Tom Russell Biography
Tom Russell born Thomas George Russell is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Americana music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, rock, and the cowboy music of the American West.
Many of his songs have been recorded by other artists, including Johnny Cash, The Texas Tornados, k.d. lang, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, The Sir Douglas Quintet, Jason Boland, Nanci Griffith, Katy Moffatt, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Sailcat, Iris Dement, Dave Alvin, and Suzy Bogguss.
In addition to his music, Russell is also a painter and author. He has published a book of songwriting quotes (co-edited with Sylvia Tyson), a detective novel (in Scandinavia), a book of letters with Charles Bukowski, and two books from Bangtail Press: 120 Songs of Tom Russell, and Blue Horse/Red Desert – The Art of Tom Russell.
In 2016 a new book of Tom Russell essays was published: Ceremonies of the Horsemen. The essays, originally published in Ranch & Reata magazine, are centered on the American West and include an essay on Johnny Cash for which Russell won a 2015 ASCAP AWARD for music journalism.
Frontera, Russell’s recording label, has published several books, including companion pieces to two recording projects, The Rose of Roscrae and Folk Hotel as well as an essay/art book, The Ballad of Western Expressionism, and a novel, Against The Blood.
10 Quick Facts About Tom Russell
- Name: Thomas George Russell
- Age: 73 years old as of 2022
- Birthday: March 5th
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- Height: To be Updated
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Singer-songwriter
- Marital Status: To be Updated
- Salary: To be Updated
- Net worth: $1 million and $5 million
Tom Russell Age
Thomas George Russell is 73 years old as of 2022. He was born on March 5th, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, United States. He also celebrates his birthday on March 5th every year. Moreover, his birth sign is Pisces.
Tom Russell Height and Weight
Rusell stands at an average height. He appears to be quite tall in stature if his photos, relative to his surroundings, are anything to go by. However, details regarding his actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We will update this section when the information is available.
Tom Russell Education
He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a master’s degree in sociology of law and criminology.
Tom Russell Family, Parents, and Siblings
Tom was born and raised by his parents in Los Angeles, California. Our efforts to find out more about his family came to no avail as no such information is publicly available. Thus, the identity of Russell’s parents is still unclear. It is also not known if he has any siblings. We will update this section once this information is available.
Tom Russell Dating, Wife, and Children
Tom has not gone public with his relationship, it is not publicly known whether he is married or in a relationship. His partner’s information will be updated as soon as the information is available.
Tom Russell Salary
Details about Russell’s salary are not yet disclosed. However, information about how much he makes will be updated as soon as it is available.
Tom Russell Net Worth
Tom’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million dollars. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a singer-songwriter. Through his various sources of income, Russell has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Tom Russell Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Russell.
Tom Russell Wiki
- Full Names: Thomas George Russell
- Popular As: Tom Russell
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Singer-songwriter
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Not Known
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Tom Russell Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 73 years old as of 2022
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- Date of Birth: March 5th, 1949
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Birthday: March 5th
Tom Russell Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: Not Known
- Weight: Not Known
- Eye Color: Not Available
- Hair Color: Not Available
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Dress Size: Not Available
- Breast Size: Not Available
- Waist Size: Not Available
- Hip Size: Not Available
Tom Russell Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Not Known
- Mother: Not Known
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Known
- Marital Status: Single
- Wife/Spouse: Not Available
- Children: Not Available
Tom Russell Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $1 million and $5 million
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: Singer-songwriter
Tom Russell Career
He began his musical career in the early 1970s in Vancouver, British Columbia, playing strip bars along Skid Row, then later relocated to Texas and formed a band with singer-pianist Patricia Hardin. In 1975, the duo won the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Singer-Songwriter Contest.
In 1977, the duo moved to San Francisco, performing regularly in clubs there as Hardin & Russell, during which time they recorded the second of their two studio albums. They eventually split in 1979, at which point
Russell drifted out of the music industry for a year. It was during this hiatus that Russell wrote his classic song “Gallo Del Cielo”. Both Hardin & Russell’s albums (Ring of Bone and Wax Museum) received high critical acclaim, and the first was reviewed in Rolling Stone by Chet Flippo.
During this period Russell was also the winner of the first Woody Guthrie – William Oliver Award for songwriting, as well as the professional country category in the first American Song Festival.
Russell moved to New York City in 1980 and while working as a taxi driver in Queens, he met guitarist Andrew Hardin (no relation to Patricia). After hearing his songs, Hardin convinced him that they should form a new band. Shortly afterward, Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead was a passenger in Russell’s cab; Russell sang Hunter his song “Gallo Del Cielo” and an impressed Hunter invited Russell to join him on stage at New York’s Bitter End. Hunter encouraged Russell to make a full-fledged return to the music business and Russell later opened for Hunter the Lone Star Cafe. Hunter sang Russell’s “Gallo Del Cielo” at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK.
Andrew Hardin remained Russell’s full-time sideman until April 2006. “Gallo del Cielo” became one of Russell’s most fabled songs and has been recorded by Ian Tyson, Joe Ely, Brian Burns, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, and Katie Lee. The song has been cited as a favorite by Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen (as noted in Clarence Clemons’ book Big Man.)
Tom Russell Band
Between 1984 and 1994, the Tom Russell Band, composed of Russell on acoustic guitar and vocals, Andrew Hardin (guitar), Fats Kaplin (pedal steel, fiddle, harmonica, button accordion), Billy Troiani (bass), Rich Crane, Charlie Caldarola, and Mike Warner (drums), released four albums on Philo Records.
These albums blended elements of folk, country and rock music, and often featured songs inspired by the American Southwest, blue-collar American life, and events from Russell’s own life (for instance, the track “Road to Bayamon” draws on his experiences playing in a carnival in Puerto Rico).
Russell’s storytelling approach was also prominent in songs such as “Haley’s Comet”, which was also recorded by co-writer Dave Alvin and Doug Sahm and The Texas Tornados. “Haley’s Comet” imaginatively recalls the last, tragic days in the life of rock and roll music legend Bill Haley. These early Tom Russell albums are now considered pioneering recordings of the genre which would come to be known as Americana.
Russell was next signed to HighTone Records in California. He released five albums for Hightone before the label was acquired by Shout! Factory Records. Russell’s first album on the HighTone label, The Rose of the San Joaquin, was produced by Dave Alvin and Greg Leisz.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tom Russell
Thomas George Russell is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Americana music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, rock, and the cowboy music of the American West.
Thomas George Russell is 73 years old as of 2022. He was born on March 5th, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, United States. He also celebrates his birthday on March 5th every year. Moreover, his birth sign is Pisces.
Rusell stands at an average height. He appears to be quite tall in stature if his photos, relative to his surroundings, are anything to go by. However, details regarding his actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We will update this section when the information is available.
Tom has not gone public with his relationship, it is not publicly known whether he is married or in a relationship. His partner’s information will be updated as soon as the information is available.
Tom’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million dollars. This includes his assets, money, and income.
Details about Russell’s salary are not yet disclosed. However, information about how much he makes will be updated as soon as it is available.
Because of security reasons, Tom has not shared his precise location of residence. We will update this information if we get the location and images of his house.
Tom is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.
Tom Russell Contacts
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