Russ Lawton grew up in the Boston area where he began drumming professionally and studying with Gene Roma. Early in his career, Russ toured with the Afro-fusion band Zzebra, formed by Osibisa's Nigerian-born percussionist Lofty Amao.
He currently tours and records with a variety of musicians including Phish's Trey Anastasio. Collaborating with Trey includes co-writing songs from Phish's "Farmhouse" CD (featuring the Grammy-nominated song First Tube), Trey's first solo CD, the live "Plasma" CD, and "Live at the Warfield Theatre" DVD with Trey and Carlos Santana, as well as his three latest releases "The Horseshoe Curve," "Tab At The Tab Live" in Atlanta, and “Traveler.”
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Russ's television appearances are PBS's Austin City Limits with Trey Anastasio, Late Night with David Letterman, The Jimmy Fallon Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Conan O'Brien Show, and The Carson Daly Show.
Russ also tours with his fellow TAB band-member, Ray Paczkowski in the Vermont Funk duo, Soule Monde. When not with Trey or Soule Monde, Russ plays with a variety of other musicians, whose repertoire includes blues, funk, country, and rock. In between gigs, Russ keeps busy with his drum students and various studio dates.
Other notable work includes the music for the independent movies "Mud Season," Mike Gordon's "Outside Out" and "Left Hand Path."