Sad news today Leon Russell died in Nashville at age 74. He was one of my most favorite musicians. I was lucky to have seen him perform many times over the years. So lucky to have seen the 1970 Joe Cocker Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour, but my favorite Leon show was when he toured with Willie Nelson.
Really loved his Jumpin Jack flash/Youngblood medley from George Harrison's Bangladesh benefit....
Here is some bio on Leon....
Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 - November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter, who recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career.
Russell began his musical career at the age of 14 in the nightclubs of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and his group the Starlighters, which included J.J. Cale, Leo Feathers, Chuck Blackwell and Johnny Williams, were instrumental in creating the style of music known as the Tulsa Sound.
After settling in Los Angeles, he studied guitar with James Burton. Known mostly as a session musician early in his career, as a solo artist he has crossed genres to include rock and roll, blues, and gospel music, playing with artists as varied as Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis, George Harrison, Gram Parsons, Delaney Bramlett, Ringo Starr, Doris Day, Elton John, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, the Byrds, Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys, the Ventures, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, Tijuana Brass, Frank Sinatra, the Band, Bob Dylan, J.J. Cale, B.B. King, Dave Mason, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker and the Rolling Stones.
2 comments:
My Favorites were His: Leon Russell and the Shelter People, Carney, & work on Mad Dogs & Englishman album , I used his name as a prank for a High-School photo and it was printed in our '73 yearbook. I did get to see a live show of him performing a few years ago at Meadow Brook. He opened for Bob Dylan. RIP Leon Russell
I know this is an old post but I have been wading through many articles on Leon on the internet and came across your blog which looks like my kind of blog. I am from Detroit, living in TX now. Anyways, I saw Mad Dogs and Englishmen at the Eastown way back in 70. Went because of Joe Cocker but Leon stole the show and my heart. Loved his live performances and his lps too. Such a distinctive, quirky voice, great composer and piano player. It has been amazing to find out all the music he played on. I swear he is linked to half of the rock world of his era. Made me feel kind of old when he died. Time goes so quickly. I bookmarked your blog to keep reading.
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