Bob Dylan, Walt Michaels, John McCutcheon, John Gorka, Rich Shindell, Bruce Cockburn, Frank Wakefield, Bryan Bowers, Robin Bullock, Joel Mabus,Rich Mullins, Jerry Douglas, Catfish Keith
Russ started playing stringed instruments with his first ukelele in 5th grade purchased with S+H Green stamps in Dover, NJ. After a brief stint in heavy metal bands in high school he discovered bluegrass which led to a life-long love of acoustic music. At his first night at Moravian College, he met John Gorka where they were both playing at an open mic. They soon formed a band with Doug Anderson and were joined the following year by Rich Shindell on lead guitar. Russ was the mandolin player , John played incredible 5 string banjo and Doug Andersen provided the solid rock rhythm on his custom made Froggy Bottom guitars. Throughout all four years of college, they played around the Lehigh Valley centering around Godfrey Daniel's and the southside of Bethlehem, PA.
After college, Russ went to medical school, Doug received a Ph.D. and needless to say, John and Rich went on to well-deserved fame and glory in the folk music world.
During his medical training, Russ continued to pursue his passion of acoustic music and picked up hammer and mountain dulcimer, fiddle, dobro, autoharp and bouzouki. He also started building his own hammer dulcimers and uses his own instruments on stage.
Russ has recently closed his practice of medicine and is now pursuing his life-long dream and passion of performing original and traditional music. He counts Bob Dylan, John McCutcheon and Walt Michaels as major influences in his style. His live performances are a mix of folk, celtic and blues-inspired tunes with multiple instrument changes interspersed with his off-beat humor and wry observations about life that keep the audiences coming back for more. ( As well as for free medical advice !)
Right on, Russ. Kindred spirits we are. Dig the dulcimer. I play my dear ol' Granny's lap dulcimer and classical guitar. My music's similar but a little bit southern country-style. Your recording are much classier than mine though. Sounds great. Let me know if you ever make it down here to cowtown. Peace be with you+
You can download tracks from Justin McRoberts' newest release Deconstruction for ANY PRICE YOU WANT. Or tell a few friends about the record and get them for FREE!
Hey Russ, How are you doing??? I am doing good. In Boston, MA. I have made some really nice friends. I like my classes very mych and the teachers are wonderful. How are things going for you and Deb. I heard that Jon moved out and Ben is going to Temple like you did. My parents told me all of this info.
My address for school is 47 Oxford St. Box # 693. Cambridge, MA 02138 and my school e-mail address is staylor6@lesley.edu and I also check my aol mail as well. It will be great to hear from you. Please tell Deb I said hi and you can give this info to her as well.
Hi, I wanted to thank you for helping me reach the final stage of the ZigZag live competition. Thanks to your support, the CMJ slot looks closer then ever.
To win, I need your vote one last time. Please check my profile and see the flyer, it has all the instructions + the link for voting. You can also click here to get directly to the link.
Tickets are now on sale for John Waters, Sandra Bernhard, the FIXX and 100 other artists!!! You can purchase tickets by visiting www. unicityfestival. com . We hope to see you there!
Unicity Performing Arts Festival has just signed The FIXX, Sandra Bernhard and John Waters! Tickets go on sale on June 7th at 10 AM and will be available from www. unicityfestival. com .
Hey Russ, Just wanted to say hello to you and your family. How are things with all of you???? Things with all of us are doing good and very busy scheduales. Lets see I got my driving my permit. So I have been having fun driving around my dad whenever I can. I have done it for awhile. I go for my road test in Nov. I am excited to take the road test. My parents and Mike are going to take Mike up to the college in Buffalo, NY. For Oriantation. My parents are very sad for Mike to be going. My dad is up for the Fire Chief possition. The mayor and the current chief want him to become it. He knows if he got it tomorrow. He is so overwhelmed right know.
I am graduatuating in 08!!!! I am so excited. My parents just got back from taking a month trip through the Canadian Rockies. They had so much fun together. This trip was for there wedding anniversery 30 years.
Hi Russ
All the best from Ireland for a great 2007! Dunno how you manage to keep all those strings in tune - but you do, very well indeed!
Ben
www.bensands.com
![The Beggars [Australia]](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/15/s_4b93bf00e9344bc6a465485a2519d671.jpg)
