Biography
Mysteries envelop both Devon Russell’s origins and the substantial voids that mark his recording history. His path opened in the mid-1960s rock steady era as one of the Tartans, the vocal quartet completed by Prince Lincoln Thompson, Linbergh “Preps” Lewis, and Cedric Myton. The ensemble dissolved once their 1967 Federal Records single “Dance All Night” had run its course.
From that point Russell worked alone, save for a brief interval spent as lead singer of Cultural Roots, the unit that issued Money, Sex and Violence on Runn Records. His own first album, Bible and Gun, appeared in 1982 on Sweet Music Records under Coxson Dodd’s supervision; its title track became a Jamaican success.
Output stayed infrequent, materializing only when chance and availability coincided. Tamoki Wambesi Records issued Prison Life, produced by Roy and Norma Laul Cousins, and the extracted single “Jah Is Watching You” attracted attention. P-Vine Records subsequently released Home Bound Train, which contains several Russell performances.
House of Reggae Records delivered Darker Than Blue in 1996, a moving salute to Curtis Mayfield that proved to be his most commercially durable album. A duet with Nina Soul titled “Sometimes” surfaced on Tamoki Wambesi, while further key singles included Mayfield’s “My Woman’s Love,” originally the flip of the Impressions’ “This Is My Country,” plus “Thanks & Praise,” “Story of the Drum,” “Race Track Riot,” “Jah Holds the Key” (credited to Devon Russell & Zion Train), and “Three the Hard Way” alongside Nitty Gritty and Willie Williams.
Production credits encompass Big Youth’s 1978 album Isaiah First Prophet of the Old and the co-production, shared with Sugar Minott, of “Happy Birthday.” Russell also played drums on the Mighty Diamonds’ 1988 album Never Get Weary and added vocals to Doctor Alimantado’s Privileged Few LP that same year, although most of his contributions remain uncredited and unrecorded. He died of a brain tumor on June 18, 1997, one year after Darker Than Blue appeared. Former Tartan Prince Lincoln Thompson, known locally as “Soxs” or “Saxs,” passed away early in 1999 following a lung-cancer diagnosis.
From that point Russell worked alone, save for a brief interval spent as lead singer of Cultural Roots, the unit that issued Money, Sex and Violence on Runn Records. His own first album, Bible and Gun, appeared in 1982 on Sweet Music Records under Coxson Dodd’s supervision; its title track became a Jamaican success.
Output stayed infrequent, materializing only when chance and availability coincided. Tamoki Wambesi Records issued Prison Life, produced by Roy and Norma Laul Cousins, and the extracted single “Jah Is Watching You” attracted attention. P-Vine Records subsequently released Home Bound Train, which contains several Russell performances.
House of Reggae Records delivered Darker Than Blue in 1996, a moving salute to Curtis Mayfield that proved to be his most commercially durable album. A duet with Nina Soul titled “Sometimes” surfaced on Tamoki Wambesi, while further key singles included Mayfield’s “My Woman’s Love,” originally the flip of the Impressions’ “This Is My Country,” plus “Thanks & Praise,” “Story of the Drum,” “Race Track Riot,” “Jah Holds the Key” (credited to Devon Russell & Zion Train), and “Three the Hard Way” alongside Nitty Gritty and Willie Williams.
Production credits encompass Big Youth’s 1978 album Isaiah First Prophet of the Old and the co-production, shared with Sugar Minott, of “Happy Birthday.” Russell also played drums on the Mighty Diamonds’ 1988 album Never Get Weary and added vocals to Doctor Alimantado’s Privileged Few LP that same year, although most of his contributions remain uncredited and unrecorded. He died of a brain tumor on June 18, 1997, one year after Darker Than Blue appeared. Former Tartan Prince Lincoln Thompson, known locally as “Soxs” or “Saxs,” passed away early in 1999 following a lung-cancer diagnosis.
Albums
Singles
