Tom Russell came originally from Los Angeles and now lives in El Paso. He sketched both cities through the dual lenses of Orson Welles's movie camera and a dying relationship in the masterpiece "Touch of Evil." Russell, says Ark volunteer George Allen, "can tell a story about anything." He's written vivid historical songs, ambitious portraits of love gone wrong, big Nashville hits, slices of barroom gloom, anthems of social commentary, profound religious statements ("Blue Wing"), a career-making song about an epic cockfight … you name it! Tom recently released his 20th album, "Aztec Jazz," with his songs reinterpreted by Norwegian wind musicians—he has a stronger following in Europe than almost any other American songwriter. Says the San Francisco Chronicle: "Tom Russell is the last wandering Beat…a prolific and venerable artist writing the best songs of his career."