Gene Russell

A hard bop pianist and organist, Gene Russell is best known as the founder of the legendary '70s Oakland funk and soul-jazz label Black Jazz Records. A favorite of vinyl crate-diggers and DJs, Russell's label was home to recordings by Walter Bishop, Jr., Doug Carn, Henry Franklin, and others. Following his 1967 debut for Dot Records, he released his own albums on Black Jazz, including 1971's New Direction and 1972's Talk to My Lady. Born in 1932, Russell grew up in Los Angeles where he played piano from a young age. He spent time studying at Julliard in New York and worked w...