Shake Russell
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Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Shake Russell was born Oren Russell in 1948 in Independence, Missouri. His father was a minister, and Shake sang in the church choir. He played the trombone in Junior High and High School orchestras. When he was 16 he joined a local band "Odds and Ends". Later he began to perform at Kansas City coffee houses. He met Dana Cooper during this time. In 1970 Shake joined a Kansas City based group led by John Vandiver, "Ewing Street Times".[1][2]
1972–1976: Early career[edit]
John Vandiver was from Dallas, and in the summer of 1972 he moved his band moved to Houston, then later relocated to Austin. Russell's first recorded song was “Deep In The West”. It debuted on Vol. 2 of the 1973 Kerrville Folk Festival Live Highlights album. Vandiver's band "Ewing Street Times" split up in 1975. After the demise of the band, Russell went to Chicago along with Michael Mashkes. After a short stay, the pair moved to New York. They found it difficult to break into the NY music scene and Russell called Vandiver to share that he contemplated giving up music and moving back to Missouri. Vandiver invited Shake to return to Houston. Vandiver had become an established solo act, and Shake also began performing solo in Houston area clubs.[2]
1977–1981: with Dana Cooper[edit]
Russell’s demo tapes began to get air play on local radio stations. Russell's first album (“Songs On The Radio”) was based on a live radio performance on Houston’s KLOL FM in August 1977. Russell [w/ Dana Cooper] released the album on the Old No 7 label with 8 songs. It featured 6 original Russell compositions, the title cut composed by Dana Cooper and 1 song co-written by Russell and Copper ( “When Are You Comin’ Home?)”.
In 1981, the pair released the “Shake Russell/Dana Cooper Band” album on Southcoast Records. Later that year, Shake and Dana put together “Comin’ Home,” an album issued by the Twin Dreams label. It was a collection that featured studio tracks by the Shake Russell/Dana Cooper Band, the Michael Marcoulier Band and John Vandiver.
In 1985, John Vandiver was murdered in a home invasion/robbery.[3]Russell has penned several song's in Vandiver's memory, including “Ballad Of Angus Mustang”, "Letters, Songs and Photographs", and "True Love" (originally titled "True Love (To John & Debbie)" on his Time Spent album).[4]
1984–1988: The Shake Russell Band[edit]
Cooper and Russell went separate ways after "Comin' Home" was released. Russell formed the Shake Russell Band with Rusty Burns and Jack Saunders. Their first album was “Time Spent,” was released in June 1985. In 1988, they released their second album: "Denim and Pearls". It was during this time that Russell met Clint Black. Black opened shows for Russell, and the pair collaborated as songwriters.
1989–1995: with Jack Saunders[edit]
The Shake Russell Band broke up in the late 1980s and he began performing as a duo with Saunders. Between 1989-1995 they cut 5 albums on the Jalapeno Record label.
2007–2013: Shake Russell Trio[edit]
Russell formed the Shake Russell Trio with Mike Roberts on bass and Doug Floyd on mandolin. They released 2 live albums during this time.
2013–present: with Michael Hearne[edit]
Since 2013 Russell has been performing solo and with Michael Hearne (with Mike Roberts on bass). The Live at the Centrum CD/DVD album includes both Russell and Hearne. In 2016, they collaborated on an album with that included songs from both ("Only as Strong as Your Dreams").
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
- Songs on the Radio (w/ Dana Cooper), 1978
- Shake Russell/Dana Cooper Band (w/ Dana Cooper), 1981
- Comin’ Home (w/ Dana Cooper), 1981
- Time Spent (Shake Russell Band), June 1985
- Denim & Pearls (Shake Russell Band), 1988
- Live At The Duck (w/ Jack Saunders)
- Before Now (w/ Jack Saunders)
- Letters, Songs and Photographs (w/ Jack Saunders)
- Listen With Your Heart (w/ Jack Saunders)
- The Thrill Of Love (w/ Jack Saunders and Dana Cooper), 1993
- Love's Bright Campaign (w/ Dana Cooper), 1998
- Let Love Be True (Shake Russell), 1998
- Dreaming The Mystery (Shake Russell), 2000
- Love Is Why (Shake Russell), 2006
- What This Heart Holds (Shake Russell), February, 2009
- Pure (Shake Russell), January 2015
- Only as Strong as Your Dreams (w/ Michael Hearne), 2016
- Little Bright Band of Light (Shake Russell), 2016
- Chasing The Song (Shake Russell), 2018
Collections/Compilations[edit]
- Deep In The West (Collection), 1996
- Travelin' Texas (Collection) December, 2014
Live Albums[edit]
- Island Night - Live from Port Aransas (w/ Dana Cooper)
- Live At Gruene Hall (Shake Russell Trio CD/DVD), 2007
- Live At The Centrum (Shake Russell Trio w/ Michael Hearne, CD/DVD), 2013
Famous Songs[edit]
His songs have been recorded by:
- Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter (“Deep in the West”)
- Ricky Skaggs (“You’ve Got a Lover”)
- Clint Black (“Put Yourself in My Shoes” and “One More Payment”)
- Miranda Lambert ("You Wouldn't Know Me")
- Carolyn Dawn Johnson (“Our Kind of Love”)
Awards[edit]
- Texas Music Awards: Palmwood Award: 2003
- Texas Music Awards: Entertainer of the Year: 2004, 2008, 2011
- Texas Music Awards: Founders Award: 2007
- Texas Music Awards Best New Song: “Cowboy Coffee” nominated in 2007
- Texas Music Awards: Vocal Group of the Year: 2008, 2010
- Texas Music Awards: 2013 Lifetime Achievement Honors
- Texas Music Singer Songwriter Hall of Fame: 2016 inductee
- 2 time recipient of the BMI “Million Air” award for Clint Black’s recordings
- 4-time recipient of the BMI Writer’s Award
References[edit]
- ↑ Dansby, Andrew (September 27, 2013). "Shake Russell sings to bring listeners a sense of community". Houston Chronicle.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "SAT. SEPT. 30, 2017 – SHAKE RUSSELL / MICHAEL HEARNE – Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe". oldquarteracousticcafe.com. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ↑ "COVINGTON v. STATE | 754 S.W.2d 726 (1988) | Leagle.com". Leagle. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ↑ "John Vandiver - HoustonBands.Net". www.houstonbands.net. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ↑ "Shake Russell Discography (older albums)".
- ↑ "Shake Russell "Buy CDs" Page (current albums)".
Further reading[edit]
- "Shake Russell to broadcast from KACC". The Alvin Sun. July 11, 1980. p. 3.
- Grimes, Jerry (November 21, 1982). "Shake Russell riding a new crest". The Port Arthur News. p. 6C.
- Ferguson, W. Richard (September 11, 1982). "Houston". Billboard. p. T-23.
- Hudson, Kathleen (November 16, 1990). "Russell shakes it". Kerrville Daily Times. p. 5B.
- Loyd, Mark (August 31, 1998). "Classroom Shake-down". Kerrville Daily Times. p. 2A.
- "Brightest Lone Star Talent to Shine at 2005 MTM Texas Music Awards". The Facts. February 13, 2005. p. 9C.
- "CD Reviews - The New Releases: What This Heart Holds". Maverick. September 2010. p. 68.
External Links[edit]
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