Simon Russell

The Bay Area is a place well known for its great soul music as well as being the home of countless musical legends. Through the years Simon has developed a musical style that embraces the soulful traditions of the Bay Area with his Jazz/Blues/Gospel/Funk inspired vocals and piano Style.

In 1983 Simon moved from the rural apple orchards of Sebastopol Ca. to the Bay area, where he learned the great art of performance and musicality from a number of local musicians who were gracious enough to bring him under thier wings. One of the most influencial musical figures in Simon's career was the multi-instrumentalist Rafael Grinage ( bass player for Earl Fatha Hines and Odetta). He taught Simon that "no note should be wasted"! Make every note count or be silent! Those words have stayed with Simon all of his career.

As a musician Simon has had the great honor of performing with The James Brown Band, Pete Escovedo, David Grissom, Zakiya Hooker, Curtis Lawson, Beverly Stoval and many that are truely remarkable musical phenoms yet to be discovered on a grand scale commercially.

I regard Simon Russell as a major force in today's music industry. If you are not familiar with him today,.. tomorrow you'll realize that his voice, melodic application and soulful delivery has always had a hauntingly familiar quality that places him right along side history's greatest musical legends. The first time I witnessed a live performance, I new this was inevitable. I have since had the pleasure to work with Simon both in the studio and on stage. Inevitable indeed, and after hearing only a small samlple of some of his new material I can confidently predict that the time is near.

-- Stephen Sea
Producer/Composer
Film / Television / Multimedia

Tamika: Thank you so much for the CD. I find your performance of "Stormy
Monday" to be deeply soulful and your juxtaposition of sin and salvation
quite profound. It really moves me. Who's Simon Russell? He's a sensitive
accompanist and a superb soloist. When will it be released commercially?
I look forward to writing about it. Please keep me posted. --Lee Hildebrand