Russell Leon - Lead Vocals and Guitars
Marcus Walker - Bass and Backing Vocals
Larry Kline - Drums and Backing Vocals
Ansgar Schroer - Harmonicas and Congas
Brian Elkin - Trumpet and Keys
Keith Reid - Saxophone and Percussion

The Russell Leon Band has opened for legendary performers Leon Russell and Ike Turner, in addition to playing numerous festivals and benefit concerts. As well as maintaining a busy performance schedule, Russell produces and hosts Songwriters Unite!, a collective of more than 400 singer/songwriters across North America.

Russell spent his early years travelling across Canada and the USA. When he was six, he and his mother settled on a commune in the Ottawa Valley where they lived without electricity or running water. "It gave me a real appreciation for the arts," explains Russell. "I had no TV or electricity, so spending time with my guitar and friends made me a musician."

Russell moved to Toronto in order to study music at York University. Intensive studies, busking on the street, and playing in clubs immersed him in the city's cultural diversity, expanding his musical landscape and inspiring him as a songwriter. In 2000, Russell released a self-titled six-song EP.

Getting people involved with his music is key for Russell. "When you play live and connect with a person who says, 'I had that experience in 'The Beginning Of The End.' I fell in love with this girl and she didn't love me.' When you connect with people that way," explains Russell, "it's hugely rewarding." Making an impact lyrically while getting people on their feet in a live setting is no easy task, but the Russell Leon Band accomplishes exactly that.