Comments
9 years ago
Great story. Elton's very first performance in the U.S. was at the Troubadour in LA and Elton opened for Leon Russell. I am also from Tulsa, USA as Leon is - we’ve met on three occasions and he really is great on a personal level as he is an artist too - so I have completely followed his career (speaking about unappreciated artist). Elton said that night Leon gave him a tip about ‘singing’ that he still uses to this day, (wouldn’t share the damn tip though …lol). ….Elton recalling all this one day in Africa thought about Leon. So upon his return they made contact and they then got together and created "The Union" album together. The following year Leon was inducted into the Hall Of Fame, and deservingly so at the least. If you ever get the chance to read how many other musicians albums Leon played on you would literally fall out of your chair. …In LA he was known as a key figure of The Wrecking Crew.Here is ONLY a partial list: Leon has played on pop, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, standards, gospel, and surf records. As a session musician, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, record company owner, bandleader, and touring musician, he has collaborated with hundreds of artists, including Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Edgar Winter, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, J.J. Cale, David Gates, Bruce Hornsby, Hal Blaine, Tommy Tedesco, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, B.B. King, Freddie King, Bill Wyman, Steve Cropper, Carl Radle, Chuck Blackwell, Don Preston, Jesse Ed Davis, Rita Coolidge, Gram Parsons, Barbra Streisand, Ike & Tina Turner, Ricky Nelson, Herb Alpert, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Ann-Margret, Dean Martin, Marvin Gaye, Dave Mason, Steve Winwood, and groups such as Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, The Monkees, The Astronauts, The Accents, The Fencemen, The Ventures, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes, The Crystals, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Everly Brothers, The Righteous Brothers, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Tractors and on and on and on…