Jeff Russell

At the age of seventeen, Jeff began to experiment with the world of songwriting. Jeff grew up just outside of Nashville during his teen years, and was heavily influenced by blues and rock music. Jeff listened to everything, from the Smiths and the Stone Roses to John Mayall, Muddy Waters, and Eric Clapton. Music was a large part of Jeff's life. Jeff slowly began pulling together his poetry and guitar work into solid ideas. As he progressed, he began to work on his bluesy, tough vocal spirit. When he reached the University of Alabama, Jeff began learning guitar with his roommate Daisuke Noda, an exchange Masters in Business Administration student in the Fall of 1993. Already dabbling with the use of the harmonica and percussion instruments, both began to write songs (although Dai brushed up Jeff's chops on the guitar quite nicely). At this point, it was just a hobby, but the amusement began to wear off as Jeff slipped deeper into creating sensible lyrics and bluesy music. The first gig was on the strip near campus, huddled among the bigger dives. Slowly, but surely, Jeff began to play harmonica with the local blues musicians. Over the next couple of years, Jeff began to play harmonica with other bands and was learning from others. It was a new world, and many friends and bands left Jeff to the side because he was just a starting musician, but this attitude changed when he moved to the Murfreesboro area in 1996. The bands in the area openly accepted Jeff and the crowds were impressed with the intricate picking style and soulful vocals. Jeff began working with many bands around the area, and began drawing crowds wherever he played, whether it was at the bar or picking at a party on the back porch. Not only was he playing music, Jeff was involved with production and film, allowing Jeff to work closely among the bands in the area. After a great start, Jeff slowed down to pursue his work at school. Many people say Jeff was disgusted with the scene, and was disappointed with songwriting in general. Yet, the music still burned within him, and it seemed not playing made his interest come circle once again. Jeff attempted to work with his band, Strangers We Are, but it fell apart around '97. Jeff went back to the drawing board, and he began to write new material. He came back to playing music in the late nineties, winning the best of the unsigned in Murfreesboro in 1999. Throughout the next few years, Jeff Russell played with many great bands from Memphis to Chicago.

Jeff began working on his skills in the late nineties with others from the school in the recording industry program. Playing occasionally at parties, Jeff began to pick up a fan base(also through the trusty workings of Mike B. And John C.). Jeff played around town in the late 1990's, from the Red Rose to Nashville’s 328 Performance Hall. Jeff began to make his mark in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and even Evansville, In. to Chicago. His E.P., Corners and Streetlights, had showed great promise and was receiving play, and" Seaside Town" and "Send a Letter" grabbed the attention of many, sending the message that life is short, and relationships with people are the stability of life. He opened for locals such as Will Hoge(when he was in Spoonful), and out of town bands such as Jeb from Indiana, who had a large following. Jeff even won best of the unsigned in Murfreesboro in late 1999. Even with local success, Jeff realized that he needed to be more than just a solo act with the occasional drummer or guitarist. Around 2000, Jeff began playing with the Trainyard, and playing gigs around town. A new album was in the works, and everything seemed to be coming together. Unfortunately, the band seemed to have a tough time keeping players. In 2001, Jeff moved to Knoxville area with his percussion player Seth McNelly and guitarist/bassist Paul Davis. The band never really seemed to move on. Jeff played in small gigs, and played guitar in a few small bands. It seemed as if it had fizzled out. Jeff moved back to the Boro in 2005, with his love Jennifer and is currently back at the university. After semi-retiring, Jeff has now come back better than ever. The material is poetic, bluesy, and the vocals just grab you. His latest music from the last three years makes you believe that he really knows about your life and that there is more out there. Any road you have taken, any relationship you have had, and any dream that slipped through, he has felt it.

While working as a journalist, a poet, songwriter, Jeff decided to leave the music scene entirely in 2003. After moving from town to town working the journalism/television biz, Jeff came back to the Nashville/Murfreesboro area ready to play again in 2005. Although Jeff has tried to leave music many times, his friends and fans, and most importantly, the music, have brought him back into the scene. Compared often as a cross between Jeff Buckley to Steve Earle, Jeff has come alive again with an intense variety of sound and vocal styling, lead by strong poetic words that paint picturesque landscapes. The words communicate well with the listener, leading them down a path that seems so familiar, yet still unknown where it may go...

Not only has Jeff dealt with music, he continues to follow his academic studies in Creative Writing, English and Mass Communication. Jeff has written articles for Middle Tennessee State University's Collage: A Journal of Creative Expression and The Murfreesboro Pulse. He has also worked on many film projects, such as The 48 Hour Film Project in Nashville. In his spare time, Jeff is often found playing with other musicians, talking about the blues greats, and what could happen with music in the future.......