Russell Clepper

Russell Clepper is a performing singer songwriter.

He currently performs with the Porch Brothers, a Texas/California Americana trio, and with the Muse & eye, a country/folk duo. More information on these groups and other Russell Clepper band projects and collaborations follows. For a discography, scroll all the way to the bottom.

2025 News

First: Russell is releasing his first two independent cd's, Son of a Farfmer and Someplace Like Heaven, on Bandcamp. Sound engineer and producer Leo Papa has stripped those recordings back to their original solo form and remastered them to recreate the feel of the moment in which they were first recorded in Leo's small apartment studio in San Antonio at the turn of the millenium.

In other news, Russell continues to work this year on a number of music projects: Porch Brothers & Co, the Muse & eye and possible recording and tours. Check back for updates about his performance schedule. Emilie Clepper continues to promote the October 2023 release of The Family Record, an album consisting of her performance of 11 of her father's father's songs. The album has garnered many accolades throughout Canada and the US. (Produced by Joe Grass.)

The Family Record

Russell's daughter, Emilie Clepper, released her legacy album The Family Record (La Tribu) in October 2023. All songs on the recording are Russell's compositions, many of which she grew up hearing him sing around the house. Emilie sings the lead on all tracks and Russell provides harmony on most of them. Produced by Joe Grass, the album features not only Emilie's uniquely beautiful voice and Russell's songs, but stellar performances as well from some fine studio musicians that Joe assembled. Since the release, the album earned many accolades and positive reviews in Quebec where the album was released, but also throughout English speaking Canada and the United States. Emilie supported the release with many tours in Texas and Quebec. Russell joined her, Joe, fiddler Birdie Veilleux and bassist Patricia Deslauriers for four shows in late May for a tour in Quebec in May.

The Porch Brothers & Co

The Porch Brothers are Russell, singer/songwriter Rob Harris and often accompanied by special guests. With the approach of summer 2025, they are heading into their fifth season of public performance. Russell contributes his original songs and covers of various Texas country and folk artists while Rob brings originals and covers of California singer/songwriters to create a unique blend of Americana music. Ron delivers rythyms drawn from his deep experience with many branches of music, including jazz, African, rock and folk. Sarah Dial Primrose, the Porch Sister, brightens Porch Brothers performances with a rich third harmony at times.

The Muse & eye

The Muse & eye began performing more than 10 years ago as both a local and touring duo. The bulk of their repertoire is Russell's original songs with a healthy smattering of covers by artists such as Townes Van Zandt and John Prine.

Besides local and regional appearances, they have played at venues throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, New York, Vermont, Georgia and Quebec. Though Russell plays most often these days with the Porch Brothers, the Muse & eye still occasionally performs on Whidbey Island where they live.

Rusty Fender and the Melody Wranglers

Alt-country on Whidbey Island! This band saw Russell joining with lap steel player (and legendary glass artist) Ro Purser, bassist Ron Rossel and drummer Alan Brown. They brought some old country classics and not-so-classics, some tunes by Russell's favorite Texas singer/songwriters and of course, his original songs to the mix. The motley bunch won raves from country dancers and Russell Clepper fans alike. Check out their Facebook page for archived pictures and video snippets.

Texas - Winter 2016

The Muse & eye has lined up a bunch of shows in Texas in February and March to celebrate the birth of Russell's grandson, Jack Oscar, to his daughter Emilie Clepper.

We will be joined at most shows by guest musicians and friends, including Jimmy George who will be joining Russell for a Clepper George reunion show! PLUS...Emilie will sit in with us at the Hill's Cafe in Austin for a special Clepper Family show.

New songs! Please check out the Muse & eye's Reverbnation page.

We just came back from a short Texas tour with an unexpected addition to our luggage: about 50 copies of an impromptu CD we made at Mike Phelan's house in San Antonio. Titled "Never Go Anywhere," it was completed in three different sessions as we stopped there while crisscrossing the state. Mike did a great job of adding bass, percussion, guitar and sometimes other tracks in-between our visits.

Monday, September 10 2012

Hey...thanks for checking in.

UPDATES :

"Redwood", 1st CD by the Muse & eye was released last March.

The Muse & eye has been an official, gigging duo for more than a year now. That's me and Sarah Dial Primrose, my partner in life and music. We now have a website on Reverbnation. Click www.reverbnation.com/themuseandeye to find more information, including our show schedule, recordings and more.

Thanks!

Pictures/russ_shades2b.jpg

Russell on the road.

Russell Clepper is a singer/songwriter, born and bred in Texas, but who is now living in the Pacific Northwest on Whidbey Island near Seattle. He moved there to be with the love of his life, Sarah Dial Primrose, longtime Northwest resident, artist and businesswoman.

Russell has performed all over Texas and in many other states solo and with other musical artists. Most recently he collaborated with Jimmy George of Austin, Texas in the acclaimed Clepper George duo. Earlier, in San Antonio, he founded the Trebelmakers with Mike Phelan. His cousin Mo Pair has often contributed to both those projects.

Emilie Clepper is Russell's singer/songwriter daughter, who has had much success and critical acclaim in her native Quebec City where Russell lived for 17 years.

Discography

Son of a Farmer (2000)

Texas Lullabye, Clepper and Jimmy George
(2005)

"Redwood", The Muse & eye (with Sarah Dial Primrose), March 2012

Someplace Like Heaven (2002)

Broken Sandollars, Clepper Jimmy George
(2007)

Never Go Anywhere, the Muse & eye, recorded by Mike Phelan in San Antonio, TX, 2015

Texas Blend - the Treblemakers
with Mike Phelan (2002)

Holiday Music, Clepper and Jimmy George
(2008)

If you'd like to get on my mailing list, or to ask about ordering a CD, contact me at rclepper@gmail.com