“Big Chief” Russell Moore (August 13, 1912 – December 15, 1983) was an American jazz trombonist. Moore, a Pima tribe member, grew up on a Native American reservation before moving to Chicago and then Los Angeles where he learned to play various instruments eventually settling on trombone. Throughout his career, Moore worked with an array of artists including Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, Alberta Hunter and Pee Wee Russell as well as recording under his own name. He is best remembered for his work as a member of Louis Armstrong’s band.

Moore was born in Gila Crossing, Arizona inside the Gila River Indian Community reservation in 1912 and belonged to the Pima tribe. He was one of five children born to mother Amy Bending Moore and father José Newton Moore. Musical performances were important to community life on the reservation particularly due to the inaccessibility of record players and radios. Moore’s exposure to music from local school bands as well as traditional Pima music sparked an interest in music from a young age.