Emmy award-winning guitarist Russ Hewitt combines lightning guitar runs with unique rhythms and provides an electrifying combination of sound and songs in his original music. Russ explains his style of play as “Fusing Spanish, Classical, Flamenco, jazz, Latin, Cuban and Brazilian together simultaneously without worrying about what particular rules that go with each style. This allows me the freedom to create without boundaries.”

Holding a performance degree in Classical guitar from University of North Texas, Russ is a Grammy and Latin Grammy voting member. His recordings BAJO EL SOL, ALMA VIEJA, CIELO NOCTURNO, and CHASING HORIZONS has resulted in multiple Top 40 Smooth Jazz singles, multiple Grammy ballot submissions, and song placement in TV, Web Series, and movies.

Russ has also received press and reviews from all over world including the cover of CUTAWAY guitar magazine out of Spain, a three-page feature in Italy’s biggest print guitar magazine – GuitarClub Magazine, and featured in the Godin Guitars MULTIAC catalog with a picture himself and his main guitar. The critics seem to agree:

“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

Along with his introduction to the 2023 class inducted in the INDIE MUSIC HALL OF FAME, Russ continues to be recognized beyond his Emmy win by the music community as a recipient of the Telly Awards, Josie Music Awards, Global Music Awards, One World Music Radio Awards, InterContinental Music Awards, among many others for his music.

Russ has played on stages worldwide from a solo act up to a eight piece band. This includes performing and recording with Symphonies, Orchestras and Philharmonics with his original music, a rare feat for any musician. The level of guest artists that have recorded with Russ is a testament to his playing and songwriting abilities:

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 – Bucharest All-Star Orchestra (Romanian National 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 currently is endorsed by 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 (wall treatments), Mission Engineering (pedal and amp), DLS Effects (RotoSIM), and Savarez Strings. Some of the endorsements have been for over a decade, often being featured on the companies website, ads, and promotional videos.