YOU only have to look at who has recorded Tom Russell's songs for an idea of his standing within American roots music.
The list includes Johnny Cash, Ramblin´ Jack Elliott, Guy Clark, Dave Van Ronk, Nancy Griffith, Joe Ely, KD Lang and Jeff Walker.
Not that they are short of material. Over 30 years, he has has made 25 records.
But it's his performances on stage
that do him full justice, when the American writer, singer and guitarist wraps his mix of folk, Tex-Mex and country in his inimitable personality.
He's a larger than life character, with a masters degree in criminology and a spell teaching at a school in Nigeria during the Biafran war before beginning his musical career in Vancouver, singing Hank Williams´ songs in skid row bars.
Along with collecting a series of awards for his songs, Tom Russell has published three books and has developed a reputation as a painter.
Quite a life, and the music can be reflected upon through Veterans Day: The Tom Russell Anthology, which features 37 tracks picked by the man himself and including collaborations with Dave Alvin, Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and more.
He is at the Memorial Hall in Sheffield on Tuesday.
The full article contains 215 words and appears in Sheffield Telegraph newspaper.
