Claudia Russell


Claudia Russell is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Before becoming a solo artist, Russell performed with a number of Los Angeles bands, including The Life Is Grand Band, who recorded for Smithsonian Folkways, and Maggie's Farm, who recorded for JRS Records and was distributed by BMG.

Early life

Russell was born to Gilbert Russell né Val Rosing and Marilyn Pendry. Rosing was a well-known British crooner best known as the vocalist on the original BBC recording of "Teddy Bears' Picnic". Pendry was a dancer in TV shows, stage productions and MGM feature films, including White Christmas and An American In Paris. Russell's parents divorced in 1960.

Career

Russell has released four CDs: Song Food, Ready To Receive, Live Band Tonight, and All Our Luck Is Changing. Russell tends to use a close knit group of musicians that includes percussionist Debra Dobkin, Dobro and guitar player Eric Lewis, keyboardist Carl Byron and her husband Bruce Kaplan on guitar and mandolin.
From 1980 to 1988, Russell was a member of the Life Is Grand Band, and recorded for Smitshsonian Folkways. From 1988 to 1991, she played in the rock band Maggie's Farm and recorded for JRS/BMG Records.
Russell is a frequent cast member of American Folklore Theater productions and has performed in Fish And Whistle, Goodnight Irene and Old Friends, in which Russell appeared also at the Milwaukee Rep.

Awards

Russell has twice been a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk songwriting competition. Her debut CD, Song Food, earned her Best New Artist honors from Boston radio station WUMB in 2001.