Ray Russell (musician)

Raymond 'Ray' Russell (born 4 April 1947) is an English session musician who is primarily a guitarist. He is also renowned as a record producer and composer.

Ray Russell
Ray Russell in July 2004
Background information
Born (1947-04-04) 4 April 1947
Islington, North London, England
GenresJazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1963–present
LabelsCuneiform, Angel Air
Associated actsJohn Barry Seven
Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
Rock Workshop
Nucleus[1]
Smith & d'Abo
Chopyn
The British Orchestra
Mouse
Bill Fay
RMS
Websiterayrussell.co.uk

In 1973 he was a member of the band Mouse, which released a progressive rock album entitled Lady Killer for the Sovereign record label. His TV compositions have included A Touch of Frost, Bergerac, Plain Jane, A Bit of a Do, Rich Tea and Sympathy, The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Dangerfield and Grafters, as well as many other British and American television programmes. He also played in the DVD Simon Phillips Returns with Simon Phillips and Anthony Jackson.

With colleagues Mo Foster and Ralph Salmins, Russell gives musical seminars at UK educational establishments.

In 2008 Russell, drummer Ralph Salmins, and sound engineer Rik Walton created Made Up Music, a music library that distributes music on its web site and by sending portable hard drives to music editors. The company sells music by Russell, Mo Foster, Steve Donnelly, and Simon Eyre.

In March 2020 Russell featured on an episode of the BBC Television programme Antiques Roadshow, in which his fretless six-string electric guitar, made by Bartell and gifted to him by George Harrison, having originally belonged to John Lennon, was valued at £300,000-£400,000.[2]

Solo discography
  • Turn Circle (CBS, 1968) [3][4]
  • Dragon Hill (CBS, 1969)
  • Rites & Rituals (CBS, 1971)
  • Secret Asylum (Black Lion, 1973)
  • Ready or Not (DJM, 1977)
  • This Side Up (B&W, 1989)
  • A Table Near the Band (Angel Air, 1990)
  • Guitars from Mars (Virgin, 1990)
  • Why Not Now (1988)
  • Childscape (1990) with Gil Evans and Mark Isham
  • June 11th 1971: Live at the ICA / Retrospective (Mokai, 2000)
  • A Touch of Frost (Universal, 2003)
  • The Composer's Cut (Angel Air, 2005)
  • Goodbye Svengali (Cuneiform, 2006)[5]
  • Myths & Legends (Strip Sounds, 2007)
  • Now, More Than Ever (Abstract Logix, 2013)
  • The Celestial Squid with Henry Kaiser (Cuneiform, 2015)[6]

References
  1. Farbey, Roger (March 2003). "Nucleus Live in Bremen". Ian Carr + Nucleus Website. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  2. "Battle Abbey 1". Antiques Roadshow. Series 42. Episode 1. 1 March 2020. BBC Television. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  3. "Ray Russell Quartet - Turn Circle review". The Vortez Jazz Club. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  4. Farbey, Roger (20 October 2007). "Turn Circle". All About Jazz.com. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  5. Bivins, Jason (9 April 2006). "Goodbye Svengali review". Dusted Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  6. "Ray Russell | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
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