Gene Russell

William Eugene Russell (December 2, 1932 – May 5, 1981), known as Gene Russell, was an American pop, jazz, and soul keyboardist who played acoustic and Fender Rhodes. He is mainly known for founding and releasing albums on Black Jazz Records. Russell was born in Los Angeles, California and was a cousin of guitarist Charlie Christian. He studied with Hampton Hawes. In the 1960s and 1970s, he composed music for film and television also appearing as an actor.