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The ultimate rock & roll session man,
Leon Russell's long and storied career included collaborations with a virtual who's who of music icons spanning from
Jerry Lee Lewis to
Phil Spector to
the Rolling Stones. A similar eclecticism and scope also surfaced in his solo work, which couched his charmingly gravelly voice in a rustic yet rich swamp pop fusion of country, blues, and gospel. Born
Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942, in Lawton, Oklahoma, he began studying classical piano at age three, a decade later adopting the trumpet and forming his first band. At 14,
Russell lied about his age to land a gig at a Tulsa nightclub, playing behind
Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks before touring in support of
Jerry Lee Lewis. Two years later, he settled in Los Angeles, studying guitar under the legendary
James Burton and appearing on sessions with
Dorsey Burnette and
Glen Campbell. As a member of
Spector's renowned studio group,
Russell played on many of the finest pop singles of the '60s, also arranging classics like
Ike & Tina Turner's monumental "River Deep, Mountain High"; other hits bearing his input include
the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man,"
Gary Lewis & the Playboys' "This Diamond Ring," and
Herb Alpert's "A Taste of Honey."
In 1967,
Russell built his own recording studio, teaming with guitarist
Marc Benno to record the acclaimed Look Inside the Asylum Choir LP. While touring with
Delaney & Bonnie, he scored his first songwriting hit with
Joe Cocker's reading of "Delta Lady," and in 1970, upon founding his own Shelter Records imprint, he also organized
Cocker's legendary
Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. After the subsequent tour film earned
Russell his first real mainstream attention, he issued a self-titled solo LP, and in 1971 appeared at
George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh following sessions for
B.B. King,
Eric Clapton, and
Bob Dylan. After touring with
the Rolling Stones,
Russell increasingly focused on his solo career, reaching the number two spot with 1972's
Carney and scoring his first pop hit with the single "Tight Rope." While the success of 1973's three-LP set
Leon Live further established his reputation as a top concert draw, response to the country-inspired studio effort
Hank Wilson's Back was considerably more lukewarm, as was the reception afforded to 1974's
Stop All That Jazz. The 1975 album
Will O' the Wisp, however, restored his commercial luster, thanks in large part to the lovely single "Lady Blue."
In June of 1975,
Russell married singer
Mary McCreary; the following year the couple collaborated on
The Wedding Album, issued through his newly formed Paradise Records label. Also in 1976, the
Russell-penned "This Masquerade" earned a Grammy Award for singer
George Benson.
Russell and
McCreary reunited for 1977's
Make Love to the Music, and upon completing the solo
Americana,
Russell teamed with
Willie Nelson for 1979's Willie & Leon. He then spent the next two years touring with his bluegrass band,
the New Grass Revival, issuing a live LP in 1981; although Paradise shut down later that year, the label was reactivated for 1984's
Hank Wilson, Vol. 2 and Solid State.
Russell spent the remainder of the decade largely outside of music and did not resurface until issuing the
Bruce Hornsby-produced
Anything Can Happen in 1992. The album appeared to little fanfare, however, and another long period of relative inactivity followed prior to the 1998 release of Hank Wilson, Vol. 3: Legend in My Time. Face in the Crowd appeared a year later. Moving into the new century,
Russell issued Moonlight & Love Songs, an album of cover songs, in 2002, followed by Angel in Disguise five years later in 2007. A trio of releases, Almost Piano,
Bad Country, and In Your Dreams appeared in 2008.
Russell's years in the wilderness ended in 2010 when longtime admirer
Elton John contacted the pianist about recording a duet album. Produced by
T-Bone Burnett, The Union was greeted by strong reviews and sales, reviving
Russell's career in a single stroke. After playing a joint tour with
John,
Russell returned to the road on his own and eventually got around to recording a solo comeback called
Life Journey, which appeared in April 2014. However,
Russell's health had been in decline, and he died in his sleep at his home in Nashville on November 13, 2016. Prior to his death, he completed an album of new recordings with producer
Mark Lambert. These sessions came out as
On a Distant Shore in September 2017. ~ Jason Ankeny