This album is an instant classic! To take a listen to four stand-out tracks from their new album go to myspace.com/marcellandthetruth.
Baltimore's own!
Official Biography
(courtesy of Marcell and the Truth)
It all started when Marcell was five years old when his parents, Pastors Milton and Shirley K. Russell, encouraged him to sing “Lay your hands on me Jesus” at his grandfather’s church. Years went by as Marcell would watch his mother, as a lead singer, free style and adlib gospel arrangements in live concerts setting congregations throughout Baltimore on fire. His mother was a petite lady with a huge presence & voice. Marcell’s father, Milton Russell, had the ability of using all kinds of random folk throughout the community to arrange and perform live music. His father led a band, which consisted of cousins, uncles, nephews and many other family members. There was always high energy, intensity, and unbridled passion when the family of musicians came together. Marcell, along with his 6 brothers, sister and endless cousins could not wait for their parents to leave so they could start singing on the microphones and playing on the instruments. Marcell never knew how all this would define him later.
At the age of 11, Marcell got his first chance to play in the family band. He played the bongos along side his older brother Milton Russell Jr. His dad was a perfectionist and demanded that everyone played with all their hearts; and that was just during rehearsal. Marcell’s brother Milton would play so hard sometimes there would be blood on his drums. His dad would say, “Practice is for practice, rehearsal is for rehearsing, and the show is where we perform. Don’t practice in rehearsal, and rehearse at performances - now take it from the top.”
The summer before he started high school, Marcell told his parents that he did not want to write gospel music but what he now calls “Truth Music.” When asked what that was, Marcell stated, he wanted to write music for everybody - church people and regular people. He said, “I want to talk about what church people talk about over dinner and in arguments and in relationships when they are trying to understand life, religion, and God.” They encourage him to do just that. He wrote his first two songs at 15 years old, one entitled “Can Money” and the other “They killed the Wrong Man”. He sang them for his parents and they allowed him to sing them the next Sunday at church. During the performances, Marcell would extend choruses and modulate lines midstream a song, many could see the improvisation and passion of his mother’s influence. By inheriting his dad’s smooth vocals and composing ability and his mom’s energy, it did not take folks long to see where things were headed.
After graduating high school Marcell recorded with a few local studios but nothing materialized for him. Discouraged, he began playing his gimbe drum at home and kept writing. He needed extra money, so he entered a few talent shows. Every contest he brought his gimbe drum and would perform a song he wrote called “I’m Your Seed”, and after winning 23 of the 25 contest, Marcell was inspired to try to record again. After repeatedly trying to sing with producers who felt he should and could easily be the next great balladeer if he wasn't so soulful, Marcell stopped recording. Again, the time was not right in Marcell’s life; however, a new chapter was on the horizon, and the building of the band begins. The band was initially formed out frustration but passion has fueled the purpose ever since.
In 1997, Marcell answered an ad in the paper to join a funk-rock band as a background singer started by a gentlemen that would later be known as Marcell's musical brother and partner - William Bagwell aka Bags. Marcell lasted one performance as a background singer. The front man complained Marcell was too much. Before the next show the front man was fired and Marcell replaced him. Man, the audiences loved him. After singing Sly, P-Funk , Ohio Players, the Meters...... he was no longer a virgin to funky soul. It was clear that modern and typical R&B production was not really capturing his emotional passion and style. He found his passion – writing and performing from the soul.
For three years Marcell and Bags recorded and wrote material in studios over 808 beats but nothing came of it; it all would change again the fall of 2000. They went into a tiny store front church and heard two guys (cousins), CJ a drummer and Gerald on bass, and were moved. Two months later they performed at their college, Morgan State University , a song called "Never Seen You Coming." Most of the next year the four of them along with background singer Bilal Salaam and Micah Smith on keys would write over 20 songs.
How did they get to the chapter in recording this debut album?
Well when you ask Marcell that question he mentions four people immediately, Judah, James Collins of Fertile Ground, Teddy Douglas & Jay Steinhour of the legendary Basement Boys. You see back in 2002 Judah, a local musician, got the band in a spot known as Organic Soul, this is the place in Baltimore where can you go if you want a chance. Every Tuesday night they would allow local artist to come up and show what they had. Well that summer of 2002 Marcell & the Truth took the stage. The audience embraced them and they became sort of regulars soon after. After the third time performing there, James Collins, the organizer of the night, introduced himself to Marcell. James and Marcell began to spend more and more time together discussing future ideas and music. A year later James introduced Marcell to the legendary Teddy Douglas.
Jay & Teddy were impressed with the unity & sound of the band and offered them a chance to be signed to a production contract for 1 album. Marcell & the Truth would finally get a big break. This was a huge gamble for the Basement Boys and for the next 1 1/2 years the Basement Boys invested and worked with the band to record the best debut album they could. Marcell loved the fact that Teddy Douglas did not use electronics during his producing & recording process but a real board. He controlled each button and faded everything himself. Teddy's ear and timing was amazing. "No one records like this anymore" says Marcell. Marcell informed Teddy & Jay that if they gave him & the band the chance to record they would market it themselves and they kept that promise.
Marcell and Bags began to reach out to every station they could. The first to give them a chance was Marcell’s own college station WEAA or 88.9. Marcell went to the music director Marcellus "Bassman" Sheppard in September 2006. The “Bassman” heard the album an agreed to play the song “Time Stops” and it the phones began to ring shortly after. Since then countless online radio stations, college stations and a few major stations in the US and abroad have given them air play consistently. Where will it end? Well we’ll let history determine.
No comments :
Post a Comment