Ray Smith is a jazz and ragtime pianist/composer and co-author, with Mike Pointon, of the award-winning Goin' Home - The Uncompromising Life and Music of Ken Colyer. Mike Pointon is a jazz musician, writer and broadcaster. He presented the acclaimed BBC Radio 3 series Bunk & Bill.

• Who's Who Foreword by George Avakian Introduction by Ray Smith and Mike Pointon Chronology by William F. Wagner Prelude: Bill Russell's Family Background and Childhood written by his brother William F. Wagner Chapter 1: Fugue Chapter 2: Chicago Sketches Chapter 3: Jelly Roll Chapter 4: Trumpet Chapter 5: American Music Chapter 6: Bunk`s Blues Chapter 7: Last Testament Chapter 8: Chicago Breakdown Chapter 9: New Orleans Joys Chapter 10: New Orleans Style Chapter 11: Made In America Legacy Methodology End Notes

--Winner of BEST HISTORICAL RESEARCH IN RECORDED JAZZ, 2019 ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research "Too often, major superlatives are applied to relatively minor achievements in the documentation of all strains of American Roots Music -- but with a book such as this, a reviewer's hackneyed final words of 'essential', 'recommended' or even 'highly recommended' seem somehow totally inadequate. So I'll boldly go further and conclude that absolutely anyone with the faintest interest in Jazz, New Orleans born or otherwise, or any keeper of the printed word interested in the brilliant and fascinating spoken words and wisdom of an equally brilliant and fascinating man should get a copy of this book -- it will probably be the best of its kind you'll ever know." --Paul Swinton, Vintage Jazz Mart Magazine "This is a very important addition to the jazz literature and is worthy of the highest recommendation." --Chris Tyle, Just Jazz "A homage to Bill Russell, the book builds a picture of this complex man by interspersing other interviews, recollections, articles, program notes, and photographs, and adding reminiscences by many of us who knew him or benefitted directly from his selfless efforts on our behalf..." --Clive Wilson, OffBeat Magazine, September 2018 "For anyone interested in the resurgence of interest in New Orleans jazz from the late 1930s on this book is a must read." --Mike Pointon "The book brings Russell to life better than most biographies -- I knew him for twenty years and everything in the book rings true, as it should, since the bulk of the book is in his own words." --Paige VanVorst