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Rod Russell-Ides

ROD RUSSELL IDES & RAINMAKER

About Me

Crazy In Love marks the singular return of Texas songmaker Rod Russell Ides to the music scene. Deaf for almost two decades, a miracle happens. Asked to build a replication of the Lourdes Grotto in Houston, Texas, Rod visits the original Lourdes Grotto in France. He douses himself with holy water. Then one midnight, the telephone rings and Rod hears the call. After that it's all about the music.Formerly a keyboardist, Rod now picks up the guitar and a renaissance of new songs almost write themselves. Another twist of fate introduces Rod to Kenny Withrow (New Bohemians), one Dallas afternoon. Withrow gets interested, signs on as producer and lead guitarist. He brings in the New Bo musicians. The sessions take place in Paul Middleton's analogue studio in Palmer, Texas.Pop diva Edie Brickell, hears about the recording sessions from Withrow and she pens her first country/western tune "Leanin' Towards Lovin' You" and gives the song to Rod for the CD. She invites Rod and Kenny to New York and they record the new song in Paul Simon's studio. And with that Crazy In Love is a wrap.Blinded At The Gate, Rod's first recording venture got raves in the Austin Chronicle, "The music is so well written and performed - as talented as anyone picking up a Grammy." And now he is back and better than ever.Rod currently lives in Dallas Texas with his wife the playwright, Isabella Russell-Ides. Together they penned the award winning musical, Nashville Road produced in Austin by Center Stage. They also created the musical American Avatar, a Richard Rogers finalist in NYC. Rod created the music for The Big Event, another Austin award winner produced by Big State.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/13/2006
Band Members: ROD RUSSELL IDES, Lead singer, Rhythm guitar and songwriter has a new CD (now available on itunes), Crazy In Love, that has been featured on KHYI, (The Range). Says DJ Brett Dillon, "Rod (Red Orange Dreams) Russell Ides...From sunrise to sunset...his music rolls the tides." Thor Christensen (Dallas Morning News) writes, "An impressive singer songwriter, Ides' dusty voice recalls Tom Waits by way of Neil Young, while his best tracks fuse Texas swing with Caribbean grooves. The Austin chronical raved, “as good as anyone picking up a Grammy.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KENNY WITHROW Lead guitar, has been on the charts and Letterman Live! As well as his signature guitar work he is a composer, producer and arranger. From Dallas Texas, he graduated from Booker T. Washington School of the Arts, where he studied Jazz guitar and composition. A founding and current member of Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Kenny has also played with a wide array of groups including B.L. Lacerta, Cottonmouth Texas, as well as many touring acts, including Everlast and Larry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~STU MANNING Keyboards, Vocals is from Oil City, PA, by way of the Motor City, Ohio, and Alabama, but he got to Texas as fast as he could. Ever since he saw a kid getting all the girls' attention by imitating Elton John licks in choir class, Stu’s been banging the keys and howling into the mic. Before joining Rod's band, RainMaker, Stu rocked his socks out as lead singer, songwriter, and keyboardist for Charmed Quarks. He's had musical stints with The Tribe, Donny Ray Ford, Liberty Valance, and even a few gigs with Ray Wylie Hubbard. Plus he jams with various Dead tribute bands, including Aiko. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DAVIS BICKSTON “Tennis shoes in a dryer” is the way the way his early drumming was described. He quickly advanced from the dryer to Deep Ellum in the mid eighties and found himself gravitating toward original music. From ’87-92 he played with Mildred, an eclectic rock band. From ’95-97 Davis toured with Spot and gained real world experience of the music biz: the good the bad and the….well. These days he says he is inspired by the quality musicians that he found with Rod Russell Ides. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BOB McConville, Bass: the ever-elusive Bob has so far dodged all requests to provide us with any biographical information. We suspect a shady past but are unable to confirm. So Bob, tell us, what were you doing in the 90’s?
Record Label: Dishie Records
Type of Label: Indie