 pmfoto.com Name: MARCELL M. RUSSELL Native: Baltimore, MD, USA Stage Name: "Marcell" - "The Voice" - "The Voice of Baltimore" High School: Edmondson Westside Sr. High College: Morgan State University Influences: Mom & Dad (Pastor’s Milton & Shirley K. Russell), Grandfather (Bishop E. Greatest Brown), Marvin Winans & Family, James Brown, Toni Terry, Stevie Wonder, Andre Crouch, Ted Pollard, Phil Collins, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Darryl Coley, Dave Matthews Band, Michael Jackson, Shirley Caesar, Donny Hathaway, Boyz II Men, R Kelly, Eagles, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Isley Brothers, P Funk, Bob Marley, Johnny Gill, Sly & the Family Stone, & Frankie Beverly and Maze
Accomplishments: Past 12 years - wrote over 700 songs, performed in 38 cities, 7 countries, over 1200 performances; Won 23 of 25 Vocal competitions Music Contributions: Founder of Oakhill Music - Managed, Recruited, Trained, Marketed & Promoted the band for 12 years - The lyricist & arranger for 1st & 2nd albums - Trained and developed sound along w/CJ, Gerald, & Bags Time: Founder & lead singer from 1997 - Present What is Marcell bringing to Music locally, nationally & worldwide?
MARCELL has become known to many as "The Voice of Baltimore" or to some fans simply as "The Voice". For many years now the industry has been without their lovable big men…their "GROWN MEN". If you are missing the smooth tones of Luther Vandross, he has it. If you are missing that energy of Gerald Levert, he has it. If you are missing the soul-stirring passion and lyrics of Donnie Hathaway.…he has it. He appears from afar to be the band's bodyguard than the lead singer. His shoulders are almost 5’ in radius, and at 6’3” not only does his stature command attention but when he opens his mouth, and the first note resonates, it’s clear he has it and we have that “GROWN MAN” back in R&B and Soul music. He’s not a made-up figure the industry is trying to sell us, he’s the real deal. Most of his success has been from his own labor, passion, shear talent, skill and drive, and band of brothers - "The Truth". His range is amazing. He has been known to go from a bellowing bass note to alto in one breath and his vocal control sets him apart so much more. He has sung in a few lounges & clubs with no microphone, felt and heard so clearly, went back on stage and bellowed in the microphone to an immediate & subtle whisper. It’s a pleasure to watch. A popular journalist in the R&B/Soul scene in Washington DC said once, “If there’s a room full of singers, and Marcell walks in, it's safe to say, undoubtedly, he’s the best, period.”
Then, there is his songwriting. It’s clear to most that his songs have spiritual undertones. His songs are not just your typical verse hook-verse hook, they are audio movies. His writing feels simple...simply profound. Some have compared his writing to Bill Withers or Bob Marley…as a matter of fact, he is severely clever. When asked, "What is your thought process behind your songwriting?", his response is, "…to me less is more; it’s harder to be simple and understood than to be complicated and misunderstood. I hope one day my songs read like the book of Proverbs…short quotes filled with so much wisdom. But, I know it’s a price to pay for me to see life that clear". Marcell’s love songs are timeless, bringing back an innocence and honesty to simply “LOVE”. When asked about his thinking in regards to love songs, he responded, “I feel many R&B and Pop songs speak about getting into relationships & leaving them, and that’s cool, but I want to offer the option of staying and making it work. Right now my generation seems to have the whole independent – I don’t need you, thinking down, but I want my music to offer the thought – I need you and you need me. Hopefully, I can inspire some folks to build more…instead of destroying, staying…instead of leaving, and giving…instead of just taking”. Marcell states that he's part of what he calls the "restoration movement for families & relationships". Marcell, "I feel the people God allow in your life are not that easy to replace but TV and main stream thinking would allow us to believe we can just replace people. I'm learning to consider more of what I do and say because I need you to survive."
At only 33 years of age, it’s obvious he is beyond his years & just getting started.
So what is Marcell bringing... jazz, neo-soul, gospel, latin, world beats, soul, folk, blues in less than 4 min. every song. This is a true singer-songwriter at its best. My encouragement to you is to experience his band, his voice, & his songs for yourself… MARCELL THANK YOU'S from Marcell Russell I would like to thank God, your mercy and grace is sufficient and I love you so much. I pray you are pleased with my life. Thank you to my father, Milton Russell, man the older I get the more precious you become, daddy. You are a real gem man. Mommy, thank you so much for making me feel that I'm supposed to be great, period. To my brothers and sister who sung with me as kids, lol... "The Russellettes", I take you for granted when we're together and miss you when we're apart. I love ya'll very much. To Maurice, little brother, I'll see you on the other side. Your death inspired so much of this album. It taught me to fear no man, take the road least traveled, love deeply, listen to God more and walk with him even if you have to go where he sends you alone. And to my brothers - "the Truth" - CJ, Gerald, Mike Check... you guys make it easy to make music. Your convictions, standards and willingness, musically, makes me look even better than I am. Our chemistry is a gift from God that I cherish. I pray we can do this for a long time fellas. Men: William "Bags" Bagwell, Ted Pollard my 1st mentor & vocal trainer, Tony Martin my 2nd mentor and first true promoter, Teddy Douglas my 3rd mentor and musical advisor, Theodore Crawford my first male fan & friend (15 yrs and counting big dawg, love you), Patrick Slouck (you teach me so much about business & life intergrity, love you man), Matthew Johnson, Jonathan Hebb (Your love calls us all higher big brother), Cleveland Wells ("Uncle"), Leonard "Dink" Dukes - thx for the journal I write these songs in man, David Cox (thx for helping me be cool with learning me), Henry Hadley (Twin!), Calvin Hadley (you inspire me man), Irving Robinson, Dr. Nathan Carter, Andre Tyler, L Michael Gipson (you simply inspire big brother), Franks Shefflield, Bassman - 88.9 (Thx for giving my first chance to be heard on the radio. You mean alot good brother), Marc Evans (go get it man), Ray Tilkens, Eric Roberson (Thx for the talk bro.), Pastor Clarke (Bro. you help restore my faith in God so much), and David Moreno Women: Vivian Brown (I love you god-mom), Crystal (your contributions to the music are incredible) & last but not least, Katoriae Brown (you are my ride or die singer, artist, friend, vocalist, & bandmate; from the moment your came you upgraded my sound). Now to all other friends, mentors, past relationships of any kind that influenced me & these albums, I thank you. |
