BIO           

 Russ Caldwell,

  A Country/Southern Rock  Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist, at age 22 , left his hometown Mooresville North Carolina, Race City USA, and  made the move to Nashville Tennessee to  pursue a Country Music Career.

At 8 years old, Russ saw Garth Brooks on TV and made his decision then that was what he wanted to do someday.Getting his first Guitar at age 9,and having a few lessons, Russ taught himself to play lead guitar and never looked back. From that point on he performed many shows locally solo and formed his own band at age 15.

Opening on Side stage at Blockbuster Pavilion, Verizon Wireless, in Charlotte North Carolina, for Reba, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakham, David Ball,  Montgomery Gentry and Kenny Chesney, were major highlights in his career pursuit.

 Recording his first Country Album, "A Country Song" locally at age 14, led him to new contacts to record an 8 song demo CD, "Midnight Special" in Nashville Tennessee, at age 16.

Great Reviews from Midnight Special brought Russ an opportunity to be a part of a multitalent  Showcase at Douglas Corner in 1999 during Fan Fair Week,  and also caught the attention of a well known Nashville Publicist /Producer who started working with Russ and arranged a major label showcase at The Castle Door.  Several major label reps came out to see his showcase at age 17.

 At age 18, Russ recorded a 4 song self penned demo at Love Shack Studio in Nashville. Musicians who played on this demo were several of Garth Brooks original studio musicians.

Russ was honored to get to meet in person, his favorite Country Music Star Garth Brooks, at Garths announcement of his retirement Press Conference in Nashville.  Garth signed Russ's hat and had a picture taken with him.This was a dream come true in its self for Russ, being a hugh fan and Garth being his reason for getting into Country Music.

After making many trips to Nashville From age 15 to 22, Russ decided to make a permanent  move there. He  had already paid his dues, fronting  his own Country Southern Rock Band, as Band leader, Lead Vocalist and Lead Guitarist for 8 years, prior to his move.

 Russ arrived in Music City  with  much stage experience already under his belt, and is proud to say that hard work has led him to his new contacts, now on his own. 

Working at Fed Ex and Gibson Guitar in his early days in town,  it did not  take long before he was meeting the right connections  and hired to work  with Outstanding Up and Coming  Acts  as Lead Guitarist and Band Leader.

  Russ performed regularly weekend shows with one of these outstanding acts  in 2007, at  the World  Famous Legends Corner on Broadway in downtown Nashville  and also has performed  shows with other  outstanding up and coming  Acts at Wild Horse Saloon,  Tootsies, Broken Spoke , The Stage, Cadillac Ranch, Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar, Paradise park,  Windows On The Cumberland, Crossroads,  and at the Alabama Hall of Fame.

2009 kept  Russ busy playing  more shows on Broadway and all around Nashville and Alabama, still working as Band Leader and Lead Guitarist  with Outstanding Up and Coming Singer/Songwriter  Jami Grooms and The Catfish Johnston Band.  
 Working as lead guitarist for Shalacy Griffin, new up and coming Country Artist,  and being asked to be part of the  Band  Bush Hawg, as lead guitarist was a  highlight of 2009 for Russ. These two acts  are represented by Platinum producer Michael Knox, Knox Music Group, who also produced Country Stars, Jason Aldean and Crossin Dixon.
 

2010 brings Russ  living in Nashville for six and a half years, doing what he loves to do,  and he continues to advance.  Meeting and getting the great opportunities to work with  top musicians, singer/ songwriters, producers and friends, and playing up and down Broadway with many shows performed at WILD HORSE SALOON , JACK DANIELS SALOON in OPRYLAND HOTEL,  The BILLY BLOCK SHOW at 12Th and Porter, PUCKETTS at Leiper Fork, Tennessee,  Opening for JAME JOHNSON at WILD BILLS IN ATLANTA,  CROSSIN DIXON in Mississippi, and ending the year 2009 on the Entertainment Lineup for OPRYLAND HOTELS NEW YEARS EVE EVENT.

When  COLUMBIA RECORDS NEW COUNTRY ARTIST JOSH THOMPSON auditioned for a new Band, Russ was chosen to play guitar for  HIM for his new  Tour in 2010. Josh Thompsons  tour Included being part of the BRAD PAISLEY H20 Summer Tour. Russ also is in JOSH THOMPSONS Video for "WAY OUT HERE". All of these exciting awesome performance opportunitys  makes Russ,s  drive, determination, and hard work, continue even stronger  and he still remains totally focused on his ultimate goal of achieving a  Recording Contract.

2011

BUSH HAWG, a new Country/Southern Rock six man band ,out of Nashville Tennessee,  which Russ is a member of the group and plays lead guitar,  was signed to  a Major Record Deal with SONY/RCA MUSIC NASHVILLE in 2011. BUSH HAWG is Managed and Produced  by 2011 Top Award Winning  Muti Platinum Record Producer MICHAEL KNOX, producer of Country Stars JASON ALDEAN,  TRACE ADKINS, RANDY OWEN, JOSH THOMPSON and many more.

2012

After an exciting year of getting signed to a major label, in the studio with Michael Knox producing Bush Hawgs new Cd, on the road all over the Country, many festivals, CMT Festival in  Canada, and even surviving the  EarthQuake Tsumi in Japan in March of 2011 while they were there for a USA TOUR to entertain the  troops, BUSH HAWG is now ready and looking forward to a Single being released  to radio and the release of their BUSH HAWG CD  in 2012.

BUSH HAWG is booked by BLA out of Nashville Tennessee.