Leon Russell - Biography
By J Poet
Leon Russell is older than rock’n’roll, and has been a major player in rock’n’roll since his youth, always around when rock was making history. He was part of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound studio band in the 60s, put together the touring band for Joe Cocker’s legendary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour of America in 1970 and start his own logo, Shelter Records that same year. He was a featured player at the historic Concert for Bangladesh and pioneered country rock with Hank Wilson’s Back (1973 Shelter, 1995 Right Stuff). He eventually captured two Grammys, six gold records and one platinum album. He continues to tour, write, produce, and record at his Nashville studio and remains an in demand session player. He started a new logo, Russell Records, in 2000 where he continues to release an eclectic array of music. In 2006, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Russell was born in southwest Oklahoma in 1942, and started classical piano lessons at age four. By 14, lying about his age, he was playing clubs in Tulsa with his band The Starlighters. A gig opening for R&B belter Ronnie Hawkins led to an opening slot on an early Jerry Lee Lewis tour. Russell was only 16. He moved to LA when he was 17 and began playing clubs and building a reputation as one of the best session musicians and arrangers in Hollywood. He became the pianist in Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound studio band, lent his talent to fictional studio bands like The Routers who hit with “Let's Go” and was in the house band for ABC TV’s teen rock show Shindig! He also took guitar lessons from James Burton, who played lead guitar for Ricky Nelson, Elvis and other heavies. He also played on and/or arranged hits like Ike and Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High”, Herb Alpert’s “A Taste of Honey” and “This Diamond Ring” by Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
Russell built his own home studio in 1967 and made Asylum Choir (1968 Smash/Mercury) with songwriting partner Marc Benno. In 1969 he co-produced, arranged, and played piano, organ, and guitar on Joe Cocker's second album, Joe Cocker (1969 A&M). He then put together the 43-member entourage for Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour of America.
Russell played piano on cocker’s hit remake of The Box Tops’ “The Letter” and wrote Cocker’s top 10 hit “'Delta Lady”. Rita Coolidge’s performance of Russell’s “Superstar” from the live album Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1970 A&M) was also a hit. Mad Dogs sold over a million copies and Russell got a gold record for his contribution to the album’s success.
Russell started his own logo, Shelter Records, and released Leon Russell (1970 Shelter) which included guest shots by George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, and Klaus Voorman. The album included “Song For You”, “Hummingbird” and “Delta Lady” and combined Russell’s unique blend of blues,rock and country soul. Leon Russell was a hit, as was Leon Russell & the Shelter People (1971 Shelter) which went gold. Between his own tours, he was doing sessions for Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Dave Mason, to name just three. (Shelter was also home to Freddie King, J.J. Cale, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Gap Band, Dwight Twilley and Phoebe Snow.)
He helped George Harrison put together The Concert for Bangladesh (1971 Apple/Capital) and his performance of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Youngblood” became an FM radio staple. Russell got an Album of the Year Grammy for his contribution. The exposure sent Carney (1972 Shelter, 1995 Right Stuff) up the charts where it hit #2 on he pop charts and earned a gold record. Russell was the top concert attraction of 1973 and Leon Live (1973 Shelter, 1995 Right Stuff) captured his act on a three LP set. He then surprised everyone with Hank Wilson’s Back (1973 Shelter, 1995 Right Stuff), a hard core honky tonk country album it was a crossover pop and country hit. Stop All That Jazz (1973 Shelter, 1995 Right Stuff) showed off Russell’s versatility but failed to chart, but Will o' the Wisp (1973 Shelter, 1995 Right Stuff) returned him to the charts with three hits “Lady Blue,” "Back to the Island," and "Bluebird." In between, he helped Willie Nelson organize his first 4th of July picnic in 1973.
Shelter went under in 1974, but Warner Brothers bankrolled Russell’s new label, Paradise Records. The label issued Russell’s next seven albums - The Wedding Album (1976 Paradise) and Make Love To The Music (1977 Paradise), duet efforts with his new bride Mary McCreary from Little Sister, Americana (1978 Paradise), Life And Love (1980 Paradise), The Live Album (1981 Paradise), Solid State (1984 Paradise), and Hank Wilson, Vol. II (1984 Paradise, 2000 Russell). In 1979 he took another country music side trip with Willie & Leon (1979 Columbia) a duet album with Willie Nelson. It went platinum.
In the 80s Russell continued touring, both on his own and with the New Grass Revival, and doing session work. Paradise collapsed and he didn’t record again until Anything Can Happen (1992 Virgin) his collaboration with Bruce Hornsby. He closed the 90s with Hank Wilson, Vol. 3: Legend in My Time (1998 Ark 21), best Hank Wilson album, Face in the Crowd (1999 Saga, 2001 Russell) a sultry R&B outing produced by his son Teddy Jack and Blues: Same Old Song (1999 Paradise Island).
Russell kicked of the new millennium with another the rousing live album Live at Gilley's (2000 Atlantic) and a guest shot on Earl Scruggs and Friends (2001 MCA) which earned him a Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy for his piano playing on “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”. Russell launched another label, Russell Records, in 2001, with Guitar Blues (2001 Russell) which showed him still a top notch picker, Signature Songs (2001 Russell) his hit given a striped down piano and vocal treatment, Rhythm & Bluegrass: Hank Wilson, Vol. 4 (2001 Russell) cut with his old pals The Newgrass Revival and Moonlight & Love Songs (2001 Russell). a collection of standards given the Russell treatment with the help of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.
Russell continues to tour regularly and has become a prolific songwriter again with Angel in Disguise (2007 Russell), Almost Piano (2008 Russell) Bad Country (2008 Russell) and In Your Dreams (2008 Russell), and most notably- and famously- The Union, an LP written, recorded, and performed with Elton John- one of Russell's biggest fans.
