Pianist Leon Russell Dies at 74

By DownBeat I Nov. 17, 2016

The album cover for Russell’s 2014 album, *Life Journey*
(Photo: )

Leon Russell, a pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader who worked in many genres, died on Nov. 13 in Nashville, where he was based. Russell, who had battled health problems in recent years, was 74.

One of Russell’s most famous compositions, “This Masquerade,” was recorded by guitarist George Benson on his 1976 album, Breezin’, which was produced by Tommy LiPuma. Benson and LiPuma won a Grammy award for “This Masquerade” in the category Record of the Year. Benson’s rendition climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard pop singles chart, and helped propel Breezin’ to the top of the Billboard pop albums chart.

Russell reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, thanks to the hit singles “Tight Rope” (1972) and “Lady Blue (1975), and his work with vocalist Joe Cocker. Russell contributed two songs to the classic 1969 studio album Joe Cocker!: “Delta Lady” and “Hello, Little Friend.” Russell played piano, organ and guitar on the album.

Russell, a native of Oklahoma, was an integral part of Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour and the live album of the same name, released in 1970.

In the late 1950s and into the ’60s, Russell was a prolific session musician in Los Angeles, playing on recordings by Herb Alpert, the Beach Boys, the Byrds, Glen Campbell, Darlene Love, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, the Ronettes and Frank Sinatra.

His 1970 solo debut, Leon Russell, included “Delta Lady,” and the album opened with “A Song For You,” which would become a pop standard that has now been recorded by more than 100 artists.

On Aug. 1 1971, Russell performed at Madison Square Garden as part of the all-star Concert for Bangladesh, spearheaded by George Harrison. He is also featured on the live album of the same name. One of the first major rock concerts to raise money for a social cause (hunger relief), the event included performances by Harrison, Ringo Starr, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, the band Badfinger and many others. In addition to backing other musicians at the concert, Russell delivered powerful vocals on a transcendent, stunning medley of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Youngblood.”

Over the course of his career, Russell often worked in the Americana realm, recording a collection of Hank Williams songs under the pseudonym Hank Wilson and collaborating with Willie Nelson, New Grass Revival, Bruce Hornsby and dozens of others.

Pop superstar Elton John considered Russell a primary influence and a personal hero. In 2010, John and Russell released the duo album The Union (Decca), which was produced by T Bone Burnett and included appearances by Booker T. Jones, Robert Randolph, Neil Young and Brian Wilson.

In 2014, Russell released Life Journey (Universal), which was produced by LiPuma. The album included two original compositions but focused on renditions of standards, including Duke Ellington’s “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia On My Mind” and Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen.”

In 2011 Russell received an Award for Musical Excellence from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Clevel