Leon Russell

Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 – November 12, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter, who recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career.

Leon Russell (1942 - 2016) Obituary

Leon Russell, legendary Rock and Roll musician and songwriter, has died at the age of 74, according to multiple news sources.

His wife, Jan, said through an intermediary that the legendary musician and songwriter had passed away in his sleep in Nashville.

Russell learned to play the piano at a young age growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also played the guitar. By the time he was 14, he was playing in the Tulsa nightclubs with his group the Starlighters. The legendary J.J. Cale was also a member of that band.

Russell moved out to Los Angeles and became a popular session musician. He had the ability to play a variety of music including rock, blues, soul, country and gospel. He played on albums by the Byrds, Glen Campbell and Gary Lewis and the Playboys. He co-wrote the hit song “Everybody Loves a Clown” for Gary Lewis and the Playboys in 1965. He also played for a while with the legendary session musicians known as “The Wrecking Crew.” He was featured on the Ronettes hit song “Be My Baby.”

He worked with Joe Cocker and most famously led his band on the classic 1970 tour “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.” The list of bands and timeless songs he worked on is almost endless. He played on the Beach Boys classic “Pet Sounds” and with a variety of musicians including Frank Sinatra and the Monkees. He toured with the Rolling Stones. He was also part of George Harrison's "Songs for Bangladesh."

Russell also had a long solo career. He released his first album in 1970, the self-titled “Leon Russell.” The album featured one of his best known songs, “A Song for You,” which has been covered by Andy Williams and Elton John.

He was a musicians’ musician and continued to play and collaborate with other artists later in his career. Elton John and Russell released an album in 2010 called “The Union.” Cameron Crowe made a documentary which followed the creative process between the two artists in the making of the album.

Elton John wrote on Twitter, "My darling Leon Russell passed away last night. He was a mentor, inspiration & so kind to me. I loved him and always will."

Russell was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/readingeagle/obituary.aspx?n=leon-...

• Wikipedia, official site, Rolling Stone, "Hit musician Leon Russell credits an injury at birth with setting him on his musical path" Studio 360 July 07, 2015 ·
• Residence: Lawton
• Residence: Tulsa
• Residence: Los Angeles
  • Reference: Biographical Summaries of Notable People - SmartCopy: Nov 13 2016, 18:43:35 UTC