| | Abstract: | Al Russ was a Cleveland, Ohio, popular music orchestra leader, composer, arranger, string bass player, and producer. His career spanned the 1940s-1990s. In addition to his work as leader of the Al Russ Orchestra, Russ conducted, arranged music, and contracted musicians for performances featuring nationally known artists at the Front Row Theater. He also wrote and arranged music for such nationally known performers as Perry Como and Steve Lawrence, and composed polkas for polka band leader Frank Yankovic. His work as a composer of advertising commercials and jingles for local and national companies included Cleveland's best-known jingle, "Garfield one, two-three, two-three." The collection consists of orchestral and vocal arrangements of popular music, his original compositions, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and Cleveland Federation of Musicians contracts between Russ and hired players. | |
