Russ Mello studied for several years with Paul Geremia, himself a student and friend to many of the early blues players, Pink Anderson (1900-1974), Son House (1902-1988) and Howlin' Wolf (1910-1976) among them. In a way, that makes Russ a third-generation practitioner of the art. Paul once said of Russ's playing, "I can't show him anything more!" His version of Blind Blake's Rope Stretching Blues (see "Pick a Peck of Piedmont Pickers") illustrates Paul's point perfectly.

Russ has also developed a terrific body of work from the tradition of the Memphis jug bands, which were influenced by ragtime piano stylists, as was Piedmont Blues in general. His group "The Ruckus Brothers" is a rollicking, rowdy good-time band.

His daughter, Liv, an accomplished vocalist, also occasionally performs with him.

He currently resides in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.