He wrote classic songs and told tales of being friends with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ike and Tina Turner, and the Rolling Stones. He recorded an album with Sir Elton John lat year, but always kept his feet on the street of the city of Nashville. He is Leon Russell.
Good bye Leon Russell, it’s been our honor to know you.
Leon sang, wrote and produced and recorded on some of rock and roll’s early top records, which included the Beach Boys and Beatles singles. In the early days, soon to be rock legend Jerry Lee Lewis was so enamored with this young singer song writer, he hired him to lead his band on tour for two years.
Leon was a prolific writer, having penned Joe Cocker’s “Delta Lady,” “Tight Rope” and “A Song For You.” Leon’s last live performance was July 10th in Nashville, the city he loved so dearly, where his soul departed this warm earth.
Leon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011.
—
Photo credit: Geoff Goldswain / Shutterstock.com