In the basement of her childhood home in Toronto, a young Cora Russell would sit listening to her father play his vintage vinyl reggae collection. As a pioneer of the 1980s domestic reggae movement in Canada, Jimmy Reid planted in his daughter a love for music and her heritage. This love for and lineage of musical excellence became blatantly obvious when Cora burst onto the Canadian Reggae scene in 2004. Releasing two singles, Cora found herself propelled into the centre of Canada’s thriving Reggae community. Her singles “It Is Well” and “Shout to the Lord” made their way into regular rotation on several radio stations nation wide. This talented singing sensation also found herself nominated for Top Reggae Gospel Female Singer in the 2003 Canadian Reggae Music Awards alongside vocalist veteran Kay Morris and Top Female Artiste and Best Reggae/Soca recording for the 2003 Maja Awards.

Yet, Cora Russell’s life was not always as encouraging and uplifting as her music. At one point, Russell found herself spiralling in a destructive lifestyle that not only brought her years of emotional pain and distress, but also landed her in the hospital as a result of drug use. A single mother at 19 years of age, Cora struggled to cope by escaping through drug use, alcohol and parties on weekends. Her life seemed destined for ruin as she continued to search for relief and comfort in destructive activities. All this changed, one night when Cora sought for relief and comfort in Jesus Christ.

No longer enslaved to drugs or a need to escape her life, Cora began to build upon her new found faith. Finding strength and direction, Russell returned to school to finish her formal education and married Urban Music Recording Artist Brett Russell. Cora Russell has watched her life transform into a living testimony of the awesome changes that can be accomplished through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

With Cora Russell’s life overflowing in abundance as a singer, evangelist & full time mother, she can do nothing but sing and share her experiences in song with the world. Her debut full-length CD appropriately entitled “In His Presence,” is a collection of worship songs set to a swaying reggae vibe which Russell hopes will touch everyone and anyone that listens to it. With a strong collective of producers including Jimmy Reid, Brett Russell and Orville “Wyz” Malcolm, the album is set to change the sound of Reggae music with her signature blend of heartfelt vocals atop swaying Reggae vibes.

No longer a little girl in the basement listening to her father’s record collection, Cora Russell is now on stage, radio and in CD Players, bringing a new message of hope and edification through song. Cora Russell is living proof that despite the circumstances, there can be beauty from ashes.