russ

Russell Hartman - Music Promoter & Co-founder and Editor of the Austin Daze (1999-2015). Russ has a rare disease called Friedreich’s Ataxia, it is a progressive disease that causes nervous system damage & movement problems. Diagnosed as a teen, when he was in college, he was told that, in one year he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Russ pushed it off for 3 years determined to fight and do things the hard way to keep his muscles functioning. Fast forward to now, at 47 Russ spends 4+ hours a day on a morning routine - getting out of bed, bathroom, showering, exercising, and eating. What pushes Russ? MUSIC. He lives for seeing live music & being out in the community. While Editor at Austin Daze, he also booked acts such as Gary Clark Jr., Hairy Ape BMX & Groupo Fantasma & Money Chica, and - he still supports all these bands & many more. While not as active as when running the Daze newspaper, he still likes to promote by playing local bands while he exercises & letting people know about the hot shows of the week on social media. Still doing his part, because he loves music. Despite his illness, Russ is always positive & smiling. A ray of light that everyone should experience. Russ has an abundance of love around him in the community.