Trivia

Father was a former naval officer who eventually served as mayor of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

His lover Tom Lee is the executor of Russell's estate.

Co-founded the independent label Sleeping Bag Records with Will Socolov in 1981.

Studied briefly at the Manhattan School of Music, cross-registering in electronic music and linguistics classes at Columbia University.

Worked as musical director of the New York avant-garde venue The Kitchen in 1974 and 1975. He was recommended for the job by Rhys Chatham would was soon to leave the position.

Studied North Indian classical music at the Ali Akbar College of Music.

Studied Western composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

From 1975 to 1979 he was a member of The Flying Hearts, recorded by John Hammond, which consisted of Russell (keyboards/vocals), ex-Modern Lovers member Ernie Brooks (bass/vocals), Larry Saltzman (guitar), and David Van Tieghem (drums, vocals); a later incarnation in the 1980s included Joyce Bowden (vocals) and Jesse Chamberlain (drums).

In 1976 he was in talks to join Talking Heads, who were a trio at the time. He recorded an acoustic version of the song "Psycho Killer" with the band, playing cello. He would also collaborate on arrangements for early Talking Heads songs.