Calvin Russell (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calvin Russell
|
|
|---|---|
Calvin Russell, 2007
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Calvert Russell Kosler |
| Born | November 1, 1948 Austin, Texas, US |
| Died | April 3, 2011 (aged 62) Garfield, Texas, USA |
| Genres | Americana Roots rock Blues rock Texas blues Southern rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter Musician Performer |
| Instruments | Electric guitar acoustic guitar voice |
| Years active | 1980s–2011 |
| Labels | MPPA Full Blast New Rose SPV (pre-1994) SPV Recordings Last Call Columbia Freefalls Entertainment Dixiefrog XIII BIS |
| Associated acts | Jon Dee Graham Townes Van Zandt The Characters |
Calvin Russell (born Calvert Russell Kosler; November 1, 1948 – April 3, 2011) was an American blues and roots rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was known for his unique voice and heartfelt songs.
Contents
Early Life and Music Journey
Calvin Russell was born in Austin, Texas, on November 1, 1948. He was the sixth of nine children in his family. His parents worked at the Sho Nuff Café.
When he was twelve, Calvin started playing the guitar. He even joined his first band, called The Cavemen. At fifteen, he moved to San Francisco. He took on many different jobs to support himself.
After some challenging times, Calvin returned to Austin in 1986. He worked as a plumber. He also met many famous musicians there. These included Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, and Leon Russell.
Meeting a Record Producer
In December 1989, Calvin was singing his songs at a party in Austin. He played his acoustic guitar in a quiet corner. Patrick Mathé, who owned a French record company called New Rose, heard him.
Patrick was very impressed by Calvin's songs. He asked Calvin for a demo tape. This meeting led to Calvin's first album, A Crack In Time. New Rose released it in France in early 1990.
The album was very popular in France. Calvin soon traveled there to promote his music. The next year, he released Sounds From The Fourth World. This album was also recorded in Austin.
Success in Europe
Calvin started touring a lot in France. He played to full crowds in clubs. But back in Texas, not many people knew about his music. Many newspapers wrote about his success in Europe.
In 1992, Calvin released his album Soldier. He recorded it at Arlyn Studios. Jim Dickinson, a famous producer, helped with this album. Jim had worked with artists like Ry Cooder.
In 1994, a live album called Le Voyageur came out. It was recorded during his tours in Europe. Calvin played 178 concerts in Europe in just one year. This shows how popular he was there.
Later Albums and Challenges
His album Dream Of The Dog was released in 1995. This album was a big step for him. The title came from an old Native American legend. The album cover showed designs from an Indian blanket. These designs honored Calvin's Comanche heritage. Some symbols were from his great-grandmother's tribe.
Calvin's next album was recorded in Memphis. It had a strong blues sound. It was loved by both his fans and blues experts. Before his next album, he released a "best of" collection. It was called This Is My Life and included three new songs.
Illness and Death
Calvin Russell passed away on April 3, 2011. He died in Garfield, Texas. He had been battling liver cancer for a long time. He was 62 years old.
He is survived by his wife, Cynthia, and his son, Justin. Cynthia still lives in Central Texas. Calvin Russell is buried in Pflugerville, Texas.
Select Discography
Solo Releases
Albums
- 1990: A Crack in Time (New Rose/SPV Recordings)
- 1991: Sounds From The Fourth World (New Rose/SPV Recordings)
- 1992: Soldier (New Rose/SPV)
- 1993: Le Voyageur – Live (New Rose/SPV)
- 1995: Dream of the Dog (SPV Recordings)
- 1997: Calvin Russell (Last Call/SPV Recordings/Columbia)
- 1999: Sam (SPV Recordings/Columbia)
- 2000: Crossroad – Live (Last Call)
- 2001: Rebel Radio (SPV Recordings/Freefalls Entertainment/Dixiefrog)
- 2005: In Spite Of It All (SPV Recordings)
- 2006: Live at the Kremlin (New Rose)
- 2007: Unrepentant (XIII BIS)
- 2009: Dawg Eat Dawg (XIII BIS)
- 2010: Contrabendo – Live (XIII BIS)
- 2011: The Last Call, In The Heat of a Night.. – Live CD/DVD (XIII BIS)
Singles
- 1985: "Behind eight Ball/Baby I Love You" (MPPA)
- 1991: "You're My Baby/Baby I Love" (New Rose)
- 1991: "Crossroads/"Rockin' The Republicans" (New Rose)
- 1992: "Soldier" (New Rose)
- 1993: "This Is Your World" (New Rose)
- 1997: "Crossroads" (Columbia)
Compilations
- 1997: The Story Of Calvin Russell – This Is My Life (SPV Recordings/Columbia)
- 2004: A Man in Full – The Best of Calvin Russell (Last Call)
Collaborative Releases
Albums
- 1988: The Characters – Act I (Full Blast)
See also
In Spanish: Calvin Russell para niños
