Bio: Russ Kendrick Martin

Russ Kendrick Martin is a songwriter, storyteller and broadcaster whose work explores the grit and grace of the American landscape. With a career spanning over 24 years in the broadcasting industry—serving as a news director and radio personality at a smalltown radio station—Russ has spent decades mastering the art of the narrative, turning his on-air and personal experiences into songs that explore the depths of the human condition. His style is best described as Americana Noir. The characters that inhabit his story songs have their own sordid tales to tell. 

Born and raised in rural southern Michigan, Russ creates music that is deeply rooted in the soil of the Midwest. His sound is a blend of roots rock and country-edged storytelling, often textured with the industrial and small town spirit of the region. 

With more than 30 years of stage experience, Russ favors the intimacy of listening rooms and house concerts, where songs can breathe and stories can be heard. Whether he is performing solo, or collaborating with his brother, Gary Martin, in their band My Redneck Brother, his goal remains the same: to connect with an audience through the shared language of lived experience.

Upcoming Release

Russ is currently preparing for the release of his latest album, Rust & Ashes: A Small Town Mythology, arriving in Summer 2026. Avoiding nostalgia and sentimentality, the songs  explore the darker side side of the human experience. The album serves as a sonic journey through the small towns, and down the backroads of modern rural America.