Most of Russell's compositions included songs with lyrics and accompaniment. He claimed to have written over eight hundred songs though a much more conservative number may be accurate. The songs were ballads derived from Italian operas both in relation to the harmonies and the piano accompaniment. Interestingly Russell also composed some songs that centered on traveling and others that were composed in advocacy of social reform. "The Maniac," "The Gambler's Wife," and "The Indian Hunter" were respectively voicing concerns with the treatment of the mentally infirm, deserted mother's and their children, and racial prejudice. Russell had studied composition with Rossini and Bellini and was quite popular as a singer both as a child and as an adult performer though the more "high-browed" audiences did not find his self-accompanied singing style in line with their tastes. He settled in Rochester New York between the 1830s and early 1840s accepting the position of organist and choirmaster of the First Presbyterian church. Traveling back and forth between England and the States Russell finally settled in England in 1860 where he led an active life as a singer. He composed until the end of his life. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi