Russell “Russ” Earle Cassidy was born in Denver, Colorado on November 21, 1926. Cassidy grew up in Colorado and at age 19, was drafted into WWII where he served in the United States Navy. Following WWII, Cassidy relocated to St. Louis where he worked as an engineer at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. Cassidy was a noted collector of ragtime and early jazz memorabilia. In the 1950s, he connected with prominent ragtime composer Joseph F. Lamb. Cassidy wrote a series of articles titled “Joseph Lamb—Last of the Ragtime Composers” using his own research and information from Lamb. A companion to Cassidy’s biographical work, “The World of Joseph Lamb—An Exploration,” was written by ragtime historian and pianist Trebor Jay Tichenor. The series was reprinted multiple times in several different publications including “Jazz Monthly.” He remained in contact with Lamb until he passed away in 1960 and, after his passing, Cassidy remained in contact with Lamb’s wife and son. Cassidy was the co-editor of both “The Jazz Report” and “The Rag Time Review,” alongside Tichenor. Cassidy and Tichenor were prominent figures in the ragtime and early jazz revival scenes of the 1950s and 1960s, along with author/critic Rudi Blesh, and musicians Max Morath, Bob Darch, and the St. Louis Ragtimers. Tichenor and Cassidy also maintained relationships with ragtime era composers Arthur Marshall, Charles Thompson, Eubie Blake, and Carrie Bruggeman Stark. Cassidy died on July 4, 1966, and is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.