Harmonicas belonging to Arthur Russell (1951–1992)

Charles Arthur Russell, Jr., known professionally as Arthur Russell, was an American cellist, composer, producer, and singer, whose work encompassed a diverse range of styles. At age 18 he moved to California and lived in a Buddhist commune. He studied North Indian classical music at the Ali Akbar College of Music in Berkeley, California, and Western composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He regularly accompanied Allen Ginsberg on the cello as a soloist or in groups, while Ginsberg sang or read his poetry. 

In 1973 Russell moved to New York City, where he became involved with both Lower Manhattan’s avant-garde community and the city’s burgeoning disco scene. He released only two full-length studio albums under his own name, as well as a disco LP under his alias “Dinosaur L” and several 12-inch dance records. His eclectic music was often marked by bold production choices as well as his distinctive vocal delivery. Over the last two decades of his life, he amassed a large collection of unreleased and unfinished recordings that are all part of the Arthur Russell Collection, and many have now been commercially released.