Brenda Russell

Brenda Russell (born April 8 1949 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American singer/songwriter/musician.

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April 8 - 1949 - Brooklyn - New York

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Born Brenda Gordon to musical parents (her father Gus was a one-time member of The Ink Spots), she spent her formative years in Canada after moving to Ontario, aged twelve. As a teenager she began performing in local bands and in her late teens joined the Toronto production of Hair, during which time she had begun to play the piano. In the early seventies she married musician Brian Russell and (as Brian & Brenda) they went on to release two albums on Elton John's Rocket label, World Called Love (1976) and Supersonic Lover (1977). The couple had divorced by the late 70s, and Brenda, now living in Los Angeles, had set out on a solo career.

Related Topics:
The Ink Spots - Canada - Ontario - Toronto - Hair - Brian Russell - Elton John - Los Angeles

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Signed to Tommy LiPuma's Horizon Records, Brenda's debut single "So Good, So Right" became a hit in 1979. After the quick demise of the Horizon label, Brenda was picked up by A&M who released her self-titled debut album, followed in 1981 by her second album Love Life. Signed to the Warner label, she released Two Eyes in 1983. Brenda soon relocated to Sweden and began writing songs for her next album.

Related Topics:
Tommy LiPuma - 1979 - A&M - 1981 - Warner - 1983

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Released in 1988, Get Here became her biggest commercial success, spawning her biggest hit "Piano In the Dark" and garnering 3 Grammy Award nominations. The title track went on to become a huge hit when covered by Oleta Adams in 1991. After releasing two further albums in the early 90s Brenda took time off from recording her own music. During this time she composed songs for other artists and wrote the score for the film How Stella Got Her Groove Back. She also appeard in the 1999 film Liberty Heights in which she performed two songs written especially for the movie.

Related Topics:
1988 - Grammy Award - Oleta Adams - 1991 - How Stella Got Her Groove Back - 1999 - Liberty Heights

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Brenda resumed her solo career in 2000 with the critically acclaimed album Paris Rain, released on Hidden Beach records. In 2003 she signed to the new UK label Dome Records and released the compilation album So Good, So Right: The Best of Brenda Russell. Her 8th studio album Between the Sun and the Moon was released by Dome the following year.

Related Topics:
2000 - Hidden Beach - 2003

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2005 sees the Broadway release of a musical stage verson of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, the show's score is written by Russell and lyricists-composers Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

Related Topics:
2005 - Broadway - The Color Purple - Oprah Winfrey - Allee Willis - Stephen Bray

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