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RIP Leon Russell

#21
As a member of the Wrecking Crew he played on a whole lot of great songs. I saw him in concert in San Antonio around 1973. I loved the "Carney" album because it was so different and had a unique sound. Several Carney tracks are still played regularly on a local radio station.
 
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#22
As if this week hasn't been bad and sad enough already. US Election, deaths of both Victor Bailey, Leonard Cohean, and now, Leon Russell. For f*x sake mr Grim Reaper let go of that chopping spree now, will ya'?

This 2016 year is just something regarding music celebrities passing....

Leon Russell strikes me the most as being the only one penning two distinct and VERY contradictory hits. First, "Lady Blue" used to be the most played song during the actual weddings in the US , and still is, and later on he wrote the most popular "divorce" song in "This Masquerade". As if a divorce is celebrated with dinner, party and such, but this is the first artist that I've ever heard of, that managed to produce both as stunning/appropriate pieces used for the total opposite so to speak. Of course, not of his making, he just wrote them, and couldn't expect people to get them their own life. Same as with Cohens "Hallelujah" that originally went on totally unnoticed. Although I know "Hallelujah" is about divorce or breaking up really, too.

EDIT: Yes, Carney was my fave too, because a tiny bit different from the others.
 
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#23
Honch said:
As if this week hasn't been bad and sad enough already. US Election, deaths of both Victor Bailey, Leonard Cohean, and now, Leon Russell. For f*x sake mr Grim Reaper let go of that chopping spree now, will ya'?

This 2016 year is just something regarding music celebrities passing....

Leon Russell strikes me the most as being the only one penning two distinct and VERY contradictory hits. First, "Lady Blue" used to be the most played song during the actual weddings in the US , and still is, and later on he wrote the most popular "divorce" song in "This Masquerade". As if a divorce is celebrated with dinner, party and such, but this is the first artist that I've ever heard of, that managed to produce both as stunning/appropriate pieces used for the total opposite so to speak. Of course, not of his making, he just wrote them, and couldn't expect people to get them their own life. Same as with Cohens "Hallelujah" that originally went on totally unnoticed. Although I know "Hallelujah" is about divorce or breaking up really, too.
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Grim Reaper had nothing to do with the US election. The people who voted did. More voted one way than the other. Way to bring that into a place where the discussion is about the death of a great American music hero.
 
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#24
10cc said:
Grim Reaper had nothing to do with the US election. The people who voted did. More voted one way than the other. Way to bring that into a place where the discussion is about the death of a great American music hero.
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It was the week and as such, and the aftermath of the US election moreso than anything else. We haven't reached "next tuesday" as of yet, so we're not in full week between "tuesdays" or even wednesdays, as it supposed to be. Besides all this, Cohen did actually pass on a few days earlier before it was publicly announced. I don't care who won the election, it's the demonstrations, and general "malaise" afterwards, I was after. We had even in Sweden two music celebrities who've passed, which are of course nobody to you, since they're only performed in Swedish.
 
#29
Something I remembered today

Leon Russell did what was probably the first rock concert for TV *with stereo audio*. This is decades before TV had stereo audio. The audio was simulcast on an FM radio station. You put your TV in the middle with your stereo system tuned to FM and bam you have something pioneering for the early 70s. I clearly recall moving my stereo system into the family's living room (complete with green shag carpet) and watched it on our Admiral color TV.

Invalid Link Removed

(PBS) KCET (Channel 28) Studios Los Angeles

KPPC-FM was the first station in Los Angeles to broadcast a stereo simulcast
with a television station. (A one hour program with 'Leon Russell and Friends'
in collaboration with PBS station KCET)
 
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#33
Leon Russel.JPG
My wife and I at a Leon Russell show a while back. He will be missed!
 
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#34
"I only hope the Devil googles your address before Heaven knows you're dead." ... Another original gone too soon. ... Though Leon never really played bass like a bass player. ... But he'd have agreed with that.
 
#39
I saw Leon 3 times in concert. Twice in Chicago and once in Indianapolis. He was great in Chicago, but while in Indianapolis he kept his back to the audience while playing guitar and spoke very little. I think he was having a rough night. I saw him a couple years ago on TV and was shocked at his physical state. I'm surprised he made it to 74, bless his soul.
 
#40
It's sad to see the passing of a great musician of his caliber. He was a significant influence on me in the early 70s, when I was able to hear one of his albums(Leon Russell and the Shelter People).

I loved seeing him work with J.J. Cale and the work he did on Harrison's concert for Bangladesh. It was through him that I got to appreciate his great bass player Carl Radle.

His legacy and influence will outlive us all. R.I.P. great one.
 
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