Mike Russo was "discovered" by Fred McDowell who introduced him to me and which resulted in releasing his first LP on Arhoolie Records. He also played with Fred when they visited me in Berkeley back then - a wonderful ragtime and blues musician. Where is he at these days?
Mike is living in the Gearhart area of Oregon, and doesn't play so much anymore (but he still plays sometimes). His health isn't great, as he is 83. Its hard to get in-touch, but I know you can reach his daughter by email.
I moved to Oregon about a year ago and found this video because of my obsession with the blues and stackolee and man I would love to meet this guy and hear some of his stories. Such a cool energy and charisma. Hope he is well
i have a bunch of recordings of mike on my channel great live 12 string stuff as well as bluegrass. you have anymore recordings of mike. i do alot of research and im good friends with peter b lowry of trix records. studio work including the album you put out ru-vid.com/group/PLpnG2psBH4QuWYYIjHGRYqma9Gt3M2F-H ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dy5dthOwSx8.html Live, 90 percent of this is unissued from radio archives ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PX_Qg5ARXlg.html
Lord! This guy is nuts! I thought he was an Italian vaccum salesman or something and he just bursts out with pure, unadulterated soul. He's some kind of mutant between Delta Blues singers and Texas country howlers and other stuff I can't put my finger on. Amazing, I can't believe I had never heard of him. Thank you for posting this.
0:33 Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home 3:24 Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 6:45 The Old Fall River Line 7:56 The Delia Fling 9:50 Stagger Lee/Stack’ O Lee/Stagolee
Mike (guitar) and my ex, Ron Brentano (banjo) played together at the 13th Avenue Gallery and other venues in Portland, Oregon during the early 1960's. Ron died a few years ago. I heard that Mike is living somewhere on the north Oregon Coast. They were originally signed to play their adaptation in the movie "Deliverance", but it was performed by others.
Thank you for this post, I was wondering what ever happened to Mike and Ron. Used to go down the the 13th Avenue Gallery every weekend to listen to them play. Sorry to hear about Ron.
He was so great, followed him in the early 60's at warehouses under Hawthorne Bridge in Portland Or. Also Reed college and anywhere else we could find him. I have an album, one of the songs he lists as Stack O'Lee. His address as of '02 was PO Box 2414, Gearhart, Or 97138-2414. Such a cool guy, might like to hear from anybody. He would be about 76yrs now.
Hello there, can you tell me if it’s still possible to get a hold of his records? There’s no information about him anywhere! It’s amazing that you’ve seen him
Really glad my surfing led me here. Cannot believe I have never heard of him. Hoping I can find more of his stuff. Really, really excited to find this footage,
@@undergodot I found a link for a physical copy of his album, but they are also here on RU-vid. www.downhomemusic.com/product/mike-russo-his-guitar-piano/
It never stops to throw me I been playing guitar for 25 years now and I hear a fellow like this and say well Jeremy you better learn knew songs! I love that I kept my granddad's music in my life all these years cause fok music is rare now in 2022. All the kids love is hippy hop.
Hip hop was originally folk music - like Rock & Roll - until it got commercialized & marketed on a large scale. I know what you mean, though. I keep looking for new stuff & always seem to end up looking further & further back to the real roots.
These videos and the original recordings are complete hidden treasures, even how they show you the fretboard and arpeggio/ strumming over everything else 👌
Good Morning Little School Girl sounds like one of the John Mayall songs he found and recorded. Great Stuff I love that he finger picks with just his thumb and for finger. Cool!
Wow, what a sound on one guitar this man made, .insane ! And, believe me,..I saw the little dog jumping up and down !! Thats absolute crazy,.. A GENIUS 👍👍👍
Used to go see him play in the 60's with Ron Brentano on the banjo at the 13th Avenue Coffeehouse, a center of the folk music scene in Portland. Still have his LP he recorded in 1969.
Insane!!!! Watched both parts about 50 times... Someone must know how to play gallows pole?????????? I would give my good nut to for some tab or anyone can see how he is doing that in part 2, there is a cover on here that is close... but no cigar!
There is tab for Gallis Pole in "Lead Belly No Stranger to the Blues" TRO Folkways Music Publishers and some amount of tab in "The 12-String Guitar as Played By Leadbelly" by Julius Lester and Pete Seeger.
Bob ZmudaVision lets be honest, the best tab in the world ain't going to help much. This is some sell your soul to the devil Voodoo Magik he's doing to play like that.
@@girboz your comment "no soul" is totally inappropriate, arrogant too. Obviously you don't know what "soul" is. This guy's a natural musician, he's got style, technique, originality, creativity, sincerity and just for you - a soul.
