David Russell is an acoustic music entertainer & songwriter in  Americana, Traditional, Bluegrass & string music genres. David is a  guitarist /multi-instrumentalist  who  plays finger, flatpicking & slide style and has a 4 octave vocal range.  A master performer, his originals and those of his songwriter friends, to timeless traditionals, classics and contemporary covers takes audiences on a musical Tour de Force.

 He has appeared or toured with: Doc & Merle Watson, Norman & Nancy Blake, Lester Flatt & the Nashville Grass (w/ Marty Stuart),  Earl Scruggs, Roger Sprung, Red & Murphy Henry, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John McEuen, John Hartford , Vassar Clements,Tut Taylor, Steve Martin, Gamble Rogers, Jimmy Buffett, Steve Goodman, John Hammond, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Dr. Hook, Tom Parks, Sally Fingerette, Stephen Wade, Mickey Clark, Charles Pettee (of the Shady Grove Band), Jack Williams, Will McLean (Poet Laureate of Florida) and a host of other great musical artists and entertainers.

David Russell Bio:

 Born and raised in the citrus ridge country of Florida, David's ancestors came from France and Britain  to Nova Scotia in the 1620’s, emigrating to the American Colonies in New England in the 1800's, through VA and eventually to Florida. As a child, he listened to his grandfather play stage tunes from the 1890’s and his father singing Acadian and Depression/Vaudeville era songs, and grew up a half mile from  the Seaboard Coast Line's Orange Blossom line in the last days of fruit shipping by Railway Express. He began formal musical training at age 8, with lessons from country/blues/jazz guitarist Roger Soule & classical guitar with a Segovia School Master, performing his first recital at 9, a Villa Lobos piece. David turned to steel string guitar after hearing Merle Travis on his Mom’s phonograph and thus began a lifelong love and study of traditional bluegrass, country blues & mountain string music.

Slipping underage into local venues, he played in pickup bands from country/folk to blues, jazz and rock, with a first paid gig at 13. His influences at that time were Florida banjoist Paul Champion, the  bluegrass fiddler Chubby Wise (who he heard play  Ervin Rouse's, "The Orange Blossom Special" note for note), and the legendary troubadour Gamble Rogers, who later became his mentor and friend.  In 1970 he trekked to Nashville & made a musical discovery which changed his life- he saw a small show of Norman Blake, Tut Taylor and John Hartford (the soon-to-be Dobrolic Plectral Society & future Aereoplain Band) at the Old Time Picking Parlor and GTR store. Later, he listened to Norman pick solo in a little bar for three nights in a row. David picked in two of the legendary “watering holes” in Nashville, trying his new hands at this great music, and chanced to meet Bill Monroe at an after hours set who encouraged him, as he had done for so many -" keep at it, son".  Learning every tune on Norman's first solo album, he performs those songs to this day, true to Norman’s style of playing. His shows include many different styles- flatpicking, fingerstyle, Travis picking, Celtic cross tunings and slide. He left school to take his music on the road in the late 70’s, and took several breaks along the way for commitments to his family.

David’s arrangement work includes the widely acknowledged, definitive version of "The Kennesaw Line" ,Don Oja-Dunaway's classic War Between the States ballad, and Lowell George's "Face of Appalachia" ,which rivet audiences with Scots-Irish memory.  A gifted prolific songwriter, between road dates David does session work, advertising jingles, film music scores and on call sideman jobs for touring groups. He’s traveled all over the country, holding fast to his family and musical roots, entertaining audiences with high energy delivery and powerful  stage presence.

From Celtic to Bluegrass, Country/Blues to Traditional & Contemporary Americana, when it comes to performing he says: “ I always strive to leave people feeling entertained, inspired and uplifted, with memories that stay with them in their daily life--it's a matter of deep belief and dedication to the workmanship of my craft .” Audiences agree- he loves to play and it shows every time.

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 Reviews

"David provided EXCELLENT performances at the festival!  I heard nothing but rave reviews and praise from fellow musicians and general public audience members alike..."    Gamble Rogers Festival 2009

.... The single set was impressive and demonstrated a mastery of several approaches to folk music, roots music, bluegrass, or whatever label you choose..... rolling through some traditional bluegrass, contemporary bluegrass (yes, there is such a thing) and reaching to traditional country and western ..... Russell demonstrated that he could pick Nine Pound Hammer in the manner in which it should be, which is that hard edged Merle Travis finger picking style. Later in the evening he would show the delicate yet complex side of flatpicking with Sweet Sunny South. The excitement of the evening came when they dove into Django Reinhardt’s I’ll See You In My Dreams.....I would highly recommend you give this guy a listen if you enjoy hearing great solid guitar licks built around good solid rhythm and traditional structures, and seriously great singing..

- iJax.com Good Life Editor (Jacksonville, FL)

“……With a musical career that has taken him to every major listening room in the South and Northeast, David plays with energy and presence born out of loving what he does…and it shows..”
-Chicago Sun Times

“ A guitarist’s guitarist who plays mandolin and dobro as well. With a wide-ranging clear voice, he performs his songs and those of his fellow writers with an energy and sensitivity that captivates… a broad brush of styles from bluegrass and traditional music, Delta blues and Travis-picked country to contemporary acoustic… the man’s a natural”
-Huntsville Times (AL)

“When Russell performs, his manner counterpoints the sometimes serious nature of his songs… he moves smoothly from blues to ballads, flatpicking to jazz… throwing out one-liners and then ducking an imaginary beer bottle… a tasteful troubadour who delivers a full course show”
-The Florida Alligator (Gainesville, FL)

“Outstanding! Refreshing! Simply not to be believed! David was super; congenial, cooperative and downright talented. I can’t begin to thank you for allowing us to showcase David Russell”
-ABC-TV Leisure Attractions, NYC

“ We had a huge number of listener response calls to the station during the club simulcast of his show in Buckhead… would you please send us some of David’s recordings for our shows?”
-WREK-FM Atlanta,GA

“ …Shows weave songs with powerful lyrics, which are complemented in the beauty of Russell’s guitar work. A classically trained guitarist, he offers a smorgasbord of styles including flatpicking, steel slide, jazz, Travis picking, Delta blues, folk, Celtic and country ……What you won’t hear are staples of many lounge acts…what you will hear is cutting edge writing.. and being a part of that audience is worth the drive…”
-Jacksonville Times-Union (FL)