"There's nothing more exciting than experiencing the energy generated by
the crowd during a live concert. It's electrifying!"
- Mike Russell
Mike was born and raised in rural Minnesota on a fourth generation grain and dairy farm. While there was no shortage of hard work available, they made sure there was no shortage of music either. His grandpa would sing in the barn while milking cows; and Mike would sing in the silo while throwing down silage, simply because he liked the echo. Both of his parents were singers; and he grew up listening to his grandfather play banjo and accordion. In fact, his grandfather and six great-uncles were happiest while playing music for wedding dances and community events.
Throughout his childhood, Mike was exposed to the music of his parents' generation- Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and a variety of gospel artists. Their legacy of great standards provided him with a foundation and appreciation for his current love of music. He has expanded his musical appreciation to include many other styles, such as '50s and '60s, R&B, Jazz, Rock, Country, and Folk. He still enjoys listening to music from the past as well as many of today's popular songs.
Strong family values were instilled in Mike from an early age. "If it's not right, it's wrong" is the phrase he remembers his grandmother often saying. He believes in giving back to his community through donations of his time and resources to non-profit organizations and special projects for faith-based groups. Mike has a heart felt concern for children with special needs and appreciates the opportunities he's had to be of assistance.
Mike enjoys seeing other "legends" tribute acts, and through his extensive travels has met many of the top Elvis performers in the country. He also enjoys seeing the real legends perform live. Some of their performance qualities he's been inspired by are: Tom Jones' vigorous delivery and emotional conviction; Johnny Mathis' ability to present each song as if he was singing it for the first time; and the entertaining audience interaction of the Righteous Brothers. Mike has also been influenced by such artists as: George Strait, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, The Platters, Neil Sedaca, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Don Ho.
