Sad news today Leon Russell died in Nashville at age 74. He was one of my most favorite musicians. I was lucky to have seen him perform many times over the years. So lucky to have seen the 1970 Joe Cocker Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour, but my favorite Leon show was when he toured with Willie Nelson.
Really loved his Jumpin Jack flash/Youngblood medley from George Harrison's Bangladesh benefit....
Here is some bio on Leon....
Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 - November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter, who recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career.
Russell began his musical career at the age of 14 in the nightclubs of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and his group the Starlighters, which included J.J. Cale, Leo Feathers, Chuck Blackwell and Johnny Williams, were instrumental in creating the style of music known as the Tulsa Sound.
After settling in Los Angeles, he studied guitar with James Burton. Known mostly as a session musician early in his career, as a solo artist he has crossed genres to include rock and roll, blues, and gospel music, playing with artists as varied as Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis, George Harrison, Gram Parsons, Delaney Bramlett, Ringo Starr, Doris Day, Elton John, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, the Byrds, Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys, the Ventures, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, Tijuana Brass, Frank Sinatra, the Band, Bob Dylan, J.J. Cale, B.B. King, Dave Mason, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker and the Rolling Stones.
