DALE started playing fiddle in 1973 when he moved to Olympia, Washington from his native Connecticut. He was learning to play a variety of styles along with some friends that were all learning together. In 1975, Dale heard "The Boys Of The Lough" and everything changed. He was listening to recordings, picking up things from people who went to Ireland to learn the fiddle, and just practicing all the time. In other words, he was obsessed. 20 years later Martin Hayes tells Folk World Magazine "Dale Russ is one of the greatest fiddlers I know in Irish Traditional Music." He has also been recognized by many other notable Irish musicians, as well as having a huge following up and down the West Coast and quickly spreading eastward.
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Being self taught, Dale makes an excellent teacher and is much sought after for his rich musical stylings that are steeped in tradition and articulated brilliantly. For thirteen years he taught advanced Irish fiddle at The Lark In The Morning music camp in Mendocino, California. He is now showing up in other music camps across the U.S., and teaching privately as well.
In 1980 Dale was invited to perform at the first Boston College Irish Music Festival "My Love Is In America" featuring 16 of the finest Irish fiddle players living in the States. The concert was recorded and realeased by Green Linnet Records and won an award from the |
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Smithsonian Institute as "Traditional Recording Of The Year".
Dale was featured in Fiddler Magazine for their "Spring 1997" issue. He was interviewed by Larry Hill during The Northwest Folklife Festival in May 1996. His tune "February Reel #1" was included as well as a review of the first "Jody's Heaven" CD by Michael Simmons that can be found on our Reviews page. You can find Dale playing around the Pacific Northwest with The Suffering Gaels, or playing with guitarsts Mike Saunders or Finn MacGinty. To get more information on performances by "Jody's Heaven" or any of Dale's other musical projects check our Gigs & Tours page. |
Finn MacGinty, who is one of Dales fellow Suffering Gaels, speaks Japanese and organizes frequent trips to Japan for the "Gaels" or just himself and Dale. It's no wonder that the Fiddlers Magazine artical was titled; "Dale Russ Irish Fiddling on the Pacific Rim".
Dale has produced a solo recording with Mike Saunders titled "Irish Fiddle", as well as two recordings by "The Suffering Gaels": "Bout Time" and "One Horned Cow". He is currently recording a second solo CD with Finn MacGinty, and yes... there has been discusion of another "Jody's Heaven" CD sometime in the future. |
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