By Susan R. Wenner
Herald Publisher/ People Editor
Life for Bruce Russack began in New York but since 1968 he has called Florida home, performing and making people happy throughout his life. He is now involved with local organizations and assisted living facilities to make seniors smile, booking shows locally.
His high school sweetheart, Sharon, still sings his praises after many years together. Graduating from Barber College in 1971 after attending Miami Beach High School with his friend and actor, Mickey Rourke, Russack later opened his first Hair Salon in Winter Park. Although, it was not hair, but acting, that stole his heart.
Since the age of 13, Russack has been singing. He recorded his first record at North Miami’s Criteria Studios with the assistance of Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. That first song was on the radio called “Liza’s Song” in 1978. He always wanted a hit record and has met over 100 stars in his career.
“I was later doing hair for many celebrities, including the group Fire Fall, Frankie Avalon and model Carol Alt among others,” he said. “Then I had the bug to try to break into the acting business and to try to do hair for movies and television. I even got to sit down with Tom Hanks during the filming of ‘From the Earth to the Moon.’ I also appeared in ‘Rosewood.’ Both films were shot in Central Florida. I also dated Actress Delta Burke at one time.”
In 2006, Russack joined the Federal Government’s Homeland Security. He was nominated for 12 years in a row for a customer service of the year award and on year 13 he finally won.
The year of 2010 proved to be a challenging year with the loss of his family in a short amount of time. His girlfriend, Sharon, suggested an emotional support animal.
“She went to Pet Supermarket and adopted a small, dwarf, 4-month-old bunny,” he said. “Ironically after she brought Booboo (the bunny) home, that pet shop had a fire, which destroyed most of the animals and the building.”
Russack was then transferred by his job as a Homeland Security Officer to Greenville South Carolina where he retired in 2018. It was soon after his retirement that he and his bunny began performing.
“I put together a show called ‘Brucie B and the Boo’ with my trained Mellerud bunny named Boo Boo.
“I realized I wanted to dedicate my life to making seniors smile,” he said. “I trained Booboo to sit on my shoulder and then we performed for over 100 assisted living facilities in the Carolinas. I am a recording artist and writer and I do songs from the sixties with Boo on my shoulder. This became a local hit and we were on FOX locally and written up in many publications.”
He cited that some seniors in these facilities suffer from loneliness and depression.
“It’s so rewarding to my heart to see their smiles on their faces as I sing to them and as they see Booboo,” he said. “A lot of the seniors enjoy songs from the 50’s and 60’s and love absolutely Booboo, who is now 10 years old. The seniors love to take a picture with Booboo after the show for their grandchildren.”
It was at a place in Greenville, called Magnolia Manor, that Russack claims he really felt a special connection and a very rewarding moment to his work because a lady resident there would not speak or smile for years. He cited that after his show the woman actually smiled. This one act brought tremendous joy to Russack’s heart to see that after years of no smiling that he and his bunny could stir this senior to get up and dance to his songs.
“I am writing a book called ‘If Only Rabbits could Talk,’ which I believe will educate the reader on how important emotional support bunnies are to seniors,” he added. “I would love to spread as much joy in the senior community as I can with my show. We are all going to be a senior one day, if we are lucky. So, respect the seniors, because they know stuff.”
For more information on Bruce Russack or to book his performance, Brucie B & the Boo Show - Making Seniors Smile please email [email protected] or call 954-649-6443. His Instagram is @thefoom and Youtube channel Bruce Russack.
