Doug Floyd Mandolin, Harmony Vocals
2008 Texas Music Award for
Shake Russell Band
"Best Vocal Group"
Michael Roberts Bass, Harmony Vocals
2008 Texas Music Award for
Shake Russell Band
"Best Vocal Group"
Brand New CD Release:
What this Heart Holds
My new CD, "What this Heart Holds," was released on Valentine's Day at the Mucky Duck in Houston. The CD is a collection of 13 new songs written by me and is produced by John Inmon, who also lends his great guitar to it. You can order the CD by clicking on the My Texas Music link!
Videos:
Orris Brown of the Texas Film Conservancy Group has recently recorded a few of my shows and has been kind enough to convert some of my old videos to digital format. The following are links to a few of those videos and a link to the Live From Texas Productions website that has a collection of videos.
Want to burn your own CD of your favorite Shake Russell songs right now? Want copies for your iPod? Then visit MyTexasMusic or Apple iTunes at any of the following links and start your download!
For CD Orders - Visit :
Shake Russell songs recorded by other artists.
Click on each to order:
"(Shake) Russell's songs bring up the images of driving down a narrow country road, carving it's way through a calm countryside into the heart of the Texas Hill Country."
........Clarissa Marcee, New Texas Magazine
"Shake’s music walks right up to you, says howdy and gives you a big hug.
His tunes make you happy or sad or thoughtful, but above all – they make you feel! Nobody writes a better love song. I’ve been a huge fan for decades,"
........Bruce Bryant, Ghost Ranch Films
"If you’re a true Texan, then Shake Russell’s music has touched your life in some way. And if you aren't aware of that already, it may have happened without your knowing it. Seventeen million copies of Russell's songs have been bought, while being recorded by the likes of Clint Black, Ricky Skaggs, Waylon Jennings, and many others. He's had a song go up into Space with the astronauts (Deep in the West), composed a theme song commemorating the Texas sesquicentennial (Travelin' Texas), and was commissioned by Texas State University to write the theme song of the San Marcos River (River of Innocence). Live at Gruene Hall is the new CD/DVD project by Shake Russell and company and it's a true work of art that takes Russell another step into historical significance. The two-disc set contains a CD, and a DVD. The DVD shadows the CD, but with candid interjections and stories from Shake Russell and his band mates, Doug Floyd and Mike Roberts."
........Tracie Ferguson, Gruene Hall
For more than three decades, Texas singer-songwriter Shake Russell has been entertaining audiences throughout the region with his unique, Americana style of folk-rock. A prolific songwriter, Shake has written or co-written hundreds of melodies. Through the years, Shake’s songs and albums have frequented the Billboard charts, with many, including “Deep in the West,” “You’ve Got a Lover,” “Put Yourself in My Shoes,” “One More Payment,” and “Our Kind of Love” being recorded by such distinguished artists as Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Ricky Skaggs, Clint Black, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Ricky Skagg’s hit recording of “You’ve Got a Lover” has appeared on three of Ricky’s albums. In 1983 Shake was commissioned by the Texas State University in San Marcos to write a song ,''River of Innocence''. for a documentary filmed and produced by the university. In 1986, Shake was asked by longtime friend Bruce Bryant, creative producer@Houston television station KTRK, to compose a theme song commemorating the Texas sesquicentennial. He obliged and wrote the regional favorite, “Traveling Texas.”
Shake is a two-time recipient of the BMI “Million Air” award for Clint Black’s recordings of “Put Yourself in My Shoes” and “One More Payment,” both of which he co-wrote with Clint, and a four-time recipient of the BMI Writer’s Award. The Texas Music Association named Shake the “2004 Texas Music Awards Entertainer of the Year” and nominated his new song, “Cowboy Coffee,” for the “2007 Texas Music Awards Best New Song.”
Weaving sophisticated harmonies through his songs and drawing from various genres, Shake created a style of folk-rock that is uniquely his own. His repertoire consists of a blend of love songs, ballads, and waltzes, skillfully balanced with lively rockabilly tunes and soulful rhythm and blues pieces. His lyrics are imbued with beautiful imagery, catchy phrases, and inventive similes and metaphors. But it is the rich, melodious voice of Shake Russell that breathes life and spirit into the lyrics.
As a left-handed player, Shake taught himself to play upside down in the same way as the legendary folk artist Elizabeth Cotton. Later in his career, Shake would have an opportunity to meet this amazing lady at a performance in Chicago. Before settling in Texas in the mid-70s, Shake’s musical career took him from his hometown of Independence, Missouri, to Kansas City,Houston, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago , Nashville, and the legendary Coconut Grove, a renowned mecca for artists that is often described as the Greenwich Village of the southeast. Other notables who significantly influenced Shake’s development as a singer-songwriter were Bob Dylan, Lennon and McCartney, Robbie Robertson & The Band, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Leonard Cohen, and John Vandiver.
By the early 70s, Shake had moved to Austin and played bass for John Vandiver's Ewing Street Times Band. An apprenticeship under John and tutelage from fellow band member, Michael Mashkes, afforded Shake an opportunity to hone his guitar skills and cultivate a musical style that would define his Texas-style brand of folk-rock. During this period, the band played at Armadillo World Headquarters, The original Saxon Pub,Castle Creek, Cactus Cafe, Emmajoe’s, Alamo Lounge, Waterloo Ice House, and various other clubs in the Austin vicinity. After The Ewing St. Times disbanded, Shake eventually relocated to Houston, and was emerged into the vibrant music scene of the Montrose area, where they rapidly garnered an enthusiastic following.
In the late 70s, Shake formed his own band and was joined by hometown friend and fellow songwritermusician, Dana Cooper. Based in Houston, the duo enjoyed immense success throughout the state and was given extensive airplay on local radio stations. Many of the melodies on Shake’s “Songs on the Radio” album were recorded at Houston’s KLOL, including the hit “You’ve Got a Lover.” During this segment of Shake’s career, he played regularly at Theodores, The Texas Opry House, Anderson Fair, Fitzgerald’s, Rockefeller’s, Corky’s; and later, the Mucky Duck. Although their respective careers have since diverged to different regions of the country, Shake and Dana have reunited on several occasions over the years for packed-house performances and CD collaborations. One of their most recent shows was captured on the “Island Nights” CD, which was recorded live at the Third Coast Theater in Port Aransas, Texas.
Shake’s latest CD, “What This Heart Holds,” is a delightful array of original compositions that beautifully showcase the extraordinary talents of this singer-songwriter. To fully appreciate and comprehend the magnitude of Shake’s contributions to music, one need only listen to his life’s work. From his 1976 album, “Songs on the Radio,” to the 2009 CD, “What This Heart Holds,” Shake’s music is a testament to the reasons why he is so widely celebrated as a Texas music legend.
Shake is currently touring with fellow veterans of the Texas music scene, Doug Floyd on mandolin and Mike Roberts on acoustic bass. The trio's contemporary acoustic arrangements, coupled with melodic three-part harmonies, create a unique, modern sound for those classic Shake Russell songs. His first DVD/CD is now released.
Hi Shake, We're looking forward to hosting you and all your San Antonio area fans and friends on November 7. If anyone wants information about the show, have them give us a holler. urbancampfires@swbell.net
Just wanted to say thanks so much for the add. I have been an admirer of yours for so many years I can't even remember-lol. Deep in the West remains one of my favorite songs to this day. I look forward to seeing you live soon...and maybe I can get my buddy Kevin Hollingsworth to come with me! Have a great afternoon and thanks again! Hugs!
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
We enjoyed seeing ya'll at the birthday party last night so much! Our friend Becke said it was by far the best birthday she's ever had! A lot of the folks at the party were at Luckenbach today and all they could talk about was the the fun time they had the night before! We loved your old and new songs. Thanks so much for a night that will never be forgotten! Becky & Larry
Thanks for the add! I've been a fan my whole life and as a native Texan, I've taken YOU on all of my travels...thanks for making me happy with your music...
Y'all sounded great at the Crawfish Festival yesterday, I was the big guy in the cowboy hat you didn't recognize from the old days when I played with Tejas and then Tommy Schapper...I will always treasure the memories of you sitting in with me and Tommy when we opened up for you at Rockefellers and other places. Loved the new songs, and the old ones took me back to '76 when I first heard you and was learning your music. Be well, Shake, I will catch you next time. Roger
Hey Shake its been a while since Ive opened up for you in Houston. I still look back to fond memories, hope everything is going well for you my friend. If you get a chance I have recently wrote some christian/country songs,I would love for you to listen to them and let me know what you think. Take care Shake and God Bless! Tadd
Doug Floyd Mandolin, Harmony Vocals
Michael Roberts Bass, Harmony Vocals 
