Leon Russell

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Lawton OK, United States (April 2, 1942 – present)

Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942 in Lawton, Oklahoma) is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist. Russell attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Known as a session musician and artist in his own right, Russell has played with artists as varied as Jerry Lee Lewis, Phil Spector and The Rolling Stones. With a solo career spanning the genres of rock, blues, and gospel, Russell began his musical career at 14, lying about his age to land a gig playing backup at a Tulsa nightclub to play with Ronnie Hawkins behind Jerry Lee Lewis. Two years later, after settling in Los Angeles, he studied guitar with James Burton, and worked sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell.

After becoming a part of Phil Spector’s studio group, Russell played backup on many of the most popular hits of the 1960s, including The Byrds, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and Herb Alpert. He also served as Snuff Garrett’s assistant on numerous productions. Russell built his own recording studio in 1967, and recorded his first LP, Look Inside The Asylum Choir, in a collaboration with Marc Benno.

His first songwriting hit was Joe Cocker’s 1970 cover of “Delta Lady”, and Russell went on to organise Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. Shortly thereafter, Russell released another solo album, Leon Russell, which included the original version of the popular “A Song For You”. Also in 1970, Russell played piano on Dave Mason’s album, Alone Together (notably, on the song “Sad And Deep As You”).
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  • The Best of Leon Russell
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  • Retrospective
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  • Leon Russell
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  • Carney
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  • pepganzo

    Hello my friend. do you like little feats? try to change little feats' principal image! vote it up! http://www.lastfm.it/music/Little+Feat/+images/67147966

    March 2012

  • carlarafaelapf

    he's amazing ♥

    February 2012

  • ViniciusStilt

    His voice is amazing...!

    December 2011

  • cousinbull

    Great gig in Ct. last night.

    November 2011

  • ChefeApache

    Hummingbird Genial

    November 2011

  • Druid66

    A great sideman (he played on the Stones' "Let It Bleed", if I remember correctly) and a fine solo act; he's unjustly underrated.

    September 2011

  • DannyJWIS

    Leon, it was an honor and a humble privilage to have you grace our stage at the Music Festival of the World in Milwaukee and listen in on our performance. It was a moment all of us in the Mark Shurlla & the Greatest Hits group will never forget. Thank you so very much. I hope you didn't mind it when I announced your presence and dedicated a song to you. I hope to one day again get the chance to meet you and spend more time learning from you. I sent Marvalous Marv Kaminsky a copy of our photo together as promised. I'll also get a copy to Darlene from the Crystals as well. God give you many healthy years ahead. You still ROCK. Danny J, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    July 2011

  • kikkinas360

    Smiles //kikkin. Fantastic.

    March 2011
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