FEATURES
Brother-sister duo to perform in Talladgea
Laura Nation-Atchison
06-19-2008
He left “home” in 1966, but Dock “Too Sweet” Russell still comes home to Talladega to entertain and give his message.
Since graduating from R.R. Moton High School in Sycamore and later from Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Russell has become a performer and producer, having turned out an album and five single records.
Russell has shared the stage with names such as Joe Tex, Tyrone Davis and Harold Melvin’s Bluenotes to name just a few.
He has been the producer of plays that include “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide,” “A Soldier’s Play, Born in the U.S.A.” and “Partners, Y’all Don’t Know What I’m Going Through,” among others.
Russell is a promoter of using art, music and culture as fundraisers to foster community programs and education for youth.
He encourages other artists to do the same.
Russell begins a 12-city tour this month to promote a new CD, “The Best of Too Sweet,” and has titled the tour “Education Will Save a Nation.”
Joining him for his tour stop in Talladega June 28 is his sister, “Lady Dottie,” known while growing up in Talladega as Dottie Russell, now Dottie Whitsett.
The show starts at 9 p.m. and will continue until 2 a.m. at College City Elks Lodge 1171.
Whitsett now lives in San Diego, and Russell, in Hackensack, N.J. He titled the Talladega get together the “East Meets West Concert Down South.”
The Russells are two of a total of 13 children in their family. When their sister, Paulette Russell of Atlanta, died recently, they decided to form a foundation through which they could support community activities “back home” in Talladega, in honor of their parents, Annie W. and Dock Russell.
The siblings named the foundation after their parents, and their concert in Talladega is a fundraiser.
Following the loss of their sister, the remaining Russell siblings started talking about how much their parents had expected from them and what their parents tried to give them regarding knowledge, support and the opportunity for achievement.
“Even with my mother’s ninth grade education and my father’s sixth grade education, they were able to motivate and expose us to many things and ideas, through religion, work environment and everyday encounters in community life,” Russell said. “Their motivation and support led at least seven of us out of 13 to attend college and go to higher education.”
Russell and Dottie planned their benefit to coincide with their trip to Talladega for the Westside School reunion.
Russell started performing in New Jersey as “Too Sweet,” singing for a regular night club circuit.
He recently became a County Committee member for District 3, Ward 3 in Hackensack and in the past has served on a number of civic, municipal and governmental boards.
He has received recognition for his work in community involvement and undergone training for handing issues of the courts, HIV/AIDS, gangs, adolescent behavior and dysfunctional families and substance abuse.
Whitsett left Talladega for Hackensack, too, in the mid-60s, and relocated to San Diego in the early 80s, move first to Atlanta and a year afterward, to San Diego.
Her career life has been centered on working as a banquet manager and food designer, but she has also been a performer through the years.
She sings in a variety of locations now with her band, Lady Dottie and the Diamonds.
Dottie and the band won the 2004 and 2007 San Diego Music Award Foundation’s Best Ten Blues Groups.
Tickets to the brother and sister get-together are $10 in advance and $15 at the door the night of the show. Advance tickets are available at Elk Lodge 1171.
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About Laura Atchison
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Laura Nation-Atchison is The Daily Home features editor.
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