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Self Titled Debut Album - ROB RUSSELL
Born in Gander, NFLD and based out of Calgary, AB for the past 25 years where he has toiled as a truck driver, Rob Russell fulfills a dream of recording his first CD. The collection includes four of his own songs, and the material here is often reminiscent of the power vocals and deliver of David Allan Coe, especially noticeable in the lead single, Willie B Boogie and current follow-up Beer Bottle Brown. The self-titled album was co-produced by Rob Russell with Pamela Poole and recorded in Calgary studios with Cowtowns A-team musicians sitting in.
BEST BETS: The Old Man/A Silent Movie/Mr Rodeo - Country Music News by Larry Delaney
Toronto , ON – (July 13, 2006) The Canadian Country Music Association today announced the artists selected to perform at the New Artist Showcases during Country Music Week 2006, September 8-11 to be held this year in Saint John , NB.
The New Artist Showcases give up and coming Canadian performers the opportunity to perform live in front of industry representatives from across the country and around the world. The showcases for “New Artists” will take place Friday and Saturday nights in Saint John, and will be open to the community.
Artists from across Canada were screened by a national jury of music industry experts, who chose 10 finalists for the coveted performance slots – with 5 hailing from the East Coast. Friday's New Artist Showcase will be held September 8 at Pugsley Wharf supported by Alpine and Saturday with support from Galaxie taking place the Delta Brunswick hotel.
New Artist Showcase Performers
Friday, September 8 (in order of performance)
Rob Russell
Despite being told that that that the odds were against him, Rob Russell is on the verge of becoming one of the hottest country stars to come out of Calgary , AB. His self-titled debut album was released in 2005 and continues to receive glowing reviews from people around the globe. www.robrussell.ca
Shirley Albert
Born and raised in Shediac , NB , Shirley Albert's career began while working as a waitress and singing locally to devoted fans. In 2005, Shirley traveled to Nashville to begin working on her debut CD due to be released soon. www.shirleyalbert.com
Michael James
Moose Jaw , SK native Michael James was discovered when his brother-in-law stumbled across a home made video in Michael's own living room. A year later, Michael is working on his debut CD, set to be released in September 2006. www.michaeljames.com
The Divorcees
Nicknamed Canada 's new ambassadors of all things Honky Tonk, New Brunswick based The Divorcees eagerly awaited debut album is set to be released late summer 2006. www.thedivorcees.com
Saturday, September 8 (in order of performance)
Sons of Maxwell
Originating from Timmins , ON , Sons of Maxwell, now based out of Halifax , NS consists of two brothers, Dave and Don, whose on-stage sibling interplay make them the warm and often hilarious group that fans have come to love. Their current disc, Sunday Morning , is receiving critical acclaim nationwide. www.sonsofmaxwell.com
Eryn Hull
Thunder Bay resident Eryn Hull knew from an early age that she wanted to be a performer at age 10 when she performed live with Buffy St. Marie. Her debut album, Fallen , was released earlier this year, featuring her hit single Before Life Passes By. www.erynhull.com
Steven Lee Olsen
This fresh faced 20 year old Barrie , ON native has graduated from small local stages to opening for Aaron Pritchett. His debut CD, due out later this year, has already given Steven Lee three hit songs on radio. www.stevenleeolsen.com
Dan Cunningham
Born in St. Stephen , NB , Dan Cunningham started out playing with a local band, launching his solo career in 2005 and has never looked back. His debut album, Obscurity , has taken the Canadian Roots scene by surprise, establishing Dan as an ambassador for Canadian Bluegrass. www.dancunningham.ca
Shawndel
Busy country girl and mother of four, this Abee, AB native, who currently resides in Athabasca , AB , has taken the country music scene by storm. Her debut album, Believe , released in 2004, was a critical success, earning her performance slots at Merritt Mountain Music Festival and Big Valley Jamboree festival. www.shawndel.com
Steve Waylon
Currently residing in Frederiction , NB , this East Coast native began his music career playing with his band Southern Justice and stepping into lead vocals of Julian Austin's band, The Austinators, now renamed the Steve Waylon band. www.stevewaylon.com
- CBC, Toronto
Rob Russell has been invited to perform at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, AB on August 5, 2007.
One of Canada's largest festivals has attracted headline acts Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker, Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton.
Rob will join host Steve Fox on the Songwriters' Stage at 3:30 and close the party down at midnight on the Molson Stage. - RCM Promotions
COUNTRY SINGER LIVES DREAM
Country musicians don't come much more authentic then Rob Russell, and the stories don't get much better.
Russell earns much of his living as a truck driver, and is just now set to release his debut CD, which makes him both relieved and slightly tentative.
"It's been a long road", he says, letting the trucker in him show. That road began on the other side of the country, growing up, as he did, on Canada's East Coast.But far from falling in love with the kitchen party celtic music most associate with Newfoundland, Russell was brought up on country greats, being weaned on the legeneds who laid the foundations for the music and for him.
"I've listened to country all my life", he says, while driving through Balzac.
"I grew up listening to George Jones, Tom T Hall, Merle Haggard - he's the greatest, Merle Haggard.
"My mom, my dad loved Merle, so you'd hear him almost every day at my house growing up".
Of course, in a story that's familiar to many who now call this region home, when much of the work dried up in Newfoundland, Russell found himself heading towards the booming Alberta economy.
Music, at the point, was just a hobby, as he had a wife and three kids to worry about. It was only when he received a guitar for Christmas and began to teach himself how to play that he even dreamed of becoming a country artist.
He began to play around town and rural Alberta, making a name for himself with his rich, deep voice and honest gentle appeal.
And then finally it was time to realize that dream.
"There were a lot of people coming into my life who said "you've got what it takes to make it" - that was the biggest thing". Russell says.
"They were saying, "You've gotta make an album. You're wasting your talents if you don't put an album out there."
Tomorrow he'll launch the self-titled disc - which is available from his website - www.robrussell.ca - at the Didsbury Trade Show.
The disc, featuring 10 tracks including a handful of Russell's own compositions, is a remarkably polished album that runs the country range of lowdown songs, tear jerkers and party anthems.
With the strength of the songwriting and the performances, the indie album could easily stand alongside anything coming out on a major label.
"When we were coming out of the gate with this CD we wanted to come out to compete with the best that's on the market today", he says. "We we're putting it all, into it, to come out with the best we could".
(edited for EPK). - Calgary Sun by Mike Bell
HBO has selected "Just Walk Away' as a song for an upcoming documentary, "Dirty Driving - Thun der Cars of Indianna".
This is Rob's first snyc license, congratulations! - RCM Promotions
The 8th Annual Independent Music Awards has selected Rob and his song, "Just Walk Away" as 1 of 5 finalists.
A jurored process to select the winners, this is an International Award that puts Rob Russell on the top of independent country recording artists!
Congratulations Rob on the nomination, with your talent and the strength of the song, we are confident you will win the award in your gnere. - RCM Promotions
You want some 'Real Country' in your country music? Have a listen to Rob Russell and the tunes he delivers in Turnin' Heads!, his sophomore album .. and this time around he really does get your attention.
Rob Russell, originally from Benton, Newfoundland, but making his home in Calgary for the past quarter century, has arrived at his musical breakthrough in a roundabout, but very legitimate way .. he's been hauling freight in an 18 wheeler all of his life.. no better way to get to hear the real thang - and eventually sing it that way.
The album has already served up several nationally charted singles in Just Walk Away, Cowgirl Love and the current Too Damn Young .. but the part that will really get heads turnin' and ears perked up, is still to come. Listen for a terrific two steppin' winner in Good Boots, some tongue-in-cheek fun stuff in Too Much Information, a pure-country bluesy ballad in Don't Want to Talk About It, and a great barroom lament in Let You Go. All of these songs come from bubbling-under Nashville songwriters who Rob Russell seems to have 'discovered' for this collection of work.
Also, featured here is a solid hard edged tune in Hard to be an Outlaw, this one co-written by fellow Canuck Deric Ruttan; a powerful message type song in Down a Road You've Never Been(a song co-written by Nashville's Kent Blazy who cut his early music chops working with Ian Tyson) and a reprise of Rob Russell's own tune, Mr. Rodeo which was first heard on his self-titled debut album.
Turnin' Heads was produced by award winning Bart Mckay at his studios in Saskatoon, featuring some of Western Canada's top session players and back-up vocalists. - Country Music News by Larry Delaney
The 8th annual independent music awards have selected Rob Russell's Turnin' Heads album as one of five nominees for Country Album of the Year. As well, Rob's single, Good Boots has been nominated for Country Single of the Year.
Judges Keith Urban, Clint Black and George Jones comprise a panel of elite to determine the winners in February 2009. - IMA
Rob' Russell's album, Turnin' Heads has been nominated for Country Recording of the Year. The awards take place on March 1, 2009 in Cornerbrook, NL. - EMCA - Canada
Discography
All songs available for download on I-Tunes.
Turnin' Heads album released June 2008. Tour began August 6 in Gander, Newfoundland. Performances scheduled throughout the country. Stay posted to Rob's official web site.
Too Damn Young and Cowgirl Love both at radio. Both in the top 40 on Canadian Charts.
Just Walk Away released to commercial radio September 12, 2006. An uptempo, big sound new country tune in the style of Brad Paisley. HIt #58 on the Canadian Charts and was licensed by HBO for their docudrama show: Thunder Cars of Indianna. Produced by top Canadian Bart McKay, written by award winning songwriter, Ed Williams in Texas and the likes of Russ Pahl contributed to the production on steel guitar.
Debut Album Rreleased April 5, 2005 - 10 tracks
Produced by Raw Country Music
Mastered by Hank Williams - Mastermix - Tennessee
First single - Willie B Boogie - Canadian national radio airplay, also featured on CMA Top Station of the Year - WIVK - Tennessee
Second single - Beer Bottle Brown national radio airplay in Canada - released June 2005
Third Single - Our Guardian Angel - released in November 2005. National radio airplay.
All three singles charted in the top 100 on Canadian Can Country Chart.
The Old Man - World wide airplay
Can't You See - first single, release July 1, 2004
Remake of Marshall Tucker Bands hit of the 70's - local airplay in Alberta. Overseas in Holland.
Photos
Bio
Although Calgary is home for Rob Russell his roots go back to Benton, Newfoundland. A member of a close knit family of 13 siblings, Rob is also a member of another family – the Canadian Country Music Industry. Inspired early in life by the sounds of Merle Haggard, George Jones and Tom T Hall the move from Benton to Calgary in 1980 was minimal as Alberta has always been the homeland of old time western music – a genre that fits Rob as well as his black Stetson, silver belt buckle and his cowboy boots.
Known as the “highway man”, Rob settled in to a transport career, married and continues to raise his family of three. On the road there’s not much to do other than drive and sing to the radio. Not much thought was given to a music career, but receiving a guitar from his wife one Christmas changed his life forever. It wasn’t long before Rob taught himself the six-string and began to play at parties and around campfires for his family, and friends. The year was 2001 and unknown to Rob, his music career and songwriting skills had shifted into high gear.
In 2003 Rob formed his first band, One Way Track and performed every weekend that summer to packed audiences in casinos, corporate events and rocking saloons. The song set list consisted of Rob’s original tunes, as well as professional writers’ songs and cover tunes. The turning point occurred when a promoter spotted Rob and asked him to be one of the featured artists on the Alberta’s Finest II Compilation CD. With the signing of his manager this same year, Pamela Poole, Rob’s career escalated to another level.
In 2005 Rob recorded his debut album, “ROB RUSSELL” with the A-team of Calgary musicians. The collection of 10 songs reflected all that Rob could be -- traditional, Americana, new country, and even a soft ballad to tug at the heartstrings.
In 2006, with the Canadian Country Music Awards in Saint John, New Brunswick, Rob was selected by a national jury as one of ten artists to showcase his talents. This coveted honor puts Rob in the top 5% of Canadian Country Artists to grace this stage. Rob’s performance was a memorable page in his music history book; fans were thrilled and even Aaron Pritchett commented on Rob’s “you’re everywhere” buzz and exposure. Immediately following the CCMA's, the release of the single, Just Walk Away produced by Bart McKay took Rob to new heights at radio. Doors opened with significant exposure in the United States and Clear Channel Broadcasting.
While the debut album was a lesson in discovery, in finding Rob’s niche and focusing on his talent, his sophomore CD, TURNIN’ HEADS, due to release in June 2008 will do just that. Produced by Bart McKay in his Saskatoon studio, Rob has eased himself in to a sound that is clearly his own with rich vocals and strong instrumentals. “Don’t Want to Talk About It” resonates feelings in each of us that have loved, fought and perhaps lost; we can easily envision one trying to impress that special someone with “Good Boots (on)”; try not to smile with the situational folklore pertaining to, “Too Much Information”, and “Good ‘Ole Bad Boy Better” is a sweet tribute to the power behind the male throne.
With solid live performances, and steady radio play, Rob Russell will be TURNIN’ HEADS well into 2008 and beyond. If you’re in Calgary and see the “highway man” pulled over, no worries – Rob Russell is simply penning another song!
Get more news on Rob Russell, visit his official myspace page or web site.
http://www.robrussell.ca
http://www.myspace.com/roblrussell
Proud member of ARIA, SOCAN, CCMA & ECMA
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