Learn the Performing Style of Freddie Mercury in Union County, Sept. 26

By School of Rock

Joseph Russo, the lead singer of popular tribute band Almost Queen, will be a guest presenter at School of Rock Clark on Saturday, September 26 from 12:30pm to 2pm. Russo will teach the young musicians in attendance about the singing and performing style of the late Freddie Mercury, and share tips on how to sing the #1 Queen hit “Another One Bites the Dust”.

“I first heard ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in 1975 at the age of nine while riding in the back seat of my parent’s car,” says Russo. “It was the most incredible thing I had ever heard and I started buying their older albums immediately. The following fall, I won two tickets and a copy of the new ‘Day At The Races’ album from WABC-AM radio in New York, and I actually saw the band live in February 1977 at Madison Square Garden. Needless to say, the show was unbelievable and they became my favorite band.”

Russo comes from a musical family: his father toured the country as the guitarist for several bands in the early 60s, his mother was an original member of the legendary girl group The Angels and sang on their #1 pop hit “My Boyfriend’s Back”, and his brother is a member of the U2 tribute band Unforgettable Fire, which recently performed at The Cutting Room in Manhattan, and were joined by U2 members Adam Clayton and The Edge. Russo learned to play the piano, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and bass guitar while growing up, and played in bands through high school and college.

In 2005, he met a group of professional musicians who shared his passion for Queen, and after a few months of rehearsal, began doing gigs as Almost Queen. The band currently performs shows across the United States and overseas (Mexico, the Caribbean, South America), and logs in 50 to 60 bookings per year that range from 30 minutes to three hours in length.

“School of Rock is a fantastic institution and I’m elated to be asked to visit the school,” says Russo. “I would absolutely have been a School of Rock student when I was a kid, but back then, my only choice to learn music was private lessons at home and the audience for my performances was the family dog!”

Joseph Russo of Almost Queen will visit School of Rock Clark, located at 1173 Raritan Road in Clark, on Saturday, September 26 from 12:30 to 2pm. Admission is free and open to the public, but a reservation is recommended. To RSVP, contact School of Rock Clark at (908) 577-4473.