Russell Morris

A few phrases commonly used when describing Aussie legend Russell Morris.. Shooting to fame in the middle 60’s with Somebody’s Image, Russell had a string of hits including Hush and the Bob Dylan classic Baby Blue.

Current work
Constantly in demand, Russell stills tours nationally throughout the year as well as appearances internationally. Russell has worked alongside industry heavyweights like Cher, The Bee Gees, Linda Ronstadt, The Beach Boys and toured Australia with the hugely successful “Long Way To The Top” in 2012.

Previous experience

In 1969 he and producer Molly Meldrum released “The Real Thing”, Australia’s only true psychedelic #1 hit and a song that is played regularly on commercial radio to this day.
Following that, Russell penned breakthrough hits such as;
Sweet Sweet Love, Wings of an Eagle, Rachel, Part 3 into Paper Walls, The Girl That I Love and many many more.

In 2012 Russell released the Sharkmouth Album a collection of tunes written about Australian historical characters.
Sharkmouth reached #1 position on the iTunes Blues Charts & #1 on the Australian Blues Radio Charts, Russell won the 2013 ARIA award for Best Blues n Roots album for Sharkmouth.

Awards:
ARIA hall of fame inductee Russell Morris captured the hearts and imagination of Australians in 2012 when he unveiled ‘Sharkmouth’, the first of a trilogy of albums re-telling some amazing stories in Australia’s distant past-some famous, some not so famous-creating a historical document using blues and rock to celebrate the yarns that modern Australia was built on the back of Van Diemen’s Land picks up where Sharkmouth left off, this time covering great Australian characters and stories including Breaker Morant, Sandakan, the Eureka Stockade and many more.

In April 2014 Russell released Van Diemen’s Land. Van Diemen’s Land picks up where Sharkmouth left off, this time covering great Australian characters and stories including Breaker Morant, Sandakan, the Eureka Stockade and many more. Morris is joined on Van Diemen’s Land by a host of special guest artists including Joe Camilleri, Rick Springfield, Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), Scott Owen (The Living End), Ross Hannaford (Daddy Cool), Vika & Linda Bull, Phil Manning (Chain) and Joe Robinson.
“Van Diemen’s Land is an album that has been an amazing experience to make,” said Morris, “With the success of Sharkmouth; it really let me off my leash so to speak. It showed me that people want music that tells them a story and moves them.
“I spent over a year researching these great Australian stories. To me these albums are about looking back at the characters that deserve to be remembered and then doing that in the best way I know how- through song. It’s about leaving a legacy that in fifty years’ time, someone can put these records on and learn something about the spirit of our great country, in the same way we do when we read The Man From Snowy River. ”

Upon its release Van Diemen’s land debut at #4 on the National Aria Charts.
Van Diemen’s Land was nominated for Best Blues n Roots album in the 2014 ARIA awards.
Van Diemen’s Land won best Australian Blues Album 2015 and Russell Morris won best male vocalist at the Chain awards.

In 2015 Russell Released the third Album in his Blues Trilogy Red Dirt – Red Heart Debuting at 6 on the National Aria Charts and still going strong in the charts today hitting the #1 on the National Aria Blues/Jazz Charts.

Red Dirt – Red Heart tells a story of the Australian interior. Any history of Australia albeit very brief, must include the people who have inhabited this wonderful country for at least 40,000 years. This album goes on to tell the stories of two bushrangers, another about a beautiful town, a song about a loner, a recluse, and an escape artist (Goal that is), a snake and the spectacular Nullabour Desert. We have also included some of our great indigenous heroes in the hope that we can share their stories.