Russ Kunkel played for approximately six different bands, including the Barons, and appeared at many sock hops and high school dances, playing surf music and Beatles songs.
25 Facts About Russ Kunkel
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Russ Kunkel is a 1966 graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach.
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Russ Kunkel joined the band Things to Come and during the summer of 1968, they performed, for 19 weeks as the opening band, at the Whisky a Go Go, a club on Sunset Strip in Hollywood, while under the alcohol drinking age in California.
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In 1970 Russ Kunkel helped Bob Dylan and drummer Billy Mundi release an album titled New Morning.
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Russ Kunkel recorded "Hummingbird" for King's album Indianola Mississippi Seeds.
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Russ Kunkel's first single was a demo with Joel Sill for Trousdale Music, which included musicians Joe Osborn and Larry Knechtel.
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Russ Kunkel then helped James Taylor to record the rest of the Sweet Baby James album.
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Russ Kunkel played on Tony Kosinec's "Bad Girl Songs," which was produced by Peter Asher.
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In 1971 Russ Kunkel worked with Gerry Goffin, Gary Hart, and Carole King on the Tapestry album, which became a classic.
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From 1971 to 1972 Russ Kunkel worked with Joni Mitchell on her albums Blue and For the Roses.
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In 1972 Russ Kunkel helped Willis Alan Ramsey to release the album, Willis Alan Ramsey, which was issued under Shelter Records label.
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In 1975, Russ Kunkel played on the Carly Simon song "Waterfall" and played a part in James Taylor's album Gorilla in a song "How Sweet It Is ".
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In 1977 during the recording of Jackson Browne's Running on Empty album, Russ Kunkel played on Pearl and North Drum sets, and went on a tour to promote the album.
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In 1981, Russ Kunkel joined Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac to create the Bella Donna album, playing on seven out of ten tracks.
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In 1980, Russ Kunkel played in Linda Ronstadt's band for a concert that was shown on HBO, along with the guitarists Kenny Edwards and Danny Kortchmar, bassist Bob Glaub, keyboardist Bill Payne, pedal steel guitarist Dan Dugmore, and backing vocalist Wendy Waldman.
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Russ Kunkel had a cameo as doomed drummer Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs in the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap.
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In 1991, after his appearance in the 1984 rockumentary, Russ Kunkel joined Spinal Tap.
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In 2010 Russ Kunkel joined the Troubadour Reunion Tour supporting James Taylor and Carole King.
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In 2018, Russ Kunkel played on "Small Change", a song written by Harry Shearer.
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Russ Kunkel started his own company called Chateau Beach Entertainment in 2019 on which he recorded an album called Rivage.
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In 2023, Russ Kunkel was recorded playing the Bongo drums on Playing for Change performance for Doctor My Eyes behind Jackson Browne.
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Russ Kunkel is a self taught drummer and has a studio at his home, where he plays all kinds of instruments including keyboard, guitar, snare drums, bass drums, various tom drums, and Zildjian and Paiste cymbals.
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Russ Kunkel endorses DW drums, Evans drumheads, and Pro-Mark sticks.
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Russ Kunkel has previously used Gretsch, Sonor, Yamaha, Pearl and Premier drums, as well as Remo drumheads, prior to switching to Evans in 1983.
25.
In 1990, Russ Kunkel married singer Nicolette Larson, and that same year their daughter was born.