Leon Russell
Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock and roll,[1] country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, southern rock,[2] blues rock,[3] folk, surf and the Tulsa sound. His recordings earned six gold records and he received two Grammy Awards from seven nominations. In 1973 Billboard Magazine named Russell the "Top Concert Attraction in the World".[4] In 2011, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[5]
Leon Russell
November 13, 2016 (aged 74)
Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Hank Wilson, Russell Bridges, C. J. Russell, Lew Russell
Musician, arranger, conductor, record producer, record executive, singer-songwriter
1956–2016
6
- Keyboards
- vocals
- bass guitar
- guitar
- baritone horn
- Viva
- Olympic Records
- Perspective Sound
- Robbins
- Capitol
- Shelter
- Paradise
- Leon Russell Records
- Virgin Records
- Warner Bros.
Russell collaborated with many notable artists and recorded 33 albums and 430 songs.[6] He wrote "Delta Lady", recorded by Joe Cocker, and organized and performed with Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour in 1970. His "A Song for You", which was named to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018, has been recorded by more than 200 artists, and his song "This Masquerade" by more than 75.[7]
As a pianist, Russell played in his early years on albums by the Beach Boys, Dick Dale, and Jan and Dean. On his first album, Leon Russell, in 1970, the musicians included Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. One of his early fans, Elton John, said that Russell was a "mentor" and an "inspiration".[8] They recorded their album The Union in 2010, earning them a Grammy nomination.
Russell produced and played in recording sessions for Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike & Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, and many other artists. He wrote and recorded the hits "Tight Rope" and "Lady Blue". He performed at The Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, along with Harrison, Dylan, and Clapton; for this he earned a Grammy Award.
Career[edit]
1950s[edit]
Assumed "Leon Russell" name[edit]
Performing while underage in clubs and bars, Russell assumed the name "Leon Russell" from a fake ID card he used to enter clubs even though he was a high school student. At the time, Oklahoma was a "dry" state, so teenagers were able to perform in clubs that ordinarily would have only been open to those over 21 years of age.[12][19]
Played professionally at 14 in Tulsa nightclubs[edit]
At 14, Russell was already in demand as a piano player in Tulsa. Russell explained the Tulsa music scene was an outgrowth of relaxed Oklahoma liquor laws. "Oklahoma was a dry state back when we started... since there wasn’t supposed to be any liquor, there weren’t any liquor laws, so there was a lot of clubs where people would go and drink for 24 hours a day. The police didn’t pay any attention. It was a wide-open town. When people don’t get caught up in that political morality, it creates a hotbed of musical experience".[20]
Although still in high school, Russell performed at area supper clubs, bars and nightclubs with his group "The Starlighters" (Russell, J.J. Cale, Leo Feathers, Johnny Williams, and Chuck Blackwell). Blackwell said Russell was "...especially good at playing Erroll Garner-style jazz during dinner, but then, after everybody got through eating, he'd break into Jerry Lee Lewis".[9] Russell also backed groups in Tulsa including Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks, often until early morning, after having worked through the night.[14][21]
Russell said "I worked six or seven nights a week till I left Tulsa at 17. I'd work 6 to 11 (pm) at a beer joint, then 1 to 5 (am) at an after-hours club. It was a hard schedule to do when going to school. I
slept in English a lot".[22]
Russell and his band were instrumental in helping define and popularize the style of music known as the "Tulsa Sound".
Moved to Los Angeles[edit]
Russell said "...I got out to California, and they were more serious about their liquor laws. I about starved to death because it was so much harder to find work at my age".[22] Settling in Los Angeles, he studied guitar with James Burton.
Russell was primarily a session musician in his early career. During session work he played for and with artists as varied as Jan and Dean, Ricky Nelson,Gary Lewis & the Playboys, George Harrison, Delaney Bramlett, Freddy Cannon, Ringo Starr, Doris Day, Elton John, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, the Byrds, Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys, the Ventures, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, the Tijuana Brass, Frank Sinatra, the Band, Bob Dylan, J. J. Cale, B.B. King,[23] Dave Mason, Glen Campbell, Lynn Anderson, Joe Cocker, the Rolling Stones, and the Flying Burrito Brothers.[24]
As Russell developed his solo artist career, he crossed genres to include rock and roll, blues, bluegrass and gospel music.
Failing health, death and burial[edit]
In 2010 Russell had surgery for a brain fluid leak and was treated for heart failure. In July 2016, he suffered a heart attack and underwent heart bypass surgery.
Russell died in his sleep at his Mt. Juliet home on November 13, 2016, at the age of 74. [173]
Russell's funeral was on November 18 at Victory Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and a public memorial was held at The Oral Roberts University Mabee Center on November 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[174] His body is interred at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Russell's music style encompassed rock,[175] country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, southern rock,[2] blues rock,[3] rock and roll,[1] folk, surf, swamp rock and Tulsa sound.
Elton John, who had once been Russell's opening act, acknowledged him as his "biggest influence as a piano player, a singer and a songwriter."[176] On hearing of Russell's death, he said: "My darling Leon Russell passed away last night. He was a mentor, inspiration and so kind to me. I loved him and always will."[177] John once recalled:
Pixies vocalist Black Francis credits Russell with influencing his vocal style: "I realise there's a certain kind of vocalising I do that takes its cue from Leon Russell. He sang in a Southern accent but it was very blown-out and exaggerated, very free and loose."[178]
One of Russell's titles and signature nicknames is: Master of Space and Time.[179]
The depth and scope of Russell's contribution to the music of the twentieth century is illustrated by the following:
408 albums on which he received a credit
251 total artistic credits
37 types of artistic credit
282 total writing credits
5 Types of writing credit
45 production credits