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"...Music is the thing that keeps me grounded and sane..."
Jeff Russo has parlayed his passion for music into an immensely successful and exuberantly diverse career. Always living his dream, from lead guitarist and co-songwriter in the internationally renowned rock band, Tonic, to songwriter for up and coming artists, producer for several new bands, scoring for movies and T.V., to classical composer, including writing a ballet, Russo's unique range of experience has established him in the music industry as a unique, versatile, and accomplished artist.
Observing Russo, you can see that music has always been a driving force in his life. It's born, not made. It's inherent, intrinsic, idiosyncratic, and natural. It's intensity, momentum, observation, reaction, traveling; always traveling. It's not just simply genetic makeup, the passion marches a beat step in every aspect of his life. An accomplished pianist, violinist, and percussionist from childhood, he switched from drums to guitar after a powerful personal moment, "I've never had any formal guitar training. I learned by ear, listening to just a ton of records when I was 19 and 20. I did have an enlightening experience though. When I was 17, I was listening to The Wall for the first time. When the guitar solo in the song 'Mother' came on, I was floored. At that moment, I knew that's what I wanted to do. So I switched from drums to guitar." In pursuit of a dream, he moved to Los Angeles in 1990. Despite never having taken formal lessons, learning his craft by ear, and fine-tuning it into a style all his own, his dedication, determination and more aptly, natural talent, have long since turned his dream into a reality.
A truly gifted musician, Russo is a founding member of the two time Grammy® nominated rock band Tonic. In 1996, Tonic blazed onto the music scene with their debut, platinum-selling album, Lemon Parade. The band's sophomore album, Sugar, exploded onto the charts with the top 5 hit single "You Wanted More." In 2003, Tonic's third album, Head on Straight, garnered the band two Grammy® nominations, one for Best Rock Album and the second for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Russo was an integral member of this team with his already impressive songwriting and vocals, topping his contribution off by wrapping his trademark harmonic guitar layers around Tonics' already complex, and "smarter than your average hit" lyrics and melodies.
Throughout the years, Russo's creativity and commitment to the art of music have always taken him to new levels. Never complacent, he has extended his efforts far beyond performing and songwriting into composing and producing, as well as acting. Some of his notable movie scores include the "making of" documentary for Mark Osborne's Academy Award® nominated short film "More," and scoring the film "Vesting" (vestingthemovie.com), as well as various commercials. Russo also keeps a hand in by producing bands, most recently the band Lo Ball, signed to Interscope Records, and is currently producing the band "South" for the movie "Vinyl", production scheduled to start in September '04. In the past, he co-produced Tonic's second record "Sugar" with his bandmates as well. Russo's latest venture is a project for the Cedar Lake Ensemble. This will be Russo's first foray into writing and arranging classical music for a ballet.
While Russo has contributed in myriad ways to the musical community, cementing his name with every step, he is now embarking on new journey, a solo album, a cathartic move into unknown, yet oddly intimate territory. In the studio for 6 months, writing alone, playing all parts, all the instruments, Russo says, "It's been a struggle at times. Being in the studio alone is not easy. Especially since I've been used to working with a band for so long... But it's been cathartic too. Really getting to do just what I see and hear. Writing the lyrics has been a big thing for me too... I keep referring back to a quote of Carl Sandberg's. "There is the biggest difference in the world between having something to say and having to say something!" You never want to force the words out... When you do, you can just tell..." With its overriding themes of love, relationships, fear, and all of the other emotions and feelings mutely running through any given life, he is giving voice to his own experiences, as well as ours. Lush, melodic, and soul crushingly gorgeous, the album will be a force to reckon with. While thus far the album is a sole work, he does plan to have some guest artists appear on the CD including, Chris Seefried (Joe 90, and God's Child), Dave Gibbs (Gigalo Aunts), and Tracy Bonham. The CD has an estimated release date of early 2005.
Born and raised in New York City, Jeff Russo presently resides in Los Angeles, CA and is currently finishing the final touches on his first solo album and producing the band "South" for the feature film Vinyl, by writer/director Richard Zelniker.
"...Music makes me feel alive..."
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