b. Brenda Gordon, 8 April 1944, New York City, New York, USA. Russell began singing at an early age, encouraged by her mother, Cinnamon Sharpe, who was a singer. While still a child, she moved to Toronto, Canada. Taking up singing as a career, she married a musician, Brian Russell, and they worked together in Canada before relocating to Los Angeles in the early 70s. For some time they worked as session musicians, also playing gigs and recording in a jazzier context. After their divorce, she retained the same surname and released her first albums with a major label, A&M Records. Russell had meanwhile been developing as a songwriter, producing many tuneful works, sometimes in collaboration other times single-handedly. Among her songs are "Beware Of What You Want" (recorded by Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters), "Please Pardon Me" (Chaka Khan with Rufus), and "Dinner With Gershwin" (Donna Summer). Among Russell's many other songs are "Piano In The Dark" and "Gravity", both on her own Get Here. The title song of the album was also recorded by Oleta Adams who had a UK Top 5 hit with it in 1991. Russell continued performing and composing through the 90s and also appeared in the 1999 movie, Liberty Heights. Among artists with whom she has worked, several of whom have appeared as guests on her albums, are Rita Coolidge, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Patrice Rushen, David Sanborn, Dave Koz and Kirk Whalum. As the new century began, Russell's name was still relatively unknown in her own country, let alone in the rest of the world. Her qualities as a singer, which include a fluid, burnished vocal sound and soulful phrasing, and her songwriting skills must surely mean that the attention she so clearly deserves was on its way.

Listen to Brenda Russell at Finetune.

• (2005)  Two Eyes
• (2003)  Get Here
• (2001)  Ultimate Collection: Brenda Russell
• (2000)  Brenda Russell

• Piano In The Dark
• Get Here
• So Good, So Right
• If Only For One Night
• The Tracks Of My Tears

• Jody Watley
• Howard Hewett
• Anita Baker
• Mariah Carey
• Whitney Houston
• Stevie Wonder
• Boyz II Men
• Toni Braxton
• Luther Vandross
• Sade
• Madonna
• Natalie Cole
• Celine Dion
• Michael Jackson
• George Benson
• Janet Jackson
• Mary J. Blige
• Phil Collins
• Brian McKnight
• Vanessa Williams

• datchy
• rainbowrocker
• kimurachiro
• carguslopes
• SudhirM
• djwagstaff67
• IDAJANE
• saddleup1

• nana13727 on 2007-09-27 10:14:13.310:
  I love piano In the dark, anytime I hear It Im happy. Go Brenda!
• nana13727 on 2007-09-27 10:13:43.873:
  I love piano In the dark, anytime I hear It Im happy. Go Brenda!
• nana13727 on 2007-09-27 10:12:24.623:
  I love piano In the dark, anytime I hear It Im happy. Go Brenda!