From Hair to The Color Purple: Brenda Russell’s Remarkable Journey
Brenda Russell’s musical journey began at just 14 years old when she opened for the soul band The Soul Searchers. Her early exposure to live performance set the stage for her diverse career, which would span decades and multiple genres.
In her late teens, Brenda joined a Canadian production of the iconic musical Hair, showcasing her talents on a larger stage. A few years later, she married fellow musician Brian Russell, and together they formed the funk band Dr. Music, gaining recognition for their innovative sound. The couple’s musical ventures included producing albums for Rufus, the funk band known for its collaborations with Chaka Khan. They also provided background vocals for major artists such as Neil Sedaka, Elton John, and Robert Palmer. Their work with Elton John included the albums Word Called Love (1976) and Supersonic Lover (1977), both released on his label.
However, by the late ’70s, Brenda and Brian divorced, and she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. Her self-titled debut album in 1979 reached the top 20, with the single So Good, So Right becoming a standout track. This success opened the door for her to produce albums for the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire, including Faces (1989) and Raise! (1981). Her continued success as a producer led to her involvement with artists like Donna Summer, and she also released another solo album, Two Eyes (1983), which achieved moderate chart success.
In the mid-’80s, Brenda relocated to Stockholm, Sweden, where she began working on her most iconic hit, Get Here. Although her original version of the song didn’t make a huge impact, Oleta Adams‘ cover brought the track to worldwide prominence.
Throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, Brenda continued to release solo albums and worked as a producer for artists like Diana Ross, Phil Perry, and Carole King.
In 2005, her talents reached the Broadway stage when she composed the score for The Color Purple, cementing her place as a musical force across multiple mediums.
Brenda Russell Tunes | Related Pages
Get Here | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Get Here by Oleta Adams using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, the original recording and covers.
| Csus2 | G/B Amadd2/E |
You can reach me by railway, you can reach me by railway…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Get Here (Oleta Adams) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Brenda Russell on the web
