News Archive 2016 : October – December

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31st December 2016

To bring 2016 to a happy ending, Russell wishes everyone the best for next year …

See you all in 2017 !

18th December 2016

Russell headlined the Daily Post’s annual charity carol concert in aid of Ty Gobaith (Hope House) Children’s Hospice held in the arena at Venue Cymru.  The show was recorded and will be shown on S4C on Friday 23rd December from 8.25pm and repeated on Saturday, Christmas Eve, from 11.45pm.

Before the concert, Russell and other members of the show’s company paid a visit to Ty Gobaith …

The concert itself was a real treat with some of today’s finest young Welsh singers participating and Russell sang in Welsh!  Read the Daily Post’s report and see their gallery of pictures.

16th December 2016

The second of the two recordings that Russell made recently is to be shown on this coming Sunday’s BBC Songs Of Praise from 4.40 pm.  He’ll be performing “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

14th December 2016

Russell announces that he’ll be performing with a full orchestra at several UK venues in early May 2017.   Please see his Newsletter and Facebook post for details

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13th December 2016

Russell and Louise met Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Patron of the NSPCC’s Childline charity after last night’s ‘Merry Little Christmas’ concert at St. Paul’s Cathedral …

It looks like they all had a great time.  Congratulations to Russell and Team on a superb night.

We weren’t there but hope to be able to listen to the recording of the concert on Classic FM on Tuesday 20th December from 8 pm

13th December 2016

Manchester Evening News reports on Mike Sweeney’s Christmas Charity Extravaganza at The Lowry and features several photos including a few of Russell …

9th December 2016

Russell makes a very brief recorded appearance on BBC Breakfast’s Advent Calendar to wish the nation, “Happy Christmas.”

“and a partridge in a pear tree … “

2nd December 2016

29th November 2016

Russell recently paid a visit to his home town of Irlam to see the community work of the Hamilton Davies Trust, particularly the restoration of the Station House that had fallen into disrepair since his childhood.  There are several photos on the Trust’s Facebook Page and a report by Neal Keeling in the printed edition of the Manchester Evening News.

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Classic FM are supporting the NSPCC and their Childline’s “Merry Little Christmas” concert at St. Paul’s Cathedral on 13th December, where Russell is also supporting that fundraising event.

They’re offering over a hundred auction lots – including some great ‘money-can’t-buy’ offers – in the Little Stars Dream Auction, plus the opportunity for three people to each win a pair of tickets to attend the concert at St. Paul’s Cathedral, along with rail travelling expenses and 4-star overnight accommodation.  You just need to know what the ‘P’ stands for!

27th November 2016

Russell was ‘live’ on BBC Radio 2’s early morning Faith programme, Good Morning Sunday, talking to Clare Balding and singing a really fine “If I Loved You” (at that hour of the day!) accompanied by Mr Gregory Darling.

Listen Again from 1 hour 29 minutes (01:29:10) into the programme

24th November 2016

Today is Russell’s 50th birthday and we wish him the very. very best of everything!
Happy Birthday, Russell.

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Russell hints at major developments for 2017, including TV and live appearances in the United States, in an interview with Alex Belfield on Celebrity Radio …

21st November 2016

Russell lets it be known that he’ll be on BBC Radio Manchester with Becky Want later this week.  Part 1 on Thursday 24th and Part 2 on Friday 25th November …

14th November 2016

‘True Stories‘ goes into the Official UK Charts Company’s album chart for “Indie Artists” as a new entry at #4.   Meanwhile, in the USA, the single version of  ‘Do You Hear What I Hear‘ goes into All Access Music Group’s chart for ‘Top Adds’ to radio stations’ playlists and is also included in their list of ‘Cool New Music’.

11th November 2016

Russell supported the Royal British Legion’s Armistice Day event, “Silence In The Square” in Trafalgar Square this morning.  It’s now available to watch via YouTube.  Russell is introduced by Ben Shephard towards the end at 52 minutes …

4th November 2016

Released today, Russell’s ‘True Stories‘ goes straight to #1 in Amazon UK’s chart for ‘Opera and Vocal Music’.

Well deserved congratulations!

28th October 2016

A “trailer” for a documentary about Russell appears on the YouTube channel of American songwriter, musician and radio host, Jim Brickman.

‘La Voce Finora’

“The Voice Thus Far”  :  It looks like it’s going to be totally EPIC!

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Also from Jim Brickman, an audio clip in which Russell relates his rehearsal ‘briefing’ from the great Luciano Pavarotti plus news of Russell being Jim’s guest in this week’s Artist Spotlight.

27th October 2016

Russell makes a “Special Announcement” this afternoon – five CD signings at selected HMV stores –

CD signing plus a live performance of several tracks from the album –
Friday 4th November  :  HMV Manchester  :  5.30pm

CD signing only at the following –
Monday 7th November  5.30pm- HMV Gateshead
Tuesday 8th November 5.30pm –  HMV  Meadowhall Sheffield
Wednesday 9th November 5.30pm –  HMV Bullring Birmingham
Thursday 10th November 5.30pm – HMV Reading

Find more on our “Forthcoming Appearances” page,

All events are subject to change or cancellation at short notice, any changes to the event will be notified by social media.

25th October 2016

Shortly before the Album Showcase performance at Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club, Russell was added to the Wall Of Fame.   You’ll find our own review here.

18th October 2016

A very busy day for Russell on the radio.  Please see the Interviews 2016 page for details and links to the several stations.  BRfm had what we believe to have been the first UK air play for “If I Loved You” from the new album and you can hear that from around 34 minutes into their podcast, after the end of the interview and ‘commercial break’.

15th October 2016

Look out for Russell in tomorrow’s edition of the Sunday Express’ “S Magazine” …

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The dates for broadcast of the two BBC Songs Of Praise programmes recently recorded in Manchester are given – unofficially – as

Sunday 13th November : Remembrance Sunday…
Sunday 4th December : Second Sunday of Advent

but please check TV listings nearer those dates to confirm.

12th October 2016

Russell lets us have a sneak peek at a recording for BBC Songs Of Praise that, looking at the poppies that are in evidence, could well be for this year’s Remembrance Sunday, 13th November.

The venue was Hallé St. Peter’s, a deconsecrated church in Ancoats, Manchester.  Recording was reportedly for two episodes of Songs Of Praise, one for Remembrance Sunday and the other for “Christmas”.  Great to see Masquerade String Quartet and John Bailey still on the Team.

Lots of lovely Russell on the TV to come.

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Also today, the RAC publishes an interview with Russell in which he tells Erin Baker about some of the cars in his life, running the full spectrum from the days of his dad’s tiny Hillman Imp through the massive Humvee to his “dream car” – the McLaren 650S.

11th October 2016

Smooth Radio North West have added three audio clips to their Soundcloud account of Carlos and Russell’s recent conversations during their “Make Some Noise” event.

The third clip features one of the two songs that Russell wrote himself for the new ‘True Stories’ album.  It’s called “I’m Alive” and it’s stirring stuff.  Have a listen here …

8th October 2016

A sharp-eyed fellow Russeller notes that the ‘expected release date’ for the digital version of the album on the US website, Amazon.com, has been put back from 28th October to 4th November and now coincides with the release date for the physical CD in the UK.

7th October 2016

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Russell’s latest Newsletter adds that ‘True Stories‘ can be pre-ordered from HMV (as well as Amazon.co.uk) and that it’s expected to be available to buy from ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Tesco in due course.

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