He is a drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer who was a founder member of the group The Section from 1972 to 1977.
On the music scene for over three decades he has been every-busy performing and/or producing artists such as Bread, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Carmen, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Rita Coolidge, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jackie DeShannon, Bob Dylan, The Everly Brothers, Dan Fogelberg, Glenn Frey, Arlo Guthrie, George Harrison, Don Henley, Brian Hyland, Tom Jones, Carole King, Kenny Loggins, Lyle Lovett, Reba McEntire, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Bette Midlers, Joni Mitchell, Aaron Neville, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Helen Reddy, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Leo Sayer, Carly Simon, J.D. Souther, James Taylor, Joe Walsh, Jennifer Warnes, Steve Winwood and Bill Withers.
His work as a songwriter has seen him working with Clannad, Joe Cocker, Graham Nash and The Neville brothers and also his music is featured on the scores of the movies Certain Fury, Heartburn and Smooth Talk. His other work in the film world saw him appearing in 1984’s This is Spinal Tap as the character Eric “Stumpy Joe” Childs.
A small selection of the albums he features on as a musician include Just You and Me by Herb Alpert, Living Eyes by Bee Gees, Bish by Stephen Bishop, As I Come of Age by Sarah Brightman, Running on Empty by Jackson Browne, Volcano by Jimmy Buffett, Heads and Tales by Harry Chapin, Crossroads by Tracy Chapman, Pastpresent by Clannad, Beautiful Noise by Neil Diamond, Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid by Bob Dylan, Souvenirs by Dan Fogelberg, Breakaway by Art Garfunkel, The Goodbye Girl by David Gates, All This and Heaven Too by Andrew Gold, Portraits by Emmylou Harris, Aida by Elton John & Tim Rice, Indianola Mississippi Seeds by B.B. King, Tapestry by Carole King, Paid Vacation by Richard Marx, Sweet Harmony by Maria Muldaur, Rock a Little by Stevie Nicks, Stars & Stripes Forever by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Living in the U.S.A and Get Closer by Linda Ronstadt, Too by Carole Bayer Sager, Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts, Like a Rock by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Wish by Feargal Sharkey, Hotcakes by Carly Simon, Old Wave by Ringo Starr, 24 Carrots by Al Stewart, Live by Stephen Stills, Emotionby Barbra Streisand, Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon by James Taylor, What Up, Dog? by Was (Not Was), Comes a Time by Neil Young and Envoy by Warren Zevon.
Being recognised for his contribution to music he has received a Surround Recording award for his production work for Graham Nash.
His second wife was the singer Nicolette Larson who sadly died in 1997.
Linda Ronstadt recordings
Back in the U.S.A. (Chuck Berry)
Get Closer (Jonathan Carroll)
I Never Will Marry (Fred Hellerman)
Sometimes You Just Can’t Win (Smokey Stover)
Sources:
- http://www.russellkunkel.com/main/press.html
- http://www.russellkunkel.com/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Kunkel
- http://www.spock.com/Russ-Kunkel
- http://www.buffettnews.com/bandmember58.html
- http://web2.airmail.net/gshultz/oldwave.html
- http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Russell%20Kunkel:1927625067?sort=za