“I come from a musical family going back several generations. My great great uncle was in the original cast of the first all black B’way musical called Shuffle Along in 1926. Ironically the Revival of Shuffle Along was on B’way the same time as my musical The Color Purple. My mom and dad were both singers and mom was a songwriter who I got my songwriting bug from. She wrote so many songs that from a very young age I thought all moms wrote songs.

“I went to elementary school in Canada where we had free music classes which was my first introduction to famous composers. I was a sponge for pop music and was very influenced by Motown writers, Holland Dozier & Holland to The Beatles.

“I learned early to write songs which inspired friends & family alike and helped me to realize what my path in life would be. Music is a healer…I’m so grateful for this gift of music.”

Brenda Russell