We recently connected with Phillip Russo and have shared our conversation below.

Phillip, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I am the product of a handful of amazing teachers & mentors throughout my early years as a dance student to my music studies as a young adult. Learning to comprehend rhythms through 18 years of professional dance training really lended itself to my decision to study music in college & ultimately become a musician. Oddly enough, my mother, Tracy Price, was my dance teacher as well, since my family owned a dance studio in St. Charles. Throughout my dance career, I was able to travel around the U.S. and learned from some of greatest tap dancers of our generation. Our dance studio, The Performing Arts Centre, had a piano studio too, which allowed me to study piano at an early age from Mary Cantwell.

In my teenage years, I discovered the guitar and was mostly self-taught until I began studying music at Lindenwood University. While there, I studied guitar under Grant Krener & Brian Vaccaro. In my last few years at LU, I added a music composition minor & studied under Adam Donohue. Pam Grooms & Ryan Curtis were two other professors that played integral roles in my music education. The joining of my dance training to my music education played equal roles into the musician I am today, as well as how I conduct myself in a professional setting.

I learned everything I needed to just at the right pace – with each lesson compounding skills that I use today. The most important skill I learned is patience with myself & that progress exceeds perfection in every way. Rome was not built in a day & great musicians are not crafted overnight… There is still much to achieve on my instruments & in business.

Phillip, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a soloist, I perform on guitar, piano, & harmonica as well as singing. I typically perform with my piano and an acoustic run through a pedal board & ultimately into a loop station. This opens up so many options & can provide a much more full sound being just a soloist. What I’ve often heard from folks in the crowd is that they love the selection of cover tunes.

Spanning from songs like “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” to “Wichita Lineman” to “Sister Golden Hair” then a lounge piano version of “Hit Me Baby One More Time” to “That’s Life” by Sinatra. I like to take requests when I can for the challenge & to pander to the crowd when needed! My secret weapon is the loop station. Although I use it more on a basic level to add a solo here and there, it allows me to switch between my guitar and keyboard with ease.

Given my background in being a huge theory nerd, I absolutely LOVE medleys & intermingling songs pieces together to tell other stories.There’s a quote from a theatre critic, Gary Beck, in Puerto Vallarta, MX that wrote a review on The Russo Brothers show commenting on my arrangement of songs by The Beatles. I have some others but you’ll have to see me play them live – can’t give away all my secrets!

As Side Car, we try to focus more on our original music which blends together bits of jazz & the classic ragtime changes with folk-inspired songwriting & the heart of the blues. We recorded an original Christmas song and an arrangement of Silent Night for a holiday album sponsored by Alpha Brewing co. It features St. Louis greats like Ptah Williams, Dave Black, Joe Metzka & was produced by Joe Mancuso. Side Car’s debut album is being recorded at Shock City Studios at the end of September. Hoping to release it by the end of 2022.

I am the Music Events Manager at Alpha Brewing Company in St. Louis, MO. I produce their live music calendar, event promotions & have produced festivals such as the Morganford Music Mile & sponsor Beers for Butterflies.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In this case, small gestures can create a big impact. From going to see a show, supporting a local business that provides live music, buying merchandise from a band or artist, to the simple act of sharing an artists post on social media, clicking “interested” on social media. All of these things cultivate a positive community that allow for an artists message to be heard.

St. Louis is a music city & that is apparent when you can find live music in so many establishments 7 days a week.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I am proud to contribute to the St. Louis music community by promoting & booking musicians as well as being a musician myself! Although I don’t see myself as a major player in the scene (thanks imposter syndrome…), when I find myself in the corner of a bar singing my originals or even just an arrangement of a popular song; seeing a smiling face as they head to their next destination, I know that I helped put positivity into the world & to that listener.

Side Car’s debut album is set to be recorded at the end of September & I think that will be the next benchmark for what feels most rewarding; capturing a moment in time with my bandmates & our songs to share a piece of our hearts with St. Louis & beyond.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.russomusicworks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russomusicworks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussoMusicWorks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx_8Vn79T2I
• Other: Side Car Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mb7MIklYvmGaSD3zfMUmg?si=bi2ZCMlDS-SsgdEvC3ieLw

Image Credits
Jessica Hitchcock