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Cool rock n roll photos
- Thread starter Chad-Chicago
- Start date
At birth, Leon Russell's doctor tugged too hard during delivery and damaged two of his vertebrae, his right side has always been a bit numb and his feet are flat, a result of an elongated bones in his feet that have stretched the arches flat. Long story short, he needs a cane for short distances and a motorized wheelchair for long ones, all of this made him an introverted kid, so he found a friend in the piano and developed a sharp ear.
By 14, Leon was performing at local clubs near Tulsa and playing in his local church, when he got home late each night he listened to the only radio station his crystal set would pick up, one that was spinning R&B and Pentecostal gospel records.
Here's where Leon's career gets really interesting. He toured with Jerry Lee Lewis from 1960 to 1962 as the Killer's warm-up pianist while Leon's band backed Jerry Lee. In LA in '62, Leon played demos for Jackie DeShannon, who in turn played them for Jack Nitzsche, who brought him into recording sessions with Phil Spector. Leon is on the Ronettes' Be My Baby and other Wall of Sound recording sessions.
For the next six years, Leon was a member of the famed Wrecking Crew group of studio musicians who backed everyone from the Beach Boys to Frank Sinatra. He also did quite a bit of songwriting and arranging for pop-rock acts, including Gary Lewis. Leon told me arranges like Don Costa used to leave his parts blank and tell him to play jazz, blues, honky-tonk and other styles for those measures. No notes were needed. Leon also told me that his sluggish right side forced him to think ahead about what he planned to play and if it was going to be too much, he'd find another way around it.
By JAZZWAX by Marc Myers
By 14, Leon was performing at local clubs near Tulsa and playing in his local church, when he got home late each night he listened to the only radio station his crystal set would pick up, one that was spinning R&B and Pentecostal gospel records.
Here's where Leon's career gets really interesting. He toured with Jerry Lee Lewis from 1960 to 1962 as the Killer's warm-up pianist while Leon's band backed Jerry Lee. In LA in '62, Leon played demos for Jackie DeShannon, who in turn played them for Jack Nitzsche, who brought him into recording sessions with Phil Spector. Leon is on the Ronettes' Be My Baby and other Wall of Sound recording sessions.
For the next six years, Leon was a member of the famed Wrecking Crew group of studio musicians who backed everyone from the Beach Boys to Frank Sinatra. He also did quite a bit of songwriting and arranging for pop-rock acts, including Gary Lewis. Leon told me arranges like Don Costa used to leave his parts blank and tell him to play jazz, blues, honky-tonk and other styles for those measures. No notes were needed. Leon also told me that his sluggish right side forced him to think ahead about what he planned to play and if it was going to be too much, he'd find another way around it.
By JAZZWAX by Marc Myers
Santa doesn't want you to be running around Willie - Nillie today! Relax! Enjoy this day.
Last edited:
IMMusicRulz
Commercial User
RIP both Charlie Watts and his lovely wife Shirley Watts.
IMMusicRulz
Commercial User
avant steeler Freddie Roulette passed on Christmas morning. here with Earl Hooker
The rumble continues…
Link Wray's great-granddaughter just got an guitar for Christmas
Link Wray's great-granddaughter just got an guitar for Christmas
