Musicians - Bill Russell

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	Musicians - Bill Russell

William "Bill" Russell (1905-1992) is an American music historian and modernist composer. Russell was born William Russell Wagner, but in his youth he decided to become a classical music composer and dropped his last name as he considered "Wagner" already taken in that field.

He was a leading figure in percussion music composition, influenced by his acquaintances John Cage and Henry Cowell. Russell's oeuvre was performed integrally, assisted by Cage, in 1990 in New York.

He was also one of the leading authorities on early New Orleans jazz, making many recordings for his American Music Records and writing articles and books. He helped bring Bunk Johnson to public attention and was an important force in the New Orleans jazz revival.

Russell co-founded the Jazz Archive at Tulane University.

Bill Russell also played violin with the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra.

Russell collected a large amount of material related to the history of New Orleans, early jazz, ragtime, blues, and gospel music, which he kept in his French Quarter apartment. During his life he was always willing to share access to the material with serious researchers. At his death he left the collection to the Historic New Orleans Collection, where it continues to be a valuable source for researchers.

Russell, Bill Russell, Bill Russell, Bill Russell, Bill

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Musicians - Bill Russell

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