling around with street musicians.]

No puedo vivir esta vida sin amor
Cuando cada brisa susurra su nombre hey hey
Y mi ventana no me esconde
del sol
Que da lustre y pasión a ese hombre

Escuchabas las palabras que yo cante', mi amante'?
Tengo razon
Tengo razon
Tengo razon para vivir!

I can't live this life without love
When every breeze whispers his name
And my window cannot hide me from the sun
That gives such brilliance and passion to that man!

Were you listening to the words that I was singing to you, my love?
I've got reasons
I've got so many many reasons
I've got reasons to live

(Solo)

No puedo vivir esta vida sin amor
Cuando cada brisa susurra su nombre hey hey
Y mi ventana no me esconde
del sol
Que da lustre y pasión a ese hombre

Escuchabas las palabras que yo cante', mi amante'?
Tengo razon
Tengo razon
Tengo razon para vivir!

Sounds of The Sea

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

SOUNDS OF THE SEA
(Written in Mexico before sunrise, while perched upon a rock with the sea all around me. I will always remember you.)

Walk from the mountains
Down to the sea
The river carries secrets
She keeps them from me

Dark senorita
Softly she prays
She dreams of plenty
By the river she stays

It's the magic of the moment
The magic of the sea
Calls you home
Home again to me

No need for words
They'll only confuse
The moon speaks much better
With the brush of his lips on your cheek

Bells ring at dawn
The birds they are singing
It's the sounds of the city
You will remember
The sounds of the sea

(SOLO)

It's the magic of the moment
The magic of the sea
Calls you home
Home again to me
It's the magic of the moment
The magic of the sea
Calls you home
Home again to me

The birds they are singing
It's the sounds of the city
You will remember
You will remember
Remember
The sounds of the sea

Highway Of Dreams

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

Every evening when the sun goes down
I close my eyes and I smile
I take myself for a little ride
Down the Highway of Dreams

Time and time I just sit and wait
and watch the night turn to day
Seems too many many many tears I've cried
This time I'm dancing down the
Highway of Dreams

Highway of Dreams
Please take me home
Highway of Dreams
Find me a place
Where I belong

Peace of mind is all I really need
A little moonlight'll do
Shooting stars across the sky so wide
See 'em shining on my
Highway of Dreams

(SOLO)

Highway of Dreams
Please take me home
Highway of Dreams
Find me a place
Where I belong... (2x's-Repeat Chorus)

Every evening when the sun goes down
I close my eyes and I smile!

Think About It

Written By: Pamela Ruby Russell

There's a man who wants to spend your time
Think about it baby - open your eyes
Listen real good then make up your mind
Can't always see him for what he's saying

While you wait, you wish, you hope for more
Think about it baby - open your eyes
As you watch the sands in the hour glass
It's your life, don't let it slip away

Think about it baby
Think about it
Who really cares for sure
Think about it baby
Think about it
Find a love that's pure

If by chance she passed you by
Think about it baby - open your eyes
Her love was real, now don't you cry
She's the kind of girl, she'll leave you wondering why

Think about it baby
Think about it
She really cared for sure
Think about it baby
Think about it
I know her love was pure

(SOLO)

Time to hold your head up high
Think about it baby - open your eyes
Leave the darkness far behind
Into the light, you'll come out singing

Think about it baby
Think about it
Find a love that's pure
Think about it baby
Think about it
One who cares for sure

Discography

"LIVE BABY" - Goddess Within (Artists For Change Compilation) (Single) 2004
"BOXCAR" - MoveOn.org Benefit Concert Compilation at the Milky Way - Boston MA (Single) 2004
"HIGHWAY OF DREAMS" - 10 Song Indie Release. Co-produced with Peter Calo (LP) 2001
"MOONLIGHT LOVERS" - (Pamela's Touch Memory Band) Co-written & Co-produced with Richard Viard (LP) 1995
(Single)

Set List

* SET 1 *
BOXCAR
LIVE BABY
MAKE YOU CRY
TENGO RAZON
LOVELY LISA
THINK ABOUT IT
ALMOST GAVE MY HEART AWAY

* SET 2 *
AVENUE OF TEARS
SOUNDS OF THE SEA
IS THERE ANY LOVE?
NO PLACE UNDER THE SUN
WALK THRU FIRE
HIGHWAY OF DREAMS

As far as covers:
LA VIE EN ROSE [What else?]