At age seven, on a trip to Kentucky, I tried to get my uncle John, who played at a local venue called Renfro Valley, to teach me some guitar. He said I was too small. I went back to Michigan (my dad was in the Military).When I returned two years later, I played him under the table. At age 10, I was playing guitar in an Officers Club at Ladd AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska. At age 15, I was backing up traveling acts (Jerry Lee, B.J. Thomas and others)at Brocks in Lexington. At 17, I was in California working on TV and playing around the state.

Fifty years later, I have had 9 weeks off, total, have 300 plus stringed instruments, over 20 keyboards and a warehouse full of other equipment. I make 1/2 my income performing (OMB, jazz trio and sideman on electric upright)and composing film scores for my projects.


Music has been good to me!


Russ