Raised in the cornfields of Iowa, Arthur Russell brought such an expansive musical vision to New York that it made his adopted city look small in comparison. Working solo and in groups like Loose Joints and Dinosaur, the cellist/composer tackled disco, R&B, classical minimalism, and country—often in the course of a single song. His trademarks were his plain, soothing voice and his radical use of echo. He left behind a trove of tapes that continue to yield posthumous releases, and new generations continue to find inspiration in his music.