Country , rock , folk , rhythm and blues , folk rock Vocals , Piano , Keyboards , Hammond B-3 Organ , Guitar , Bass Guitar Occupations Musician , Songwriter Instruments Vocals , Keyboards , Hammond B-3 Organ , Guitar , Bass Guitar Years active 1956–present Labels Capitol , Shelter Records , Paradise Records Associated acts Beach Boys , Delaney Bramlett , Glen Campbell , Eric Clapton , Joe Cocker , Bob Dylan , George Harrison , B.B. King , Jerry Lee Lewis , Dave Mason , Willie Nelson , Rolling Stones , Marc Benno , Shindogs (house band for Shindig ), Elton John Claude Russell Bridges (born April 2, 1942), known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter , who has recorded as a session musician , sideman , and maintained a solo career in music.[1] Born in Lawton , Oklahoma , Russell attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma . At this time he was already performing at Tulsa nightclubs.[2] He became a session musician , becoming a keyboardist who has worked with many notable musicians since the 1960s . By the late 1960s, Russell diversified, first to writing songs, and then working his way from gigs as a sideman to joining bands as a full member. Eventually, he began solo recording, although he never ended all his previous roles within the music industry. Russell is among the 2011 inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame .[3]
Career
Known first mostly as a session musician, Russell has played with artists as varied as Jerry Lee Lewis , George Harrison , Delaney Bramlett , Ringo Starr , Elton John , Eric Clapton , The Byrds , The Beach Boys , Willie Nelson , Badfinger , Tijuana Brass , Frank Sinatra , The Band , Glen Campbell , Clayton 'Red' White , and The Rolling Stones . With a solo career involving the genres of rock and roll , blues , and gospel music, Russell began his musical career at the age of 14 years in the nightclubs of Tulsa, Oklahoma . He and his group "The Starlighters", which included J.J. Cale , Chuck Blackwell and Johnny Williams, were instrumental in creating the style of music known as the Tulsa Sound . After settling in Los Angeles , California , he studied guitar with James Burton , and worked sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell .
Becoming a part of Phil Spector 's studio group, Russell played backup for many of the most popular successes of the 1960s, including songs by The Byrds , Gary Lewis and the Playboys , Bobby "Boris" Pickett , and Herb Alpert . He can be seen in 1964's "The T.A.M.I. Show", playing piano with the Wrecking Crew (the Spector studio band), sporting short, dark, slicked-back hair, in contrast to his later look. He also served as Snuff Garrett 's assistant for numerous productions. For example, he played the xylophone/bells on the Bobby Russell (no relation to Leon Russell) penned song "The Joker Went Wild" which was sung by Brian Hyland , in 1966. Russell had his own recording studio built during 1967 and, in a collaboration with Marc Benno , recorded his first LP (Look Inside the Asylum Choir ).
His first songwriting success was Joe Cocker 's 1969 version of "Delta Lady ". Russell then went on to organise Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour . "Superstar ", co-written by Russell and Bonnie Bramlett , and sung by Rita Coolidge on that tour, would also be a success for The Carpenters , Luther Vandross , Sonic Youth , and several other performers.
Russell released an eponymous solo album soon after the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour, Leon Russell , which included the original version of "A Song for You ". This has become one of his best-known songs, with cover versions released by more than forty different artists including Ray Charles , Peggy Lee , Helen Reddy , Whitney Houston , Donny Hathaway , and Christina Aguilera . Both The Carpenters and The Temptations named an album after the song. Also during 1970, Russell played piano for Dave Mason 's album, Alone Together (notably, on the song "Sad and Deep as You").
During the 1960s and 1970s, Russell owned the Church Recording Studio on 3rd Street in Tulsa, which is now owned by Glen Mitchell and one-time Russell studio engineer Steve Ripley of the country band The Tractors . Russell still records there frequently, while his former home on Grand Lake, in northeast Oklahoma, still contains the dining room table and chairs made from church pews from his Church Studio. On the property stands a private recording studio that has witnessed many famous musicians, including members of The Beatles .
During the summer of 1971, Russell was asked by George Harrison to play piano on Badfinger 's third album, Straight Up . The piano which complemented Pete Ham and George Harrison's dual slide guitars on Badfinger's "Day After Day " was played by Russell from those Apple sessions. The sessions were interrupted because many of the musicians on Straight Up left for New York City to participate in the Concert For Bangladesh , organized by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar , at which Russell performed a medley of the songs, "Jumpin' Jack Flash " and "Young Blood ," and sang a verse on George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness ." Russell (on bass/vocals) and George Harrison (on electric guitar/vocals) also played along side Bob Dylan (acoustic guitar/vocals) at The Concert For Bangladesh, performing a number of Dylans hits.
Also during 1971 Russell played on recording sessions with B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan, and he released two studio albums by his own name that year (Leon Russell And The Shelter People and Asylum Choir II with Marc Benno ). Further, Russell helped Freddie King to revive his career by collaborating with him on three of his albums for Shelter during the early 1970s.
During 1972, his album Carney scored #2 on the US charts, due largely to the song "Tight Rope". In addition, the LP contained "This Masquerade ", which has been covered by The Carpenters , Helen Reddy and George Benson , who won a 1977 Grammy Award for his 1976 rendition of the tune. Russell performed at the Thanksgiving Jam at Armadillo World Headquarters , in Austin, Texas during 1972 with Doug Sahm , Jerry Garcia , Mary Egan, Hank Alrich, Phil Lesh , Benny Thurman , and Jerry Barnet.
During the 1970s, Russell continued to perform occasionally in the Paradise Club along with other noted music spots around Tulsa, and appeared with Flash Terry at the Paradise.
His 1975 album Will O' the Wisp was successful commercially, along with its single "Lady Blue ".
Russell and Willie Nelson had a number one duet on the Billboard country music chart during 1979 with "Heartbreak Hotel ". He spent the next two years touring with the New Grass Revival , and released two more albums with Paradise before the label folded.
During November 2009, he wrote many songs with Elton John and Bernie Taupin for an album with John which was recorded in February 2010 and produced by T-Bone Burnett . The Union (album) was released on October 19, 2010.
Russell performed on piano accompanying the Zac Brown Band at the 2010 Grammy Awards .
Russell will be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH in 2011 for "Music Excellence".
Marriages and family
Russell's eldest, Baby Blueagle (born February 20, 1972), is the daughter of Carla McHenry. She is named after Oklahoman and Native American artist Acee Blue Eagle .
In 1975, Russell married Mary McCreary, a former member of Sly & the Family Stone 's background vocal group Little Sister . Russell and Denny Cordell produced McCreary's 1974 solo album Jezebel, and McCreary sang backup on some of Russell's work, including his 1975 release Will O' The Wisp. While married, the two collaborated as "Leon and Mary Russell" on Wedding Album in 1976 and Make Love to the Music in 1977. They have a son, Teddy Jack (born January 1, 1976), named after Gary Busey 's character on Gailard Sartain 's Tulsa television show; and a daughter, Tina Rose (born November 13, 1977). Both are musicians. Russell and McCreary divorced in 1980.
Russell has been married to artist Janet Lee Constantine since 1983. Together he and Constantine have three daughters: Sugaree Noel (born October 29, 1982), Honey (born January 19, 1986), and Coco (born April 29, 1990).
Teddy Jack, Tina Rose, and Sugaree Noel have all toured with their father.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds ) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Country | CAN | CAN Country | UK | |||
| 1966 | Rhapsodies for Young Lovers (with Midnight String Quartet ) | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1968 | Look Inside the Asylum Choir (with Marc Benno ) | ||||||
cak win leon russell
Rock Hall Ceremony to Feature Elton John, Paul Simon, Neil Young as Presenters The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2011 inductees include some iconic artists, and now the ceremony will Read the rest
leon russell added to 2011 bluesfest lineup to be
Bluesfest has announced a third lineup of artists for its April 21-25 festival, and now boasts Leon Russell as one of several music legends that will perform. Bluesfest is held Read the rest
leon russell imdb
Leon Russell, Soundtrack: The Kids Are All Right. Read the rest
leon russell org
If this page does not load in 5 seconds click http://www.leonrussellrecords.com Read the rest
leon russell
Leon Russell is a music legend and perhaps the most accomplished and versatile musician in the history of rock 'n roll. Read the rest
leon russell free music tour dates photos videos
Leon Russell's official profile including the latest music, albums, songs, music videos and more updates. Read the rest
leon russell wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Claude Russell Bridges (born April 2, 1942), known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and Read the rest
leon russell
©Copyright 2011 Leon Russell. All rights reserved Read the rest
leon russell information from answers com
Leon Russell Similar Albums: All Things Must Pass , Innocent Man , Imagine , Veedon Fleece , Nick of Time , Something/Anything? , Paul Simon , Born in Read the rest
leon russell information from answers com
Leon Russell For The Record Born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1941, in Lawton, OK; married Mary McCreary, 1975; divorced Read the rest