Teresa Russell, 81; Radio Music Librarian, Talent Coordinator, Producer

Teresa “Tess” Russell, 81, a radio music librarian, talent coordinator and producer of KMPC’s “The Dick Wittinghill Show,” died Sept. 12 of heart failure at her home in Laguna Beach.

Born in Manchuria and reared in China, she moved to Las Vegas in 1947, where she met and married conductor and composer George Russell.

After settling in Los Angeles in 1949, she became music librarian at KLAC radio and three years later moved to KMPC, where she would spend nearly three decades working with Wittinghill and lining up talent for several programs. By 1980, she was music director of the station and national director of artist relations for Al Ham’s “Music of Your Life.”

Russell worked for the last two decades of her life with the Society of Singers to aid singers in need. She helped Ginny Mancini organize the group in 1984 and served as its vice president of artist relations. Russell recruited performers for annual fund-raising events and for two CDs, “A Gift of Music” and “An All-Star Christmas,” that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to assist singers.

Russell was also an active volunteer with the South Coast Medical Center, helping to organize its gift shop. Los Angeles County recognized her for Outstanding Accomplishments to Foster Children.