Leon Russell

Leon Russell
Russell in an ad in Billboard, February 1970
Born
Claude Russell Bridges

(1942-04-02)April 2, 1942
Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 2016(2016-11-13) (aged 74)
Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, near Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Burial placeMemorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Other namesHank Wilson, Russell Bridges, C. J. Russell, Lew Russell
Occupation(s)Musician, arranger, conductor, record producer, record executive, singer-songwriter
Years active1956–2016
Spouses
​
(m. 1975⁠–⁠1980)​
[1]
Janet Lee Constantine
​
​
(m. 1983⁠–⁠2016)​
[2]
Children6
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Keyboards
  • vocals
  • bass guitar
  • guitar
  • baritone horn
Labels
Websiteleonrussell.com

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,[3] country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, southern rock,[4] blues rock,[5] folk, surf and the Tulsa sound. His recordings earned six gold records and he received two Grammy Awards from seven nominations. In 1973 Billboard named Russell the "Top Concert Attraction in the World".[6] In 2011, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[7]

Russell collaborated with many notable artists and recorded 33 albums and 430 songs.[8] 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.[9]

As a pianist, Russell played in his early years on albums by the Beach Boys, The Ventures, 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".[10] 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.

  1. ^ Aronowitz, Al. "Leon Russell Dead at 74". blacklistedjournalist.com. The Blacklisted Journalist. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Stefano, Angela (November 13, 2016). "Leon Russell Dead at 74". kkyr.com. Townsquare Media, Inc. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Chappell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference CBS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Leon Russell, Legendary Songwriter and Performer, Dies at 74". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Leon Russell Biography". Biography.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  8. ^ "Who Is Leon Russell?". January 6, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Nashville-Related Music Obituaries 2016". MusicRow. January 4, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  10. ^ "In Honor of Leon Russell (1942–2016)". EltonJohn.com. November 17, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.