Craig H. Russell was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico, on 3rd April, 1951. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in guitar performance from the University of New Mexico and his Ph.D. in Historical Musicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a classical guitarist, he studied under Hctor A. Garca at the University of New Mexico and Emilio Pujol at the Curso Internacional de Guitarra, Laud y Vihuela in Cervera, Lrida, Spain.
As a composer, Russell has received wide praise and recognition for his work. His textures, melodies, harmonies and orchestrations are often described as Coplandesque, frequently evoking the many cultural influences of American life. He has worked closely with the acclaimed vocal group Chanticleer, including the production of two CDs, Mexican Baroque (nominated for a Grammy Award and Chanticleers No. 1 selling CD) and Matins for the Virgin of Guadalupe. Russell reconstructed the music of these recordings from musical shreds of evidence in Mexican and California archives, assisted at rehearsals, wrote the liner notes and collaborated throughout the recording process.
Russell has been a professor at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, since 1982 and has won numerous teaching awards including the California State University Trustees Outstanding Professor Award and the Presidents Arts
