Thom Russo
Encyclopedia
Thom Russo is an American record producer
, engineer, mixer
and songwriter. His works range from Anglo-American pop/rock to Alternative
Latin. He is a recipient of 13 Grammy awards, most of them in recognition to his work with Latin music.
He studied percussion and music theory at Northwestern University, in Chicago. He lives and works in Los Angeles.
As one of the first projects at Larrabee in the early 1990s, Russo mixed vocals for Michael Jackson
's album Dangerous (1991), Bobby Brown
's album Bobby
(1992), Cher
's Greatest Hits 1965-1992 (1993), Diana Ross
's Take Me Higher
(1995) and Paula Abdul
's Head Over Heels
(1995).
That early work laid foundation for Russo's later career. Over the years he has worked with a variety of well-known musicians, in addition to the ones named above,
and others; full listings are available.
Since 2000, Russo has been specializing more in Latin rock and pop music and has worked with Juanes, Mana, and other Latin artists from Latin America, Central America, and Spain.
Russo's mixing techniques include the commonly used audio filtering with different microphones and equalizers
, reduction and amplification by DRC, sound fading
, and a range of more unconventional approaches. He adapts his methods to accentuate the idiosyncratic features in the music he records, citing the record producer and colleague Rick Rubin
as one of the main professional influences.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineer, mixer
Mixing engineer
A mix engineer is the person responsible for incorporating all the different recorded elements of music to make the final version of a song. These mixing professionals have many years of experience and training with audio equipment which has enabled them to master the art of audio mixing...
and songwriter. His works range from Anglo-American pop/rock to Alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
Latin. He is a recipient of 13 Grammy awards, most of them in recognition to his work with Latin music.
Life and education
Thom Russo was born December 31, 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio.He studied percussion and music theory at Northwestern University, in Chicago. He lives and works in Los Angeles.
Career
Russo started his professional career as a musician but became already as a college student interested in engineering and recording for record production. He worked first at River North Studios in Chicago, then at Larrabee Sound, one of the largest recording studios in Los Angeles, and later on his own under the Nettwerk Producer Management.As one of the first projects at Larrabee in the early 1990s, Russo mixed vocals for Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's album Dangerous (1991), Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
's album Bobby
Bobby (album)
Bobby is the third studio album by American singer Bobby Brown, released in 1992 on MCA Records. It spawed five singles, including "Humpin' Around", "Get Away", and "Good Enough" . It was certified 5x Platinum. Remixed House versions of several singles, produced by English dance outfit K-Klass,...
(1992), Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
's Greatest Hits 1965-1992 (1993), Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
's Take Me Higher
Take Me Higher
Take Me Higher is a 1995 album by American soul singer Diana Ross released on the Motown label. The album featured production from urban adult contemporary producers such as Narada Michael Walden, Brenda Russell, Jon-John and the Boom Brothers, the latter two coming from Babyface's production company...
(1995) and Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
's Head Over Heels
Head Over Heels (Paula Abdul album)
-Personnel:**Adapted From allmusic*Paula Abdul: All Lead Vocals*Bryan Abrams, Cha'n Andre, Robb Boldt, Robbie J. Brown, Mark Calderon, Cindy & Janie Cruse, Valerie & Worthy Davis, Bruce DeShazer, Ofra Haza, Marva King, Tanya Smith, Sandra St...
(1995).
That early work laid foundation for Russo's later career. Over the years he has worked with a variety of well-known musicians, in addition to the ones named above,
- Alejandro SanzAlejandro SanzAlejandro Sanz , is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician. For his work, Sanz has won a total of fifteen Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. He has won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year three times, more than any other artist...
(El Tren de los MomentosEl Tren de los MomentosEl Tren de los Momentos is the seventh studio album recorded by Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz, which counts with the collaborations of Juanes, Antonio Carmona , Shakira and Calle 13...
), - AterciopeladosAterciopeladosAterciopelados , also referred to as los Aterciopelados on some albums and other promotional materials, are a rock band from Colombia. Led by Andrea Echeverri and Héctor Buitrago, they have been one of the first rock bands from Colombia to gain international notice and is among the country's top...
(Oye), - AudioslaveAudioslaveAudioslave was an American rock supergroup that formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001. It consisted of former Soundgarden lead singer/rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell and the former instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine: Tom Morello , Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk...
(AudioslaveAudioslave (album)Audioslave is the eponymous debut studio album by the American rock supergroup Audioslave and was released on November 19, 2002 . The album's music features Chris Cornell providing his familiar classic rock-esque wails and croons to the songs. It features the hit singles "Cochise", "Show Me How to...
, Like a StoneLike a Stone"Like a Stone" is a song by American hard rock band Audioslave, featured on their 2002 debut studio album Audioslave. When released as the band's second single in January 2003, the song topped both the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts, and reached number...
, Doesn't Remind MeDoesn't Remind Me"Doesn't Remind Me" is the third single from American hard rock band Audioslave's second album Out of Exile. It was released on May 24, 2005, in the United States, and was nominated for "Best Hard Rock Performance" at the 48th Grammy Awards...
, Out of exileOut of Exile (song)"Out of Exile" is the title track from Audioslave's second album Out of Exile and the fourth and final single released from the album.An excerpt of this song was used at the 2006 Pro40 tournament....
), - BabyfaceBabyfaceBabyface or Baby Face can refer to:Nicknames:* Baby Face Nelson, an infamous 1930s bank robber* Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette , an American hard bop and soul-jazz musician...
(For the Cool in YouFor the Cool in YouFor the Cool in You is the fourth album by R&B artist, Babyface. This album contained three top 30 U.S. hits, "When Can I See You", which reached #4, the #15 hit "Never Keeping Secrets", and "And Our Feelings", which peaked at #21.-Track listing:...
, The Day, A Collection of His Greatest HitsA Collection of His Greatest HitsA Collection of His Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Babyface consisting of some of his biggest hit singles.- Track listing :Source: Amazon...
), - Bird York (The Velvet HourThe Velvet HourThe Velvet Hour is a 2003 album by Bird York. It features the song "In the Deep" from the film Crash. Producers on this record include Michael Becker, Bird York, Thom Russo and Larry Klein. It also includes songs heard on CSI: NY, House, Seven Pounds, Everwood, the John Cusack-produced feature...
, Wicked Little HighWicked little highWicked Little High is the fourth studio album by the artist, actor and screenwriter Bird York .The album consists of 12 songs, all written by York, with the help of:*Michael Becker...
), - Enrique IglesiasEnrique IglesiasEnrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
(Enrique IglesiasEnrique Iglesias (album)-Tracklisting:#No Llores Por Mí — 4:00#Trapecista — 4:28#Por Amarte — 4:05#Si Tú Te Vas — 4:00...
), - Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
(Change The WorldChange the World"Change the World" is a song written by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick which was recorded by Eric Clapton with backing by Babyface for the soundtrack of the 1996 film Phenomenon. The song won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year , as well as Best Male Pop Vocal...
), - Faith EvansFaith EvansFaith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
(A Faithful ChristmasA Faithful ChristmasA Faithful Christmas is an album by Faith Evans. It was released October 25, 2005 on Capitol Records. A collection of holiday songs, it contains songs such as "White Christmas" and "Santa Baby"...
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), - Huecco (Assalto, Huecco),
- Jay Z (99 Problems99 Problems"99 Problems" is the third single released by American rapper Jay-Z in 2004 from The Black Album. Throughout the song Jay-Z tells a story about dealing with a racist cop who wants to illegally search his car, dealing with rap critics, and dealing with an aggressor...
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(12 Soulful Nights of Christmas12 Soulful Nights of Christmas12 Soulful Nights of Christmas is a compilation of Christmas songs released on October 22, 1996, through So So Def Recordings.-Track listing:#"The Time of Year" — 4:47#"Christmas Without You" — 4:07...
), - Jesse and Joy (ElectricidadElectricidadElectricidad is the second studio album by Mexican duo Jesse & Joy. The album was released 15 September 2009 and reached number twenty-one on the Mexican Albums Chart.-Background:...
), - Jonny Cash (American IV: The Man Comes AroundAmerican IV: The Man Comes AroundAmerican IV: The Man Comes Around is the fourth album in the American series by Johnny Cash, released in 2002. The majority of songs are covers which Cash performs in his own spare style, with help from producer Rick Rubin...
), - JuanesJuanesJuan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
(Fíjate BienFíjate BienFíjate Bien is the debut album by the Colombian Latin music singer-songwriter Juanes, released on October 17, 2000. The album was produced by Gustavo Santaolalla, who is known for his contributions to Latin rock tracks. All the songs on the album were written by Juanes himself...
, Un Día NormalUn día normal-Charts:-Certifications:-Singles:-Charts:-References:...
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), - Lili Haydn (Place Between Places),
- Macy GrayMacy GrayMacy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
(The IdThe Id (album)The Id is the second studio album by American recording artist Macy Gray. It was released in the United States on September 18, 2001 by Epic Records, a week after the September 11, 2001 attacks, perhaps the main reason for its domestic underperformance; it debuted and peaked at number eleven on the...
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), - ManáManáManá is a pop rock band from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, whose career has spanned more than three decades. They have earned three Grammy Awards, seven Latin Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards Latin America, five Premios Juventud awards, nine Billboard Latin Music Awards and 13 Premios Lo...
(Amar es CombatirAmar es Combatir- Personnel :* Francisco Ayon – Assistant* Miguel Bustamante – Assistant engineer* Juan Calleros – Bajo sexto, group member* Juan Luis Guerra – Guest vocals* Albert Sterling Menendez – Keyboards...
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), - Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
(King of Pop), - TotoToto (band)Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
(Kingdom of DesireKingdom of DesireKingdom of Desire is the eighth studio album by Toto, released in 1992. Guitarist Steve Lukather assumed sole lead vocal duties, as their previous lead singer, Jean-Michel Byron, was sacked following the Past To Present tour...
)
and others; full listings are available.
Since 2000, Russo has been specializing more in Latin rock and pop music and has worked with Juanes, Mana, and other Latin artists from Latin America, Central America, and Spain.
Russo's mixing techniques include the commonly used audio filtering with different microphones and equalizers
Equalization (audio)
Equalization is the process commonly used in sound recording and reproduction to alter the frequency response of an audio system using linear filters. Most hi-fi equipment uses relatively simple filters to make bass and treble adjustments. Graphic and parametric equalizers have much more...
, reduction and amplification by DRC, sound fading
Fade (audio engineering)
In audio engineering, a fade is a gradual increase or decrease in the level of an audio signal. The term can also be used for film cinematography or theater lighting, in much the same way ....
, and a range of more unconventional approaches. He adapts his methods to accentuate the idiosyncratic features in the music he records, citing the record producer and colleague Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
as one of the main professional influences.
Awards
Russo has received 12 platinum record awards for his work in the music industry, and won 2 American Grammy Awards and 11 Latin Grammy Awards (listed below in chronological order).- Rock Solo Vocal AlbumLatin Grammy Award for Best Rock Solo Vocal AlbumThe Latin Grammy Award for Best Rock Solo Vocal Album is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony conducted by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to "recognize excellence and create a wider awareness of the cultural diversity" and contributions of Latin...
award for Fijate BienFíjate BienFíjate Bien is the debut album by the Colombian Latin music singer-songwriter Juanes, released on October 17, 2000. The album was produced by Gustavo Santaolalla, who is known for his contributions to Latin rock tracks. All the songs on the album were written by Juanes himself...
, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2001, engineer/mixer - Nomination for Album of the YearLatin Grammy Award for Album of the YearThe Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
award, for Fijate Bien, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2001, engineer/mixer - Nomination for Record of the YearLatin Grammy Award for Record of the YearThe Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
award for El Alma Al AireEl Alma Al AireEl Alma al Aire is the fifth studio album recorded by Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz in which he gives us interpretations that come from the soul, melodies in which it seems that the voice breaks. It is one of his more suggestive and emotive works...
, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2001, engineer/mixer - Album of the YearLatin Grammy Award for Album of the YearThe Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
award, for Un Día NormalUn día normal-Charts:-Certifications:-Singles:-Charts:-References:...
, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2003, engineer/mixer - Record of the YearLatin Grammy Award for Record of the YearThe Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
award for Es Por Ti, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2003, engineer/mixer - Best Rock Solo Vocal AlbumLatin Grammy Award for Best Rock Solo Vocal AlbumThe Latin Grammy Award for Best Rock Solo Vocal Album is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony conducted by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to "recognize excellence and create a wider awareness of the cultural diversity" and contributions of Latin...
award for Mi SangreMi SangreMi Sangre is the third studio album by Colombian Latin singer-songwriter Juanes, released on September 28, 2004.- Re-releases :...
, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2005, engineer/mixer - Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban AlbumGrammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album was an honor presented to recording artists for quality albums in the Latin rock and alternative music genres at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
award for Amar Es CombatirAmar es Combatir- Personnel :* Francisco Ayon – Assistant* Miguel Bustamante – Assistant engineer* Juan Calleros – Bajo sexto, group member* Juan Luis Guerra – Guest vocals* Albert Sterling Menendez – Keyboards...
, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 2006, engineer/mixer - Best Latin Pop AlbumGrammy Award for Best Latin Pop AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album was awarded from 1984 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*From 1984 to 1991 the award was known as Best Latin Pop Performance*From 1992 to 1994 it was awarded as Best Latin Pop Album...
award for El Tren de los MomentosEl Tren de los MomentosEl Tren de los Momentos is the seventh studio album recorded by Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz, which counts with the collaborations of Juanes, Antonio Carmona , Shakira and Calle 13...
, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 2007, engineer - Best Alternative Music AlbumLatin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music AlbumThe Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally .The...
award for Oye, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2007, engineer - Album of the YearLatin Grammy Award for Album of the YearThe Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
award for La Vida... Es Un RaticoLa Vida... Es un RaticoLa Vida... es un Ratico is the fourth studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes, which was released on October 23, 2007.-Album history:...
, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2008, engineer/mixer - Record of the YearLatin Grammy Award for Record of the YearThe Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
award for Me EnamoraMe Enamora"Me Enamora" is a song written and performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes. The song is the first radio single of his fourth solo studio album La Vida... Es un Ratico and it received three awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video at the Latin Grammy...
, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2008, engineer/mixer - Best Male Pop Vocal AlbumLatin Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album, MaleThe Latin Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Album is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
award for La Vida... Es Un Ratico, Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 2008, engineer