Leon Russell

During the nearly 50 years that multi-instrumentalist Leon Russell has been in show business, he’s been a solo artist, a label founder (of both Shelter Records and Paradise Records), a songwriter, and a session man for The Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, The Byrds, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Phil Spector. Most of his best-known solo work was recorded in the ’70s—his eclectic fusion of blues, country, jazz, gospel, and rock struck a chord with the popular consciousness, and 1972’s Carney hit the top five—but he’s made a comeback in recent years. In 2010, Russell released The Union, a soulful, T Bone Burnett-produced duet album, with longtime friend and fellow eccentric Elton John. 

Updated 04/10/2012