George Russell was Johnny’s long time friend and promotions manager. “Chances Are” if you’re listening to Johnny on the radio, George had a hand in it.
Around 1960, “I was at Columbia for about a year when I decided I was too young to die. I then became an independent record promoter. About two months later, I got a call from Helen Noga and I’ve been with Johnny ever since.”
George would tell you about having cocktails with Billie Holiday, or “going up the fire escape and through the kitchen” to get air play for a song, or composing “Birthstone Suite” which he recorded in 1988 with the Royal Philharmonic, and more. He’ was with Johnny professionally longer than anyone, having joined him in 1961. George passed away in 2008 and will be greatly missed.
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