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Making Beautiful Music Together

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - Fond Memories, their passion for music and their love for one another are the bonding agents that link Jill Wilson and Rich Russo, the female singer-keyboardist and her fiance drummer, to the four-piece band of Jilly and the Jammers.

Those three elements are also what inspires them to perform at several venues throughout the Tampa Bay area and what brings the Brandon couple to Temple Terrace every Thursday night to perform at Lenny's Latin Cafe.

Wilson, a Brandon native who has been in the entertainment field since age 3 as a singer, actress and model, met Russo while both were enrolled at Horace Mann Junior High, now a middle school. They continued their mostly casual relationship at Armwood High, where he played drums in the band and she was a cheerleader.

The two parted ways after high school, however, and Wilson landed her first professional acting/singing gig at Busch Gardens at 18. She also has appeared in several television commercials, TV shows and movies. For a couple of years, the divorced mother of two teenagers owned her own business, Act 1 Talent Group in Brandon.

"She is very talented, and she's very versatile," said Brandon resident Hailey Hall, who was employed by Wilson for a short time. "She can sing just about any kind of music."

Wilson's friend and singer Lisa Hertzner also admires the woman's talent.

"I think she's fabulous. She's got great stage presence and is very professional," said Hertzner, who has watched Wilson perform with her band at O'Toole's in Brandon.

At 13, Russo joined a heavy metal band and later hooked up with a jazz band. After his graduation from high school he performed in a world music tour with heavy-metal guitarist Andrew Wilkes-Krier, alias Andrew WK.

Russo also appeared on a live VH-1 program in Tampa hosted by Mike Pachelli, who owns a Los Angeles recording studio.

"Richie got to jam with some famous personalities, and we nicknamed him 'Read-Your-Mind Richie' because he would just get it so quickly," Pachelli said. "I've played with some of the top musicians, and Richie is among the top 5 percent of all the drummers. He's very talented."

Russo credits childhood neighbor and friend Donald Tardy, formerly of Brandon, with getting him started on drums.

"He let me play on his drums before my family could afford drums," Russo said.

Tardy, who now lives in Temple Terrace and has played in the heavy-metal band Obituary for 23 years, still keeps in touch with his longtime drumming buddy.

"Rich is just a great drummer, and he's so diverse," Tardy said. "He's studied and practiced enough to be able to get right into the pocket, and I'm excited that Rich is still playing and enjoying himself. It's very tough to play music and travel all over and to be able to make a living at it."

Tardy also is delighted that Wilson, whom he has also known since childhood, and longtime bachelor Russo have reconnected, as business partners and soon-to-be spouses.

The duo perform jazz, country and blues tunes in their performances at Lenny's.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Jilly and the Jammers

WHERE: Lenny's Latin Cafe, 10918 N. 56th St.

WHEN: 7-10 p.m. Thursdays

COST: There is no cover charge, but patrons are encouraged to purchase food and beverages

INFORMATION: www.jillyand thejammers.biz

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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