Biographical Data

Born in Chicago on January 6, 1953, Russ' family heritage is a mixture of Irish, Polish, Cherokee, Cajun and French. Always living in the Chicago area, he and his family managed to travel quite a bit throughout the world. Married for over 20 years to Laura Daughtry, Russ and his wife and two children had some vivid experiences during their various travels to England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Belgium, Poland, Holland and France. 

Diagnosed with ALS in 1997, Russ died from breathing complications on July 18, 2000. During his illness, Russ continued to teach guitar to private students, compose and record using a Macintosh computer. He modified the mouse to accommodate his failing motor neurons: using a simple copper wire coil around his thumb (placed there by a helper every day), Russ would tap it against a metal post mounted on a masonite board set across his wheelchair arms. The tap completed an electrical circuit, and replaced the mouse click. 

In this laborious way, click by click, Songs from the Iron Chair was composed and recorded. The final production was underwritten by friends from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago (thank you, Duncan Mathieson, from the bottom of our hearts) and portions were professionally re-recorded for the final CD. 

R»SUMŠ

WORK EXPERIENCE

1975 - 2000 Composer, Recording Artist, Private Guitar, Voice and Music Theory Instructor
1977- 1997 Free lance session vocalist and instrumentalist
(acoustic guitar, electric guitar, upright bass, electric bass, harmonica, tuba,
mountain dulcimer).
1976-1977 Staff composer, arranger and performer, Imagineers, Inc.,
Chicago, IL. Radio and TV commercial music production.

Commercial Recording Credits

1980-1997 Television and radio commercials for Kahlua, Zenith, RCA, Sears,
Wrigley's Gum, Milton Bradley, McDonald's, Kellogg's, Miller Beer
1984 Dances With Wolves, movie soundtrack (bonfire sequence)
1976 Don't Fight the Feeling, Jim Peterik album recording

Shared Concert Billings With:

Chad Mitchell, Corky Siegal, poet Allen Ginsberg,
Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Atlanta Rhythym Section, Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer.

Has worked with Gospel music artists Jessy Dixon, Thompson Community Singers and James Ward.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

1997 Organic Chemistry, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
1997 Chemistry, Harper Community College, Palatine, IL
1997 Calculus, Harper Community College, Palatine, IL
1997 Physics, Harper Community College, Palatine, IL
1996 Zoology, Harper Community College, Palatine, IL
1996 Botany, Harper Community College, Palatine, IL
1995 Political Science, Harper Community College, Palatine, IL

EDUCATION

1974 Bachelor of Music (BM) in Theory and Composition,
Illinois State University, Normal, IL

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