Bert Russell was a songwriting pseudonym used by the legendary producer Bert Berns, especially early in his career. (His full name was Bertrand Russell Berns.) Early partnerships with Phil Medley -- which produced the best-known "Bert Russell" song, the Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout" -- and Jerry Ragovoy often featured Russell credits. By the time Berns started his own label, Bang, he was chiefly going by his own name. It has never been fully explained why Berns used pseudonyms early on (he also performed as a singer under the name Russell Byrd), but his family has speculated that his parents and relatives disapproved so strongly of rock & roll and R&B that he was reluctant to take full credit for his work.