Betina Hershey Russo is a native New Yorker born to a Broadway musician and a painter. She has toured the country and the world and played upon NYC stages as a singer, dancer, and musical theater performer. She has been writing and singing songs ever since she started talking...
Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches have been touring with Nick Russo on guitar and Banjo, Betina on vocals and guitar, featuring reinterpretations of standards and Betina originals. Their latest release has been received well. They have been touring and appearing live on radio, Woodsongs, Blue Plate Special, WFUV, and more.
Hot Jazz Jumpers plays 1920s jazz, New Orleans, blues, and standards. Their album Very Next Thing was well received in Downbeat Magazine, London Times, and more.
Beat By Beat Press where you can find Denver Casado and Betina Hershey published musicals.
"Wish I Could Stay,", the first project on Betina's new label, Loping Raven Records, was recorded at John Guth's studio, north of the city and released in 2000. Jeff Ganz on bass, Jeff Berman on drums, Scott Kuney on guitar added their musicality to Betina's songs while she sang and played guitar. There were horn appearances by Shawn Hershey, Lowell Hershey, and Bruce Bonvissuto, and John Guth added ideas and played guitar and various instruments on a few songs, especially Childlike Lover, on which he is the only other musician besides Betina. For audio samples of "Wish I Could Stay," visit CDBaby.com or visit iTunes.
On October 20th Betina and her husband, Nick Russo, came out with a cd called "Gettin' Married," all originals written for each other.
1. I Do (2:33) Guitar: Nick Russo, Vocal: Betina Hershey
"Behind The Scenes" premiered May 17th, 2008, with the Garden Players. Idea by Carol Hershey. Lyrics by Betina Hershey. Music by Denver Casaodo. Book by Hershey, Casado & Gwynne Watkins.
1. This Is Gonna Be Big (1:51) Music Tracks: Denver Casado, Vocal: Garden Player Kids
2. My Best Friend (1:58) Music Tracks: Denver Casado, Vocal: Garden Player Kids
3. It's All Part of the Magic (3:27) Music Tracks: Denver Casado, Vocal: Garden Player Kids
"Space Pirates" premiered May 19th, 2007, with the Garden Players. Book by Gwynne Watkins, Music by Denver Casaod, Lyrics by Betina Hershey & Gwynne Watkins.
"Bounce to the Wave", a jazzy swing dance/contact improv piece with a live band premiered at Wagner College in November of 2006. Choreography & concept by Betina Hershey. Lyrics by Betina Hershey. Music by Steven Sweeting.
1. Certain (3:12) Piano: Steve Sweeting, Vocal: Betina Hershey (demo)
"Finding Home", an hour long children's musical written with composer Eddie Guttman, premiered in 2005.
1. He Loves Me (1:23) Piano: Eddie Guttman, Vocal: Emily Krohn
2. I Long For Home (2:02) Piano: Eddie Guttman, Vocal: Max Jenkins and Emily Krohn
3. Don't Trust A Human (1:34) Piano: Eddie Guttman, Vocal: Pernell
4. Take What You Need (2:59)Piano: Eddie Guttman
5. This Place Is Magic (1:51) Piano: Eddie Guttman, Vocal: Max Jenkins & Emily Krohn
6. Stop And Live Up To Your Dreams (4:02) Piano: Eddie Guttman, Vocal: Pernell
In September of 2004 Betina was accepted as a lyricist to the Lehman Engle BMI Musical Theater Program and began writing with a very talented composer, Denver Casado. In addition to the many cabaret songs they have written and seen performed, they have written three children's musicals for the Garden Players.
In 2005, Betina and Denver Casado wrote "The Big Leap", 1. On My Lonesome (2:48) Piano: Denver Casado, Vocal: Betina Hershey
2. My Perfect World Would Rhyme (3:12) Piano: Denver Casado, Vocal: Tatiana Lizcano
They also wrote a 20 minute musical, "Finding The Wonder," which won 2nd place in the 2006 BAD Musical Festival (book by Gwynne Watkins) and is having another reading done in February, 2007.
1. My Duck Jack (3:12) Piano: Denver Casado, Vocal: Ioana Preda & Betina Hershey
"Musicville", another hour long family musical, premiered in May, 2006. Book by Denver Casado & Betina Hershey. Music by Denver Casado. Lyrics by Betin Hershey.
1. Beat by Beat Piano: Denver Casado, Vocal: Betina Hershey & Denver Casado (rough demo)
2. Song of Silence Piano: Denver Casado, Vocal: Denver Casado & Betina Hershey (rough demo)
"Lemontales," Betina's first children's musical (written with help from Matt Gough) premiered in May 2004, performed by 30 kids in The Garden Players, grades K-8th grade. Book, music & lyrics by Betina Hershey.
1. Come Sit On The Porch (2:41) Guitar & Vocal: Betina Hershey
2. No Show Business (1:45) Piano: Carol Hershey, Vocals: The Garden Players of May, 2004
Sophomore album for Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches. Vocals, guitar, and songs by Betina Hershey. Produced by Nick Russo. Also on all streaming platforms.
