Still Chasing The Song 

Great news!
My new CD Album “CHASING THE SONG” on Howlin’n Dog Records has been
nominated for ‘album of the year’ in the Folk/American category by “The Josie Awards.
This is an independent music awards out of Nashville.I have also been nominated as ‘male
artist of the year’ in the Folk/Americana category.Pretty cool! You never know!!

Also....
The new CD is getting a lot of spins and downloads on CD TEX
and airplay on Airplay Direct. I want also to thank Bruno Michels @ TEXAS MUSIC TIME
(produced here in central Texas)for adding “Grand Daddy’s Silver Dollar “ on this weeks
June 12 playlist at number 16.Check it out!

Upcoming Shows:
June 22 Michael Hearne and I w/Mike Roberts will be at “Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse” in Dallas,TX.
June 23 I will be playing a rare solo show at Anderson Fair in Houston,TX.
June 24. A return visit to an up close and personal house concert in Fullshear,TX.
and on June 30 @ Main street Crossing in Tomball, TX.

Then we head up north to Red River, N.M. July 6 and 7 for Michael Murphy’s ‘West
Fest’ up at Bitter Creek, N.M. then back down to Red River for evening shows at
The Motherlode on the 6th and 7th for a couple of double headers. So why not get
out of the Texas summer heat and come on up to Northern New Mexico for a few days.
You know some call it “the Texas Alps”.

We hope to see you out at one of these shows.and hope you all have a great and safe
4th of July!
See you soon.
Thanks
Shake

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN
After the longest hiatus from playing music I have had in decades, and after the month of May in the hospital and outpatient care, which still continues, my doctor Matthew Robinson has given me the green light to get back to work. I've had to miss several shows in the past couple of weeks because I still wasn’t feeling well enough and didn’t feel like I had sufficient energy to play a show. Well today they took the IV picc out of my arm and lung, and I’ve traded in my electric pump and man-purse which I had to wear and carry everywhere for a dose of oral antibiotics twice a day, to get my old black ovation guitar back.  Today I am a very happy guy!

My first show back will be in Llano tomorrow night. My old friend and entrepreneur Kevin Harney (who use to manage IQUANA GRILL on Lake Travis) is now a Partner at the historic BADU1891 Restaurant and Bar in Llano,TX.  It has been closed for awhile for renovations and will have their long awaited grand opening.  For all the folks who have missed Iquana Grill Venue now have a grand 4-star hotel restaurant and bar with great food in a historic building in Llano, TX.  Michael Hearne, Mike Roberts and I play from 7 to 10pm.  So all of you in the area come on out and come hungry.  I look forward to seeing you all and playing some songs for you.

Next Thursday, June 7th we will be performing at McGonigel's Mucky Duck. We will be playing the early show, which is good for a Thursday night. The music starts at 7pm and we will be performing a ninety minute set finishing at 8:30. The Duck is my home away from home.  I love playing there.  So come out early, have some supper, hear some music, see I am still alive and well, and still get back home early.  P.S. My Doctor had one stipulation on my returning to the stage.  He said, “Shake you can play guitar
and sing, but no rapping for a couple of more weeks".  Darn it!

And finally to continue my come back and recovery, we will be at The Kerrville Folk Festival June 9. We are honored to be part of an evening paying tribute and remembering the late Ms. Bonnie Hearne. Put this on your calendar and come hear Tish Hinojosa, Michael, Mike Roberts and Me, The Bill Hearne Trio from Santa Fe, NM, Christine  Albert and Chris Gage and more surprise guests.   We will be sharing songs and stories of remembrance. We love you Bonnie and we miss your sweet presence and your sweet voice.

We hope to see you at one of these shows coming up.
Thanks,
Shake

Shake Russell

 May 28 at 1:58pm

Well here I am, it’s been a little over a week since I was released from the hospital, and I’ve been doing my outpatient treatments, going to the infusion center three times a week
for my antibiotics that are injected through an IV picc placed in my right arm into my right lung. I carry the battery operated pump and the medicine In a “fanny pack” 24/7. It’s like a man purse, very European.
One of the side effects of the meds is fatigue and still shortness of of breath, so I am not quite up to snuff and back enough to strap on my guitar and climb back on stage.Because of this I‘ve had to miss several shows here lately. Michael Hearne and Mike Roberts have been wonderful carrying on and doing great shows. We had to cancel our show at Bernhardt Winery yesterday because of the
extreme heat and being advised from my doctor and nurse not to risk the outdoor show. They said even with fans on stage blowing from all four directions couldn’t prevent the possibility of over heating and dehydration and could bring on renal failure or worse. As much as I loved the Doctors and nurses at St. David’s who took such great care of me, I have no desire to go back and spend another two weeks
with them. So, I listened and took their advice and stayed home.

I apologize to those of you who turned out for the show only to find we wouldn’t be there. We will reschedule up the road. It is just taking a little longer than I had thought it might to get back
on the horse. I am improving everyday but still have a ways to go. I don’t want to bore you,with too much information , but I wanted to somewhat explain where I am with all of this.
Thanks, I really appreciate all your prayers and well wishes. I am looking forward to seeing you all and thanking you face to face. In the meantime I will keep you posted on my progress.
God Bless you all, and thanks so much for your caring and concern. Hope to see you soon.
Shake
P.S. And special Love to my precious nurse Dee,
My Clara Barton.