Russ DeFilippis

Russ DeFilippis has performed and toured with Bob Hope, Dick Clark, Martha Reeves, and Chuck Berry. A jazz guitarist, DeFilippis was influenced by Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, and George Benson.

An educator at heart, he strove to learn as much as he could about playing jazz guitar. From New York, DeFilippis returned to his home city after graduating from Berklee College of Music to work as a session musician and perfect his craft. There, he met other artists and producers and developed an impressive music resume. He also taught other promising guitarists whenever he had the opportunity.

After working as a career musician with a television job on the side, DeFilippis retired to St. Augustine in 2022 and has since performed with several other area musicians and joined the St. Augustine City Jazz Coalition.

DeFilippis performs solo, and with other musicians, including ZaZa Flamenca, George Weir, and Rusty Springfield frequently at La Cocina and T. Smith Asian Bistro.