Russell grew in Kansas City, Kansas. He started playing music at the early age of 9. During Russell's first year in high school he was invited to the International Jazz Festival in Paris France. He studied in London UK for 2 weeks and Paris for a week. His Sumner High School Jazz Band came in first place out of 6 high schools from the US. Russell has played with such artists as ZZ Hill, Johnnie Taylor, Vernon Garrett, and Lil Milton. He has erformed on the same stage with The Ohio Players, Sun, Bobby Bland, Roger and Zapp, Tyrone Davis, Hebbie Hancock and others. Additionally Russell has played bass on several CDs and wrote a song " You're My Baby You're My Girl " on Blood Stone's new CD.