A collection of original acoustic arrangements from alt-rock ballads to new age solo guitar pieces celebrating the beauty of Northern California's redwood coast.

10 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Acoustic, NEW AGE: Ambient



Details:
Northern California guitarist Russel Lea has been writing songs and playing guitar since 1970. He has studied guitar with Kingston Trio founding member Dave Guard and fingerstyle virtuoso Alex de Grassi. He started performing his own music in coffee houses and weddings at the age of 17. At age 22, he was playing in county rock bands in the Lake Tahoe area.

Russel says âI took about 20 years off from performing to finish college and help raise my kids. Now that theyâre older, I have the time to let all this music welled up inside me break out and Iâm trying to write it down as fast as I can. I was always drawn to the sound of the acoustic guitar, and once I discovered open tunings, it was like having an entire band in my two hands.â

Russelâs musical influences are many; from folk to rock to jazz to new age; including The Limelighters, Kingston Trio, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Dave Mason, Joni Mitchell, David Wilcox, Will Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, and Michael Hedges.

âPathwaysâ is his first album. Russel says, âI was on vacation near Mt. Shasta last summer when I felt this inspiration to record some of these songs. Within a couple of weeks I was in the studio and the momentum just took off. I would practice all week for a few hours of recording on Saturdays, and the new songs just started flowing. I even finished writing some of them in the studio during the sessions. It was just amazing, the way the energy took over this project, leading me on this new pathway. I am very grateful to be able to share this music.â