Russell Kunkel (born September 27, 1948) is an American drummer who has worked as a session musician with many popular artists, including Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Harry Chapin, Rita Coolidge, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Cass Elliot, Dan Fogelberg, Glenn Frey, Art Garfunkel, Carole King, Leah Kunkel, Lyle Lovett, Reba McEntire, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Seger, Carly Simon, Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Joe Walsh, Steve Winwood, Bill Withers, Neil Young, and Warren Zevon. He was the studio and touring drummer for Crosby & Nash in the 1970s and played on all four of their studio albums.

Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh and moved to Long Beach, California in when he was 9. There, he was part of an orchestra at the local elementary school. Prior to moving, he was influenced by his brother and the song "Wipe Out" to play drums. He played for approximately six different bands, including the Barons, and appeared at many sock hops and high school dances, playing surf music and Beatles songs. In his last two years of high school he was a jazz drummer and later worked for John Stewart and the Kingston Trio.

Kunkel is a 1966 graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach.

In 1966, Kunkel moved to Los Angeles. He joined the band Things to Come and during the summer of 1968, they performed, for 19 weeks as the opening band, at the Whisky a Go Go, a club on Sunset Strip in Hollywood, while under the alcohol drinking age in California.

Kunkel worked for Bob Dylan and together they released a soundtrack to the movie Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. In 1970 Kunkel helped Bob Dylan and drummer Billy Mundi release an album titled New Morning.

Kunkel was a part of B.B. King's group, playing with pianist Carole King, and meeting Bill Szymczyk, Leon Russell, and Joe Walsh. He recorded "Hummingbird" for King's album Indianola Mississippi Seeds.

Kunkel's first single was a demo with Joel Sill for Trousdale Music, which included musicians Joe Osborn and Larry Knechtel. In early 1970s, while rehearsing for the upcoming tour, he met Chris Darrow, a former player of John Stewart's, who was a friend of Peter Asher.

In 1970, Kunkel through his connection with producer Peter Asher, rehearsed "Fire and Rain" and suggested he use brushes instead of sticks to provide the backing beat to the song. Back in the studio, he asked whether he should use the brushes, to record and Asher said, "do it like we rehearsed". He then helped James Taylor to record the rest of the Sweet Baby James album. Kunkel played on Tony Kosinec's "Bad Girl Songs," which was produced by Peter Asher. In 1971 Kunkel worked with Gerry Goffin, Gary Hart, and Carole King on the Tapestry album, which became a classic. From 1971 to 1972 Kunkel worked with Joni Mitchell on her albums Blue and For the Roses. Along with his bandmates in the Section, he appeared on the first album by Crosby & Nash, and would continue working with the duo through the decade. From 1972 to 1973, he played in the attic of James Taylor's house at Martha's Vineyard where he recorded parts of the One Man Dog album. In 1972 Kunkel helped Willis Alan Ramsey to release the album, Willis Alan Ramsey, which was issued under Shelter Records label.