In "Leon Russell," Bill Janovitz tracks a rocker who played with Jagger and Dylan, turned Willie Nelson into a hippie, made six gold records and faded away.
An engineer, a coach, a historian, a poet, a social activist, a legendary musician, a CEO, and a developer and builder of businesses make up a diverse group of people selected for induction this year into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
We continue our look back at the music of 50 years agoâ¦â¦..
The man born as Claude Russell Bridges in Tulsa Oklahoma in 1942 may be the most eclectic man in rock & roll. Certainly his resume is right up there with whoever is. Leon Russell started playing in bands in Tulsa when he was 14 working with other Okie notables like JJ Cale and David Gates. When he left for California he had already helped establish what was known as the Tulsa sound. When he got to LA he quickly became a guy who other artists would call on. For guitar, piano or whatever seemed to be needed. He became part of âThe Wrecking Crewâ, a group of sessions musicians that played on hundredsâ¦maybe thousands of records in the 1960âs. Hits by Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis & The Playboys (he wrote âThis Diamond Ringâ), The Monkees, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas and dozens more. He produced and played with Dylan, The Stones, Elton John and Frank Sinatra. He worked with George Harris