Barry Russo

I've been a professional musician since a young age (which means I've been doing this a long time, and somehow, that long time seems to keep getting longer). I love what I do, and want that to shine through every performance, regardless of whether it's cover music, a concert of my own music, background instrumental music, or a ceremony. You can expect my full dedication and enthusiasm towards making your event the best it can be.

For performances that require interaction with an audience, such as concerts, high-energy piano and one-man-band shows, etc., you can expect that I will engage your audience in a pleasant, fun manner.

For other performances that are more background in nature, as well as for ceremonies, you can expect that I will provide music that enhances the event, without being a distraction in any way.

I'm also very much into clear communication with clients throughout the process. I'm very agreeable and open to specific requests prior to and during the performance. My goal is to exceed your expectations!

Hi! My name is Barry Russo, and I'm a pianist and vocalist whose areas of focus incorporate musical composition, recording, and performance, and span both the worlds of mainstream music and church music ministry. My wife, Christina, and I, both Rhode Island natives, currently reside in Central Upstate New York, where she's an emergency room nurse and jewelry designer, and I'm the music director at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Rome (remember, that's New York, not the other St. Peter's in Rome).

As a young student, I was immersed in the study of many composers, and found a particular interest and enjoyment in the music of Baroque and Classical era masters such as Bach, Clementi, Mozart, Handel and Vivaldi, to name but a very few. Some of my countless favorites in the popular realm include artists and bands that span the course of decades and styles. Among them are Howard Jones, Phil Collins, Survivor, Journey (and pretty much anything else 80s), Rob Thomas, Daughtry, The Script, Lincoln Brewster, Mercy Me, and Keith Urban (again, to name just a very few). All of these, and many more, have influenced me.

From very early on in my journey, I found myself walking several simultaneous paths. In the realm of secular music, I spent over a decade playing keyboards with local and regional rock bands, followed by more years up until the present of performing solo piano and high energy one-man-band shows, all the while often finding myself merely hours later leading hymns in the church setting. Since my high school years, I've led the music for countless Masses, funerals, and weddings, along with adult and youth choirs, handbell choirs, cantors, and contemporary ensembles at Catholic parishes in Rhode Island, Ohio, Kentucky, and now New York. Somewhere in there, I've also mentored many piano students of all ages, while providing piano and keyboard tracks for other songwriters and artists.

My love of writing music goes back to my childhood, and even then, involved both secular and church music. Three previous projects, These Are the Days, Where I Want to Be, and Back to Life, are a combination of secular and Christian crossover selections. Most recently, after studying to take on more of the technical aspects of the recording and production process myself, I've been releasing singles for an ongoing project called The Realign Collection.

Music has always had a profound impact on me. I'm certain I'm not alone in that. Every generation has those certain songs that serve as a soundtrack to their experiences growing up. Music was (and is) there to celebrate with us, comfort us, and dream with us. Every piece of music, from a symphony, to an enormously produced high energy rock or dance track, to the familiar strains of a beloved hymn, is a powerful creation that has a way of touching each of us in a unique way.

If I can do for others what countless artists, bands, and composers have done and continue to do for me, then I feel my purpose in life will have been happily fulfilled. Whatever the occasion or venue, be it a concert of original music, serving as an entertainer for a celebration, or providing sacred music for a funeral, wedding, or church service, I seek to impact and lift up all those who are present, and maybe even leave them with their soul smiling and sometimes with their feet tapping as well.

Pricing for events depends on a number of factors, including the type of event, length of the performance and travel distance. To guarantee an accurate quote, feel free to contact me with specifics about your particular event. I enjoy what I do, and would be honored to share it with you. When at all possible, I'm happy to work with clients on achieving an arrangement that is comfortable for them and allows me to be a part of their event.

I can adapt to a wide variety of setup situations, from small living rooms to large stages. I can provide my own keyboard and PA equipment, or can use available pianos, keyboards, and PA.

One important request - if an event or venue is outdoors, I often ask to be under some sort of cover. This is for two reasons. As a keyboardist, I can't break down my setup as quickly as, say, an acoustic guitarist. If rain suddenly starts falling, even a small bit can do serious damage to electronic equipment. Also, multiple hours of direct sunlight on a hot summer day isn't ideal for electronics either.

I am willing to make exceptions to this request. For example, if the sky is clear and the weather is forecast to remain that way at the time of the performance, and if the temperature in the sun is not extreme, I will go ahead and set up without cover.