At the age of six, Russell showed an interest in playing the piano.  While attending a Sunday morning church service, Russell recalls hearing the hymn, “Jesus is Coming Again”, being played.  He was drawn to the piano part and heard something there that sounded interesting to him.  That afternoon Russell asked his mother to play the hymn again and again, hoping to hear the same thing that had caught his ear that morning at church.  From that moment on, Russell’s passion for music became apparent.  He spent each day after school in the basement of his family home in Kearney, Missouri playing on an old upright piano.  Because Russell could not yet read music, his mother wrote the letter of each note above the melody line.  “I knew what the notes were on the piano, I just couldn’t read music, and I started playing the songs with one finger.”

It was not until age thirteen that Russell began taking piano lessons.  At lessons he learned how to read music as well as developed his gift for playing by ear.  At the same time, Russell discovered the music of a piano player named Dino Kartsonakis, and began to imitate the sounds and movements he saw in Dino’s performances.  Russell accredits Dino as being one of his greatest inspirations.  He admires not only Dino’s talent as a pianist, but also his humbleness before God.  Russell believes that his own talent is a blessing, and his calling is to use his gift of music to serve the Lord.

While taking lessons, Russell began attending Northern Hills Baptist Church in Holt, Missouri.  “I remember two distinct things: First the pianist and second the preaching.  I had never heard anyone play the piano like that.”  Barbara Thomas was the pianist for Northern Hills at that time.  “No one can play like she does, so light and beautiful.”  For the next few years Russell spent each Sunday after church trying to play each song exactly as Barbara had played it.  After the church’s music minister became aware of Russell’s talent, he asked Russell to play the keyboard during worship services.  Russell continued to play the keyboard at Northern Hills for four years.  When Russell was eighteen, Barbara Thomas retired from her position as church pianist, and Russell was asked to take over.  He has been playing piano at Northern Hills Baptist Church for the past ten years, ministering to the congregation through his hands. 

Russell’s piano studies have taken him down many paths.  He has taken lessons from both Ms. Kay Sharp and Ms. Mary Webb.  In 1999, Russell enrolled at the prestigious William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.  There, he spent four years studying piano under Dr. Calvin Permenter.  Russell graduated with a B.S. in Music with a piano emphasis in May of 2003.  He is currently a piano instructor with over forty students.  Russell still plays the piano every Sunday morning at Northern Hills Baptist Church and performs at other churches.