Russ Crossland

I grew up with music, guitars, and songwriting for the most part of my everyday life. You could say that I am a third generation musician I'd reckon. My father and grandfather were both guitar players and singer/songwriters. My grandfather was a professional musician who, in his later years performed for a living. My father grew up playing music with his father and played in several bluegrass and folk bands. Music in general is very important to me and, in the last 20 years or so, has been embedded deep in my soul. God Bless Music!!

My passion lies within the six strings of the Guitar. My grandfather taught me my first few chords some 20 years ago and the rest as they say is history. It’s always been something close to me.

I try to keep busy musically. My primary band is Jack Ten High with Jimmy Largent on Bass, Pat Dressen on Drums and mandolin, Bill Adams on steel and dobro, and Hap Purcell on Banjo. JTH fits into the rock/blues/altcountrygrass/jam categories. The Bands influences range from Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and the Grateful Dead and The Band to Drive by Truckers, Railroad Earth, Widespread Panic, and the Old 97's. The band is somewhat an eclectic hybrid. A typical performance would include a varity of tunes rotating from all acoustic to all out electric and occasionally, a little of both. It produces a very free, wide open musical environment.

I’ve played in a few bands here in Durango, CO. prior to JTH. I would say most notably was the Durango band BOXCAR (www.myspace.com/boxcardurango), that from time to time, can still be seen downtown every once in a while.

I also play and have played in a few bluegrass bands Durango.
Previous bluegrass bands that I was a part of include Smugglers Union, Outta Hand String Band (www.myspace.com/outtahandstringband), and Sourmash.

I also, from time to time, play with Durango singer/songwriter Tim Sullivan’s band, Narrow Gauge.

I have been busy for the latter part of 2009 and into 2010 on my solo debut Album "Small town lights", recorded, mixed and mastered by Scooter Smith here in Durango, and is due to be completed in late March. In my free time, I’m found pickin away with good friends, festival-ing with my family, travelling, driving Volkswagens, camping, skiing, hiking, playing Frisbee golf and hanging with my family.

My Mantra: "Pickers Unite!"

I am originally from a small town in North Georgia called, Canton. I moved out to Colorado in 1995 and for the last 14 years have made my home in the mountain town of Durango, Colorado. CHEERS!!