Tom Russell’s career as a musician, painter and consummate storyteller stretches back nearly four decades, with a catalog of more than 20 albums and a devoted following that cherishes his tales of the American experience. Some of his most ardent fans are fellow artists: Russell’s compositions have been covered by the likes of Johnny Cash, Doug Sahm, k.d. lang, Iris Dement, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Ian Tyson, Nanci Griffith, Guy Clark and Dave Van Ronk. Russell moved out to El Paso from New York City ten years ago. He’s one of the last of a generation of beat-descended searchers, who include his friends Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and the late Charles Bukowski. But that was all just a first act. Russell’s new album, “
Blood and Candle Smoke,†recorded with members of Calexico, comes out September 15 on Shout! Factory.
