Russ Green

*"Russ Green is the new 'New Kid on the Block' " (Billy Branch)*

*Standout of the 2006 San Francisco Blues Festival*

Since returning to Chicago, Russ Green’s career in music has continued to grow. Not only has he been influenced by Sugar Blue, but also by legendary harmonica player Billy Branch. He has shared the stage with the likes of Buddy Guy, John Primer, Sammy Fender, Dave Myers, Johnny Mars and many others. He is also one of the harmonica players featured on a CD that has received rave reviews and has been played on radio stations around the world, the Chicago Blues Harmonica Project. This recording has been credited with proving that the harmonica is still alive and vibrant in Chicago. Russ has played in a number of Blues festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival, the Burnley Mechanics Blues festival in England, the Gloucester Blues Festival, and the San Francisco Blues Festival, where his was called the standout performance of the festival. Russ has also played across Europe. He has also been featured on the BBC on the Paul Jones Blues Hour.

Russ’ journey into music is different than those of most musicians. Russ was born in Chicago and grew up on the city’s west side. Although throughout his life he had listened to all types of music, his desire to play wasn’t realized until his adult years.

After being discharged from the Army, Russ attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he studied film. It was at this time that his desire to play music began to grow. Like lots of fans of Jimi Hendrix, Russ wanted to be able to re-create the sounds of the man whom he had admired for many years. But being a film student and having all of his money going to these films, he couldn’t afford to buy a guitar. Undaunted by this realization, Russ remembered the purchase of a harmonica from a west side shop a few years earlier. The ability to re-create the sounds of Hendrix was becoming realized, not with a guitar, but with a harmonica!

Russ moved to Seattle where every waking moment was spent concentrating on playing the harmonica. There was always a harmonica shoved in his mouth, whether he was sitting on his couch or walking down the street. He spent seven nights a week in Blues clubs jamming or sitting in. On a Christmas visit back home to Chicago, friends invited him to go to Rosa’s Blues Lounge where Sugar Blue was playing. This provided Russ the opportunity to meet the man whose music had captured his attention, the man who was already being called the “Jimi Hendrix of the harmonica”. After this meeting Russ began thinking about returning to Chicago to take advantage of this newly formed friendship. It took a year and half, but he returned to Chicago to continue his journey into the world of Blues. At this point the journey for Russ Green is rolling on!