Composer William Russo (02/13/1997)

Chicagoan William Russo (1928 – 2003) was a Jazz composer, arranger, educator, and band leader whose remarkable international career spanned the second half of the 20th century. He wrote for Stan Kenton and the New York Philharmonic. His collaborators ranged from Duke Ellington to Yehudi Menuhin. And he originated the music department at Columbia College, establishing the long-running Chicago Jazz Ensemble in residence there. In 1997, shortly before a grand concert honoring his 50 years in music, he spoke with Studs Terkel on WFMT.