RP Harrell

Rock and country keyboardist, vocalist, producer, arranger, and engineer, based in Branson, Missouri, USA. Harrell was raised in Lufkin, Texas, and played in garage rock bands in the area in his youth. He began playing professionally in 1967, and began his recording career during the early 1970s. By the mid-70s he had moved to Houston, Texas, and was recording with artists such as Randy Cornor, Freddy Fender (2), Fiddlin' Frenchie Burke, Jacky Ward, and Kenny Dale. During this time he was also the bandleader and pianist for Texas Cookin' Band. Through the 80s he alternated between touring and recording, and he got to perform in Washington DC for President Ronald Reagan's inaugural ball. In 1986 he accepted a position in Crowley, Louisiana as a producer and engineer for MTE Records (2) at Master-Trak Sound Recorders. During this time he also toured and played keyboards for Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, and recorded a song he co-wrote, "One Night Late." Harrell moved to Bexar, Arkansas, in 1988 to become the chief engineer, bandleader, and keyboardist for long-time friend David Lynn Jones. He remained with Jones for five years. In 1992 he moved to Branson, Missouri, and in 1994 he joined the live country show "Country Tonite," where he worked as a director, musical director, pianist, vocalist, and production manager. More recently, he has performed in the Paul Harris Show and Clay Cooper’s Country Express. His wife Debbie Sue (1950-2016) was also a musician, and they toured and performed together in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as in the "Country Tonite" show.