Rene Russell

Rene is a 12-string guitarist, with an Americana-Folk-Rock percussive groove. She has been crafting her percussive, bass-thumping, claw-hammer finger-picking technique since she picked up the 12-string in 1972.

A native of South Carolina, Rene Russell has been dazzling audiences with her brand of percussive Americana/Rock for the past 30+ years from Nashville to San Diego, Atlanta to Austin, Texas. Rene not only writes her own material, but performs it with the passion and precision only a dedicated artist is capable of.

Rene’s 1st album, “Last Night I Rode a Nightmare” was released in 1987 in her hometown of Columbia, SC. Shortly after she started her travels across America, from Atlanta, GA to Austin, TX and San Diego, CA before returning the East Coast in 1999.
While in Austin, 1995, she recorded her 2nd album, Self-Titled, “Rene Russell” which has been re-released as “R Rene Russell” in 2023.

By 2004 she was living and performing in Charleston, SC where she was also the Talent Buyer for a popular restaurant and music venue on the Isle of Palms.
In 2011/2012 she was a co-host for BalconyTV Charleston/Behind the Scenes.

Her 3rd Album, “freeverse” was recorded in Charleston, SC and released in 2015, (it has also been re-released in 2023).
Her song "Who We Really Are" from the that album was the winner of "In Search of A Song”, and she performed at the "30-A Songwriter's Festival" in Ft. Walton Beach, FL.
In 2016, she was selected to perform at the "Blast on the Bay Emerging Talent Showcase" in Port St. Joe, FL and took home 1st Place.

In 2017 Rene performed at TEDx Charleston and made the career changing decision to stop playing cover tunes and focus on her original songs. To achieve her goal, she teamed up with Producer Chris Blackwell, to create her new sound with a “Power Trio” focused on Rene’s unique playing style. The result: Rene Russell & the Bottom End.

The band’s first single and video, “I Wonder, Do You?” was released on April 23, 2018.

In 2019 Rene was asked to write a song for the Homelesstohopefund.org in Charleston, SC. The result was “What Kind”. Which was released along with “Doodlebug” that year. 
The band also performed the song “What Kind” at the annual gala/fundraiser for Homelesstohopefund.org at the Galliard Auditorium that year.

In 2020 during the Covid-19 quarantine, Rene retreated to the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she wrote the album “Dream The World Anew”. The band spent the rest of that year recording. 
She released two singles, “Unheard Of” and “Too Late” early in 2021 before releasing the album in May of 2021.

Rene now lives in Western NC where she plays solo and occasionally plays with the band for special shows.
2023 will see the release of more singles including “Stand (For the Ocean)”.