 Who is the new modern man? The new modern man is a man of presence. He knows how to command respect, but remain humble. Readily assuming responsibility for his community, the new modern man strives to be a model of character, integrity, and principles for young eyes still seeking examples of an upright walk. A God-fearing family man and faithful friend, he is a loyal protector and an open, compassionate ear. Battle-tested, the new modern man tirelessly pursues his vision, using every tool, talent, and resource endowed to him for purpose. The new modern man is Marcell Russell, the founder and voice of Marcell & The Truth.
The new soul leader of honest music, Marcell & The Truth (M&TT) is the living realization of partying with a purpose. A volunteer mainstay for their local Baltimore, Maryland arts, youth and fatherhood programs, M&TT brings their true-to-life stories and uplifting melodies to reflect and affirm their fans' everyday experiences. Troubadours of blue-collar love, Marcell wraps his warm baritone around rhythms meant to move couples to squeeze reassuring hands, sway hip to hip, and step in unison to songs that honor the heights and trials of their soul connections. Following the timeless traditions of such luminaries as Rufus, The Spinners, and Frankie Beverly and Maze, M&TT cultivates classic sounds that reunites lovers, restores families, and rejuvenates block parties around the globe.
At 6'3, the towering Marcell Russell, 33, represents the grown man missing in urban music today, both in stature and in voice an heir to Luther, Freddie, and Gerald. Once a young musical minister, Russell spread the "good news" up and down the Eastern Seaboard before becoming disenchanted by organized religion and the limitations of its reach. No longer satisfied to literally preach to the choir, the graduate of Morgan State's revered music program, took his church, jazz and classical training and infused it into a unique, yet accessible secular music meant to inspire, encourage, and cause listeners to reflect in much the way his ministry did a decade before. No longer of its ivory tower, Russell brings the distilled message of the church to the world, a message based in love and celebrating responsibility.
After a brief stint with a band that gave birth to the 11-year partnership between Russell and former songwriting partner William "Bags" Bagwell, Russell gave birth in 1997 to M&TT. For the next nine years, Russell and Bags rotated through a series of local musicians Russell trained as soldiers for his new movement and dealt with constant struggles by labels interested in  Russell but didn't fully "get" the team's vision. Frustration led to ingenuity and entrepreneurship, in 2006 Russell self-released M&TT's debut project, Hopes Too High (Oak Hill Music). The neo-soul disc of live musicians and old school organic R&B immediately received a warm critical reception on both sides of the Atlantic from such publications as the Blues & Soul, Echoes, Essence.com, Soultracks.com, The City Paper, and The Baltimore Sun. In 2007, Hopes Too High was named "Album of the Year" by Chicagosteppers.com, secured "Best R&B Album", "Artist", "Performance," and "Song" Awards by Heatseekers, and was nominated for four SoulTracks Reader's Choice Awards including "Album of the Year." Hopes Too High also boasted steady sells in the DC/MD/VA, L.A., Chicago, New York, Phoenix, and U.K. markets, leading to a sold-out UK tour and over 200 small to mid-size U.S. bookings over the next four years. Not bad for an indie debut, right?
For his sophomore project and latest independent release, Symbols (Oak Hill Music), Russell's mission is to speak firmly and lovingly to the hearts, minds, and spiritual conditions of both those living for the city and those keeping up with the Jones. The post-Civil Rights son of academics and professionals, and a respected businessman in his own right, the B-more native is the living embodiment of a comfortable family's high aspirations, but one who still maintained a firm grounding in the struggles of those living on the margins. Russell's new music reflects this tense dichotomy, with romantic proletarian ballads like "All I Know" and "Kinda Like" juxtaposed against spiritual reflections for the striving class through the searing title track, the cautionary "Seed Your Water," and the motivational "Somewhere In Between."
 Originally released during the 2009 holiday season, the newly re-packaged Symbols is already making noise with singles "You Saved Me," "Seed Your Water," and "Can't Wait" on terrestrial radio in Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Washington, DC and on internet and satellite radio in the UK, L.A., and NYC. Press is also beginning to take notice with Creative Loafing ATL giving Symbols five stars out of five, BET/Centric naming it one of the "Best R&B Male Albums of 2009," a coveted "highly recommended" from SoulTracks.com (where it spent three months as a Top Ten seller), and positive write-ups in Echoes, Prestatyn, Port of Harlem, Mog.com, JazzandSoul.com, SoulChoonz.com, and Amplifyyourvoice.org. "You Saved Me" also helped inspire a documentary on black marriage by filmmakers Lamar and Ronnie Tyler, becoming the film's title and title track. Symbols is everywhere.
This elevated interest has compelled Marcell Russell to advance the further realization of his artistic and personal philosophies by launching The New Modern Man movement, more fully stepping into his destiny and responsibility as a man, creator, leader, musician and entrepreneur. The timely substance and consciousness of Symbols is just a calling card for what Russell hopes to be an evolution in thought, action, and art. Shake the hand of the man who plans to move us all, one fan, one song, one action, and one performance at a time. Meet Marcell & The Truth, meet a soul revolution.
The MT&T band:
Marcell Russell (voice), Charles "CJ" Bennett Jr. (Drums), Gerald "Mamidi" Richardson (Bass), Michael "Mic Check" Mackey (Keys), Crystal D.M. Brown and Larry Boggs (Backing Vocals), and Sean Pietras (Guitar).
Playlist:
01 - M&TT - Hopes Too High (Hopes Too High, 2006)
02 - M&TT - Greatest Love (Symbols, 2009)
03 - M&TT - Symbols (Snippet) (Symbols, 2009)
04 - M&TT - Can't Wait (Symbols, 2009)
Background music during the interview:
M&TT - Breathe Love, M&TT - Never Leave You Lonely, M&TT - Your Eyes, M&TT - Come Home To You, M&TT - Time Stops, M&TT - They Don't Know, M&TT - Sending You Away, M&TT - Evil Woman, M&TT - Maybe I'm Not Your Man, M&TT - Lost In The Moment, M&TT - Somewhere In Between
More information:
Marcell & The Truth Official Site
Marcell & The Truth on Twitter
Marcell & The Truth on MySpace
Marcell Russell on Facebook
Facebook Fan Page for M&TT
To purchase Hopes Too High and Symbols visit:
iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon.com, Kemp Mill Records, emusic, and Napster or retailers in DC, Chicago, Baltimore, and London.
For bookings and interviews contact: L. Michael Gipson, Manager
Phone: 216-534-9017 or
Email:
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