Legendary jazz pianist Russ Kassoff to perform in Ironton

The sound of a single piano key, crisp and deliberate, fills the space before it melts into a cascade of chords—warm, intricate and full of memory. It’s the sound of experience, of history, of a life lived at the heart of music itself.

This spring, those notes will echo through the Riffe Rotunda at Ohio University Southern, where Russ Kassoff, a pianist whose career has shaped Broadway, jazz and the Great American Songbook, will perform in Ironton.

For decades, Kassoff has been the musician behind some of the most celebrated voices in entertainment. Frank Sinatra called him “the best.” Liza Minnelli toured with him for 18 years. He’s performed alongside Carly Simon, Perry Como, Rod Stewart and the legendary Sammy Davis Jr. His music has underscored Broadway performances more than a thousand times, from Cats to Chicago to Miss Saigon. And yet, beyond the marquee names and the storied venues, what truly sets Kassoff apart is his ability to tell a story through music – to transport listeners into a world where melody and memory intertwine.

On Saturday, May 10, at 4 p.m., Kassoff will bring that world to Ironton, in an event hosted by the Ironton Rotary Club, in partnership with Ohio University Southern and the Ironton Council for the Arts. The performance is more than a concert. It’s an invitation to step inside the music, to hear the stories behind the notes, to feel the pulse of a career that has played out on the biggest stages and in the quiet corners of jazz clubs where history is made one song at a time.

“It’s a rare thing to sit in a room with a musician whose hands have played for some of the greatest voices in entertainment,” said Deborah Marinski, dean of Ohio University Southern and a member of Ironton Rotary. “Russ Kassoff isn’t just a performer – he’s a bridge to a golden era of music, a keeper of the stories behind the songs we all know.”

Last year, the Rotary Club and Ohio University Southern brought legendary actress Rita Moreno to Ironton, where she captivated audiences with her wit, wisdom and deeply personal reflections. This year, with the addition of the Ironton Council for the Arts as a partner, the tradition of bringing world-class artists to the community continues.

For Pat McCoy, president of Ironton Council for the Arts, events like these speak to something greater than entertainment.

“It’s about bringing the kind of experiences to Ironton that people usually have to travel for,” he said. “We want to show that the arts belong here, that music and culture can thrive in our community and that people in Ironton deserve to experience performances at this level.”

This event also represents the impact of collaboration. Sarah Simmons, president of the Ironton Rotary Club, emphasized the importance of organizations coming together to create something meaningful for the community.

“When local organizations work together, we’re able to provide opportunities that wouldn’t be possible alone,” said Simmons. “Bringing a musician of Kassoff’s caliber to Ironton is a perfect example of what we can achieve when we join forces. This event is not only about great music – it’s about bringing people together and strengthening our community.”

Kassoff’s performance will be an immersive experience, not just a recital but an evening of storytelling, of connection, of feeling the weight of history in every note. He will share memories from the bandstands of Las Vegas, the orchestra pits of Broadway, and the dressing rooms of legends—stories that only someone who was there can tell.

Tickets are $20, with proceeds benefitting community projects of the Ironton Rotary Club, including support for Bobcat Academy, an affordable summer camp for youth offered by Ohio University Southern. Bobcat Academy provides local children with opportunities for learning, creativity, and personal growth, ensuring that summer programming remains accessible for families in the region.

For music lovers, for students of the craft, for anyone who has ever heard a jazz standard and wondered about the hands that first brought it to life, this is an event not to be missed.

Tickets are available now. Come for the music. Stay for the story. Give back to your community.