Tom Russell, one of America's premier singer-songwriters, grew up in California, soaking up the West Coast hillbilly sounds of Merle Travis and Buck Owens. He started his career in the country bars of Vancouver before moving on to the progressive country music scene of Austin, Texas. One of the seminal artists of the americana movement, Tom blends country, rock, Tex-Mex, and folk sounds in finely honed character studies that champion blue collar life. He has written and recorded numerous classics, and created inspired albums, like his Merle Haggard tribute, Tulare Dust, which consistently finds a spot on music writers' Best Albums lists.

Tom recently released a DVD, Hearts on the Line, as well as a new CD, Love and Fear (Hightone). Venturing into what he calls "the ragged outback of love," this gritty, edgy collection approaches love from every angle, in a chronicle of dreams and dreams deferred, passion and desperation, sin and redemption.

Michael Martin provides this evening's accompaniment.