Brenda Russell (born Brenda Gordon, April 8, 1949, Brooklyn, New York ) is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboardist whose roots are deeply embedded in African-American Music Culture. Known for her eclectic musical style, her recordings have encompassed several different genres, including pop, soul, dance, jazz and adult contemporary. As well as composing and recording her own material, Russell's songwriting and vocal talents have been used by Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Joni Mitchell, Donna Summer, Bingo Players, Flo Rida and Sting.
Grammy Award for Song of the Year, Tony Award for Best Original Score, Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist...
Movies
Liberty Heights, People: A Musical Celebration
Star Sign
Aries
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Quote
1
I'm a person that collects song titles. You know, if I hear a good title, like talking to a friend or whatever, I'll write it down. I keep a little song title book. I always think that in every title there's a song somewhere, and you've just got to thin it out. So when they sent me this music, I thought, 'Whoa, it's so haunting and beautiful, I love that.' And I was flipping through my title book and I just thought, 'Piano in the Dark, I wonder if that would go with that music I heard?' That's as easy as that happened. I had that title and I thought, 'Hmmm, maybe that'll work.'
2
I never write songs that are without hope. People have to be inspired to another level. Like: My heart can't go on! I may feel like I'm going to die, but I wont because I know something good could be around the corner. I take responsibility on myself to inspire people and even make them cry. Yes, I'll make you cry but I wont leave you hopeless.
3
As far as writing for other artists, very early on I learned a good lesson from Ms. Aretha Franklin. She asked me to write a song for her, and I excitedly wrote what I thought was a good 'Aretha Franklin' song; however when she received it she said 'I wanted a Brenda Russell song'. At that moment I learned that if a certain kind of artist wants a song from me, I should write the song as if I were going to record it myself; it takes on a more personal tone and that's what the artist is really looking for sometimes, something different than what's expected from them.
4
You have an opportunity to really suss out a good song and a bad song over several years. I have this analogy, that a song is like a boyfriend; if it lasts 6 months, it could be okay.
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Fact
1
As well as working on a new album for Dome Records, she is one of the composers on the forthcoming musical adaption of Alice Walker's The Color Purple (due for Broadway opening in the fall of 2004) [March 2004]
2
Her 8th studio album "Between the Sun and the Moon" is released in the UK on Dome records. She is also co-writing (with Allee Willis and Stephen Bray) music and lyrics for the forthcoming musical adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple (due for Broadway opening in the spring of 2005). [May 2004]
3
Became a grandmother on 26 January 2007, when daughter Lindsay gave birth to a son, Nehimiah.
4
Dedicated her 1981 album "Love Life" to the memory of John Lennon.
5
Daughter of singers Gus Gordon (a one-time member of The Ink Spots) and Nancy Cinnamon Sharpe (b. 1928).
6
Was diagnosed with diabetes in 2004.
7
She and Joe Esposito had a lone top 5 hit "Piano In The Dark" in 1988.
Several songs originally written and recorded by her have been made famous when covered by other artists, eg If Only For One Night (covered by Luther Vandross), Dinner With Gershwin (though written by Brenda it was originally recorded by Donna Summer in 1987 but Brenda did record her own version in 1990) and most notably Get Here (a worldwide smash for Oleta Adams in 1991). She has also written songs for Roberta Flack, Earth Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald and Stevie Wonder.
10
Singer/songwriter/keyboardist. Recorded with former husband Brian Russell (b. 1944) as Brian and Brenda. Together they hosted the Toronto based TV show, "Music Machine".
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Vacation
2015/I
writer: "Still Not A Player"
Todd's Pop Song Reviews
2014
TV Series documentary writer - 2 episodes
That Awkward Moment
2014
writer: "Still Not a Player" - as Brenda Gordon Russell
American Music Awards 2013
2013
TV Special writer: "The Way"
The Voice of the Philippines
2013
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Sarah G Live
2012
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Top of the Pops 2
2012
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Voice UK
2012
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Celeste & Jesse Forever
2012
lyrics: "A Little Bit of Love" / music: "A Little Bit of Love" / performer: "A Little Bit of Love"
Dirty Mind
2009
writer: "NONE OF US ARE FREE"
JCVD
2008
as Russell, "None Of Us Are Free"
Deutschland sucht den Superstar
2003-2008
TV Series writer - 5 episodes
The 61st Annual Tony Awards
2007
TV Special writer: "I'm Here"
The 60th Annual Tony Awards
2006
TV Special writer: "The Color Purple'
Canadian Idol
2003-2005
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Singapore Idol
2004
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Malaysian Idol
2004
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Ídolos
2003
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Pop Idol
2001-2003
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Idols!
2003
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Idol
2002
TV Series writer - 1 episode
American Idol
2002
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Bad Company
2002
performer: "Tonite" / writer: "Tonite"
John Q
2002
writer: "Justice of the Heart"
Liberty Heights
1999
performer: "Baby Eyes", "When Love Walked In" / producer: "Baby Eyes", "When Love Walked In" / writer: "Baby Eyes", "When Love Walked In"
Stars in Their Eyes
1996-1999
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Finding Graceland
1998
writer: "Wayward Soul"
People: A Musical Celebration
1995
TV Movie arranger: "The Body Song" / lyrics: "The Body Song" / music: "The Body Song" / performer: "The Body Song"
The Santa Clause
1994
performer: "Christmas Will Return"
Corrina, Corrina
1994
performer: "WE WILL FIND A WAY"
Taking the Heat
1993
TV Movie performer: "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS", "TAKING THE HEAT"
The Taking of Beverly Hills
1991
performer: "Waiting For You" / writer: "Waiting For You"
Top of the Pops
1987-1991
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Highlander II: The Quickening
1991
performer: "As Time Goes By" / producer: "As Time Goes By"
$4 Million
