Little is known about Hubert Russell, despite being referred to in 1917 as a musician of long-standing in Sydney ('Merchant of Bassora.' Arrow 30 November 1917, p.3). His name has first been identified as music director for the Eastern Suburbs Musical Comedy Society's 1915 production of the musical comedy What Is It? For this production Russell also arranged the musical numbers to accompany book by Stanley A. Kilminster.
In early December 1917 Russell's collaboration with Les Williams, the comic opera The Merchant of Bassora, was given a three night season at Sydney's Repertory Theatre. His association with Sydney theatre in general, and the Repertory Theatre Society in particular, also saw him also invited to perform at a 1918 recital featuring songs by the Society's business manager Oswald Anderson.
No other references to Russell after 1918 have yet been confirmed.
Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive
