The RRQ 1996-1999

From the time Russell met Jay Metcalf, they were throwing ideas back and forth for a group. Jay's idea became Jay Metcalf & Jamboree, while Russell's idea became The Russell Reed Quartet. Seeing dollar signs, Russell incorporated the letters RRQ into everything he published. The group became known as The RRQ. We went through a series of different lineups, and started our own web site, now at www.TheRRQ.com. In March of 1998, Russell tried to set up a talent show for the group to participate in. Instead, Jay & Chris were not available, and personal problems with Kyle made it impossible for him to attend. As a result, Russell started a spin-off group called The CFB. After that, Russell released Kyle from the group and added Chris Metcalf to the lineup. That meant we had all 4 singers in the Gateway Concert Choir. We were lucky enough to take a trip to Virginia for a competition, so we used it as an RRQ promotion. Other "honorary" members on that trip included Taryn Cassanelli, Wayne Krupa, James Jones, and others. It was a great promotion for the group. By this time, Jay Metcalf & Jamboree had a hit with La La Land, and The RRQ was just starting to get some popularity. Russell was about to graduate high school and decided to make his party an RRQ concert. Jay said he'd be there, but the only way he'd sing with us is if we'd let his band sing as well. I couldn't turn him down. We'd also tried to get Wayne & David to come to the party with their bands, but that didn't work out either. We did a practice together full of Jamboree & RRQ hits, then did a Gospel concert for family and friends with members from Jamboree & The RRQ forming a group called Party Style. The groups then came together to do La La Land. After that, the lineup changed again, The Russell Reed Quartet was now Chris Metcalf, Jay Metcalf, Fred Bellinger, Russell Reed & Rick Reed. Carl Wright & Jay Noyes (from Jamboree) were made honorary members as well. Soon, Russell moved to the south. After a two week stay in Nashville, Russell went on to stay in Saluda NC with sister Judith R. Metcalf. There, he got together with James Metcalf, Jay Metcalf, Greg McCool, Larry Anderson, and Brent Brunson to form The RRQ - Southern Style. Various members did church gigs in the Fork Creek Church choir, while Russell did some solo stuff at Bible Way Baptist Church. Soon, a bad financial situation, and wanting to get back with the guys returned him to Massachusetts. Though we did practice together a lot, and even wrote some songs together, Jay was mad that we were using La La Land in The RRQ, when that was a Jamboree song (though Jay & Russell had written a special version in North Carolina for The RRQ...). Though we still got together at The Blandford Travel Plaza and did RRQ Performances, Jay & Chris quit the group. With just Russell & Fred left, he hired Logan Sena & David Reed to the group. He planned to faze out the name The RRQ and call the group The Webrockers (the current back up band name, and name he used for a previous spin-off group). But suddenly, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Russell got some opportunites as a soloist, and he revamed The CFB as his back up group. Even Jay came back. He'd been working with The Four Slovakahs and a band called Six Eyed Blind which was based out of Chester (convenient for us). Jay had a hit with Max On Crack, and thanks to Jay, Russell had a hit with The BK Blues. Russell & Jay later recorded We're Gonna Make It Happen and soon, the group was no more. The RRQ came back together in 2003 (Russell, Fred, Jay, Chris M.) to work on some music videos. Russell decided to bring back the name, and soon released a DVD called Rare Video Moments (a project put on hold since 1998). By this time, Russell was singing bass with The Reed Family Singers and living his dream of being a Gospel singer. Currently, they have not sung together again, and Chris & Jay are both living in NC, but we are Keeping The Dream Alive.

Click here for the truth about the final year of The RRQ.

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