Multi-Emmy Award–winning guitarist Russ Hewitt blends lightning-fast guitar runs with distinctive rhythms to create an electrifying sound in his original music. Describing his approach, Russ says, “I fuse Spanish, classical, flamenco, jazz, Latin, Cuban, and Brazilian influences without worrying about the rules of any particular style. This gives me the freedom to create without boundaries.”

Russ holds a performance degree in classical guitar from the University of North Texas and is a voting member of both the Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. His albums—Bajo el Sol, Alma Vieja, Cielo Nocturno, and Chasing Horizons—have yielded multiple Top 40 Smooth Jazz singles, received multiple Grammy ballot submissions, and earned song placements in television, web series, and films.

2026 marked the beginning of a new adventure for Russ as a core member of Six String Symphony, an ensemble featuring four guitars, cello, piano, and violin. Our debut album brings together original compositions and reimagined classical works. Most of the album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the 73-piece London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Cliff Masterson. They recorded the guitars in Studio Two, the iconic room where The Beatles wrote and recorded, with additional guitar sessions at the Power Station at Berklee NYC and Skywalker Ranch Studios. The album also features the Los Angeles–based Sterling Ensemble choir, conducted by Michelle Jensen, and the Onyx String Chamber Orchestra. Upon its release, A Six String Odyssey debuted at No. 1 on Amazon’s Classical Best Sellers and Classical New Releases charts.

Russ returned for his third performance with the 65-piece Irving Symphony Orchestra as part of its 2026 season opening night. Backed by his five-piece band and the orchestra, he performed a selection of original songs from his previous recordings. The concert was recorded for a future release on YouTube.

Russ has garnered international press coverage and reviews, including a cover appearance in Spain’s Cutaway guitar magazine and a three-page feature in GuitarClub, Italy’s largest print guitar magazine. He has also been featured in the Godin Guitars Multiac catalog, pictured with his primary guitar. Critics have taken notice:

“Russ Hewitt satisfies on all levels, from the intellectual to the emotional and beyond.” Travis L Rogers Jr. – THE JAZZ OWL
“… lush, rich guitar mastery…” Dick Metcalf – CONTEMPORARY FUSION REVIEWS
“…Hewitt’s fluid guitar work sets him apart.” Bagikan – WARTAJAZZ
“..superb, expressive touch.” Patrizia Marinelli – GUITAR CLUB MAGAZINE
“Gorgeous and lyrical melodies… Velvet strings.” George Harris – JAZZ WEEKLY
“Beyond the technical mastery and distinctive melodicism…” Stefan Bocioaca – JAZZ WORLDQUEST
“…with great virtuosity, creates with his Latin Guitar a spectrum of music with a brilliant and personal style.” Pablo Rego – ANTHROPOMUSIC
“…uncanny ability to write melodies that speak to the soul…” Scott Itter – DR.MUSIC

Inducted into the Indie Music Hall of Fame as part of its 2023 class, Russ continues to earn recognition throughout the music community. In addition to his multiple Emmy wins, his music has received honors from the Telly Awards, Josie Music Awards, Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMA), International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Global Music Awards, One World Music Radio Awards, LIT Awards, and InterContinental Music Awards, among many others.

An in-demand session guitarist, Russ contributed to two projects nominated at the 67th Grammy Awards: Antonio Vergara’s The Fury and Aaron Lazar’s Impossible Dream, which also reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart. He also played guitar on Flor Bromley’s Herstory, nominated at the 68th Grammy Awards.

Russ has performed on stages worldwide, both as a solo artist and with ensembles of up to eight musicians. His experience also includes performing and recording with symphony and philharmonic orchestras, including recording his original music with the London Symphony Orchestra at the famed Abbey Road Studios and the Romanian National Symphony. The distinguished guest artists who have recorded with Russ are a testament to his musicianship and songwriting:

GUITAR – Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme, Rihanna); Larry Carlton (Steely Dan, Quincy Jones, solo artist); Marty Friedman (Megadeth, solo artist); Jorge Strunz (Strunz & Farah); Ardeshir Farah (Strunz & Farah)
STRINGS – London Symphony Orchestra; Bucharest All-Star Orchestra (Romanian National Symphony Orchestra); Irving Symphony Orchestra; Charlie Bisharat (Michael Bublé, Elton John, John Williams)
DRUMS – Walfredo Reyes Jr (Santana, Steve Winwood, Chicago)
BASS – Bob Parr (Cher, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Barry White)
PERCUSSION – Raphael Padilla (Miami Sound Machine, Shakira, Gloria Estefan); Efren Guzman (Alejandro Fernandez, Andrea Bocelli)
SAXOPHONE – Michael Lington
VIETNAMESE ZITHER– Tri Nguyen

Russ’s current endorsements include Godin Guitars, Radial Engineering (Tonebone pedal), Analysis Plus Cables, QiJack (guitar input jack), Morley Pedals, V-Picks, Neunaber Audio Effects (Immerse Reverberator), Voodoo Lab (power supply), BBF Pedalboards, Primacoustic (acoustic wall treatments), Mission Engineering (pedal and amplifier), DLS Effects (RotoSIM), and Savarez Strings. Several of these partnerships span more than a decade, with Russ frequently featured on the companies’ websites, in advertisements, and in promotional videos.