Russell Sherman is one of the most eminent pianists in the U.S., particularly known for his recordings of Liszt piano music and Beethoven's sonatas. Sherman was raised and educated in New York City. He began playing piano at the age of six. By the time he was 11, he had progressed so rapidly that he was accepted as a student by Edward Steuermann, a great pianist who had been a pupil of Ferruccio Busoni and a friend of Arnold Schoenberg and was particularly known for his interpretations of Beethoven and music of the twelve-tone school.
Sherman made his debut at New York's Town Hall at the age of 15, an acclaimed performance. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in the Humanities from Columbia University while he was only 19. He studied composition with Erich Itor Kahn.