Bio
Steve Russell began performing as a freshman at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Steve transferred to Emory University where he formed a duo with Smith Johnston. “Russell & Johnston” performed in clubs and concert halls around the Southeast, between Atlanta GA and Hilton Head Island SC. The duo later recorded an album of original music entitled “Collage”, which sold out its first printing and attracted the attention of Nashville legend Joe Gibson who offered them a promotional deal.
In the summer of 1979, Steve formed a trio with his brother Don and Les Burnett. “The Russell Brothers” began playing in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina and quickly became a popular attraction along the Grand Strand. In 1980, Steve opened The Grayman Restaurant in Pawleys Island S.C. where “The Russell Brothers” performed for two years. They opened for performers such as “Molly Hatchet” and “The Outlaws” at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. They also shared the stage with Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell and “Alabama” at the Carolina Country Jamboree in 1982.
Eventually returning to Hilton Head, Steve was a solo act at Evonne Goolagong’s club, LTFG’s. His set became a late-night hot-spot for local musicians and food and beverage workers. On special occasions he teamed up with Island favourites like David Wingo and Bruce Crichton who later played in “Firefall’. Steve and Bruce travelled the resort circuit from Hilton Head to Colorado as the duo “Little Kings” and became a popular musical act until 1987.
Turning his attention to video production and raising a family, Steve owned and operated Video South Productions Inc., but was never very far from music. He wrote award-winning jingles and scores for a variety of productions in the Myrtle Beach area. He also performed locally in various solo and group configurations such as, “The Souvenirs” with members of the Gatlin Brothers Band, “The Southern Cross” with Dean Black and Bill Hamilton and “The Russell Brothers” reunion gigs.
In addition to his partnership with his wife Jayne as “The Russells”, Steve is currently at work on a solo album of original material, with producer and master musician Joe Craven.
Jayne Russell has just released her second album of original songs entitled, “That’d Be Hank”. She had become fascinated with the life of Hank Williams and was inspired to write about the remarkable and iconic scenes in his biography. The most commonly known story is how he died in the back seat of a Cadillac on the way to a gig on New Year’s Eve in 1952 at the age of 29. But virtually unknown, especially 70 years after that night, is the role of the phony “doctor” that Hank hired six weeks before his death, in that tragedy. Or how his ex-wife Audrey battled his new bride Billie Jean for the right to use the title of “Widow of Hank Williams” professionally. His rags-to-riches rise, his stupendously successful Grand Ol’ Opry debut, and the role his tumultuous relationship with Audrey fueled his prolific song-writing are all covered in the 10-song album.
Another reason for her interest in the project is that over the last decade as a teacher of guitar and ukulele, Hank Williams’ 2-chord song, “Jambalaya” is often the first song she teaches her beginning students. It felt wrong that for most of these students, Hank Williams was a complete stranger. She wanted to make sure that on the 100th Anniversary of his birth on September 17th, 2023, there was something available that was a more rounded picture of his life and legacy than the movies that have been made about him.
Growing up in Ottawa, Jayne spent her early years singing in every choir she could find, taking piano lessons and playing violin in the high school orchestra. Eventually losing interest in classical music, she kept singing in private song circles and took up guitar and ukulele in adulthood. The song circles fostered a new depth of interest in folk, bluegrass and old-time Country music which she fully immersed herself in. Several years were spent reading histories and biographies, taking guitar and fiddle lessons, studying music theory and attending folk music camps such as the Swannanoa Gathering, The Americana Song Academy, The Woods Music and Dance Camp and the Nashcamp Bluegrass Week. Finally she began writing her own music and released her first EP, “Hunter’s Star” in 2010.
In forming the duo, The Russells, with her husband Steve, they can do what they love best; playing guitar, harmonizing and performing a wide range of original and covered songs from artists spanning the gamut from international superstars to lesser-known local favourites.