Brenda Russell on Her Solo Debut

Read more in Christian John Wikane's interview with Brenda Russell for PopMatters:

Filmed by Sekou Luke Studio. Produced by Sekou Luke Studio [Rebel Media] & Christian John Wikane. Sponsored by Adorama Rentals in Association with City Winery NYC. Music: "If Only For One Night" by Brenda Russell. Written by Brenda Russell. Produced by André Fischer. (For promotional purposes only.)

[charlestumlinson]

Piano in The Dark Is still my favorite song. Flawless voice!!!!

[direfranchement]

Brenda Russell is a treasure. I love her style. Will always prefer her recording of “If Only For One Night”.

[simom]

One of my favorite artists. I bought her first album.

[jasonk]

She’s one of the greatest songwriters of all time. period

[BrendaLaMour]

MY FAVORITE ARTIST & namesake! Continued Blessings Ms. BRENDA RUSSELL 🙏 ❤👏🏼🙌!!

[JeffmChicago]

My favorite album of all time. Nr. 1. Every single song on the album is beautiful.

[keitha.neubert]

Her music is consistently quality. Every album is lovingly crafted. The "Paris Rain" album is my personal favorite. Thank you for your inspiring honesty and musicality.
From Maine USA.

[RESENHA_NERD]

She has such a beautiful voice. Even speaking you can note it.

[deewoo]

Brenda Russell's debut album was a breath of fresh air. I still have the 8 track album of this. Yes the 8 track! I loved ALL the songs. One of my favorites was "Way Back When". The orchestration alone on that song was killer. Brenda is one of the most fabulous songwriters penning timeless lyrics. I'm sure she made a nice chunk of change off Luther Vandross's rendition of If Only For One Night. Love me some Brenda!

[icecol]

Brenda Russell is an underrated singer!! I have loved her since 1988 with Get Here album.I love her voice. She sounds like no one and that's what I love about her. 💛💛💛💛

[neilloughran]

I remember getting the CD about 30+ years ago around the time acid jazz was hitting in UK as I recall a soul singer called Vivienne McKone talking about her. I absolutely loved it... the standout track is "In the Thick Of It"... absolutely classic timeless track... never heard Brenda talk before so it's nice to see her. I always saw her in the same way as Patrice Rushen... women singing highly personal songs with touches of jazz, rock and soul...

[williamparis]

Iconic...good music....piano in the dark til this day 2023 still one of the best ballads ever

[armany]

I can't imagine talent who didn't or don't get the opportunity due to the reasons she mentioned!

[orionsecret]

This is priceless. Brenda Christian and Sekou you have created magic. I love how this story is told.

[jamesford]

I have loved and enjoyed Brenda Russell music from the first solo album.I was very surprised to learn Brenda Russell co-wrote "Please Pardon Me", one of my favorite songs by Chaka Khan & Rufus. Oleta Adams did a wonderful interpretation of "Get Here", but i prefer Russell's original take on the song. Life long fan!!!

[knish]

Just scooped this lp on vinyl from discogs!

[SDSFG]

Im going to go the way of the weirdo, who is the master of overstating things...so, here goes. Brenda Russell is the most underrated recording artist in the ENTIRE music industry. I mean, this INCREDIBLE singer/songwriter, HAS NEVER gotten the props she REALLY deserves. Im going to spare the viewers of this video, all the goings-ons of a relationship I was in, when her first solo album was the soundtrack to that space and time, in my life...but I will say this little piece-of-sumthin', right here. I was living in San Francisco (this was MANY YRS after her solo album dropped)...I hadnt been out of the military very long...and was bartending in a bar, just a hop skip from the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito..and a heartbeat from where the ferry pulled in on the harbor there.

The guy was a stone-cold Brenda R. fan...and I am too. But everytime we had an argument or disagreement, it usually happened in his shitty car, for some reason...and we were usually on our way to my place or his. He got good at popping in her tape and turning the music up, so he couldnt hear me talk. So, if I ever meet her, Im going to tell her "listen, I LOVED your music then..and I still love you. But I didnt love you so much that it kept me from snatching your tape out of the cassette player and throwing it out the window the last time that motherfucker, tried to talk over me!!...so, my bad"

[josmith]

One of my favorite songs. This song truly resonated with me then and now. Good work Brenda.

[DougEdwards-sl]

Love love love Brenda Russell and her music !❤❤❤❤

[oakland]

We knew you were crying Brenda on that first album! But we knew those was tears of victory. Because I was aware of your project's prior.. And to see you stand up and go to the top of the charts. I was so grateful for your success.. Won't he do it!!❤️🙏🏾🎼🌹🎤👍🏽