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The Russell Leon Band released its debut album, If Red Was Green, on April 26. Recorded at The Rogue Studios in Toronto and produced by Geoffrey McPeek (formerly of Daddys of Eden and Brule Sound Pharmacy), the CD features 11 original songs that take the listener on an irresistible ride through a range of musical styles and emotions.
Opening with "I Want Your Love," the band sets up a jazzy feel that melds into the blues groove of "Loopy." "Friday" is a straight-up rocker, while "The Beginning of the End" is a heart-felt folk ballad. "Cuba" spices things up with a Latin vibe and "The Wild" draws on reggae and funk to tell an environmental tale.
The Russell Leon Band has opened for legendary performers Leon Russell and Ike Turner, in addition to playing numerous festivals and benefit concerts. As well as maintaining a busy performance schedule, Russell produces and hosts Songwriters Unite!, a collective of more than 400 singer/songwriters across North America.
Russell spent his early years travelling across Canada and the USA. When he was six, he and his mother settled on a commune in the Ottawa Valley where they lived without electricity or running water. "It gave me a real appreciation for the arts," explains Russell. "I had no TV or electricity, so spending time with my guitar and friends made me a musician."
Russell moved to Toronto in order to study music at York University. Intensive studies, busking on the street, and playing in clubs immersed him in the city's cultural diversity, expanding his musical landscape and inspiring him as a songwriter. In 2000, Russell released a self-titled six-song EP.
Getting people involved with his music is key for Russell. "When you play live and connect with a person who says, 'I had that experience in 'The Beginning Of The End.' I fell in love with this girl and she didn't love me.' When you connect with people that way," explains Russell, "it's hugely rewarding." Making an impact lyrically while getting people on their feet in a live setting is no easy task, but the Russell Leon Band accomplishes exactly that.
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