Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, United States, Russell began playing piano at the age of four. He attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Also at Will Rogers High School were Anita Bryant, who was one year older, and in the same 1959 class, David Gates. Russell and Gates played and recorded together as the Fencement. Another student at Will Rogers during this time was Elvin Bishop, although he was a few years younger than the previously mentioned. During this time Russell was already performing at Tulsa nightclubs. After moving to Los Angeles in the late 1950s, he became a session musician, working as a pianist on the recordings of many notable 1960s musical artists. By the late 1960s, Russell diversified, becoming successful as an arranger and songwriter. By 1970, he had graduated to solo recording artist, although he never ended his previous roles within the music industry. After performing country music under the name Hank Wilson in the 1970s and 1980s, Russell had largely faded into obscurity. He re-emerged in 2010 when Elton John called on him to record an album that became The Union. The album brought renewed popularity to Russell who has since released a solo album and toured around the world.
Russell was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, 2011. In June, 2011, Leon Russell was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Known as a session musician and artist in his own right, Russell has played with artists as varied as Jerry Lee Lewis, Phil Spector and The Rolling Stones. With a solo career spanning the genres of rock, blues, and gospel, Russell began his musical career at 14, lying about his age to land a gig playing backup at a Tulsa nightclub to play with Ronnie Hawkins behind Jerry Lee Lewis. Two years later, after settling in Los Angeles, he studied guitar with James Burton, and worked sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell.
After becoming a part of Phil Spector's studio group, Russell played backup on many of the most popular hits of the 1960s, including The Byrds, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and Herb Alpert. He also served as Snuff Garrett's assistant on numerous productions. Russell built his own recording studio in 1967, and recorded his first LP, Look Inside the Asylum Choir, in a collaboration with Marc Benno.
His first songwriting hit was Joe Cocker's 1970 cover of "Delta Lady", and Russell went on to organise Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. Shortly thereafter, Russell released another solo album, Leon Russell, which included the original version of the popular "A Song for You". Also in 1970, Russell played piano on Dave Mason's album, Alone Together (notably, on the song "Sad and Deep as You").
During the 60's and 70's, Russell had a large mansion home in Tulsa near Woodward Park and was much an attraction for teenagers growing up in Tulsa. He also owned the infamous Church Recording Studio on 3rd street there, a meeting place for Russell and many friends. The Church Studio is now owned by Glen Mitchell and one-time Russell studio engineer Steve Ripley of the country band The Tractors. Russell still records there frequently.
Russell also owned a large home on Grand Lake, in northeast Oklahoma. It stills stands near Dripping Springs, remodeled now, but a fond reminder of the days gone by for the now-grown kids in Oklahoma. At one time, it stood to be one of the largest homes on the lake. The home is now owned by Tulsa chiropractor and Leon Russell enthusiast Dr. F.J. Huskey. The home still contains the famous dining room table and chairs made from church pews from his Church Studio. On the property stands a private recording studio that has seen many famous names, including members of The Beatles.
In 1971, Russell appeared at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh (performing a memorable medley of the songs "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Young Blood"), after recording sessions with B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan, and went on to tour with the Rolling Stones. After focusing increasingly on his solo career, his album Carney reached #2 on the charts, although the two following albums were not received as well.
During the 70's, Russell continued to pop in occasionally and perform in Tulsa at the Paradise Club and other noted music spots around town. He surprised his fans one night performing with Flash Eddy and the Eclectics at the Paradise.
His 1975 album Will O'the Wisp was fairly commercially successful, as was its single "Lady Blue". Gailard Sartain, fondly remembered by Tulsans as Mezeppa Pompazoidi (a Saturday night movie host, joined many times by Gary Busey), did the artwork for Russell's Will 'O the Wisp LP cover.
Later that year, Russell married Mary McCreary, a former member of Sly & the Family Stone's background vocal group Little Sister. The two collaborated on The Wedding Album in 1976, and Russell penned "This Masquerade", which earned a Grammy Award for George Benson. In 1977, Russell and McCreary reunited for another album, and in 1979 Russell worked on a collaboration with Willie Nelson. He spent the next two years touring with the New Grass Revival, and released two more albums with Paradise before the label folded. For several years, he stayed largely out of the music spotlight, releasing Anything Can Happen in 1992, and then releasing two more albums in 1998 and 1999. Russell continues to tour at the age of 71. His bassist, Jack Wessel, has been with Russell close to 25 years. His son with McCreary, Teddy Jack (named after Gary Busey's character on Sartain's show), has also toured with his dad, as well as sisters, Tina Rose and Sugaree.
Pixies vocalist Black Francis credits Russell with influencing his vocal style: "I realize there's a certain kind of vocalizing I do that takes its cue from Leon Russell. He sang in a southern accent but it was very blown-out and exaggerated, very free and loose."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Russell
Stranger In A Strange Land
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since I was born
How many days until I die
Do I know any ways
That I can make you laugh
Or do I only know how to make you cry
When the baby looks around him
It's such a sight to see
He shares a simple secret
With the wise man
He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
Tell me why
He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
How many miles will it take
To see the sun
And how many years until it's done
Kiss my confusion away in the night
Lay by side when the morning comes
And the baby looks around him
And shares his bed of hay
With the burrow in the palace of the king
He's a stranger in a strange land
Tell me why
He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
Well, I don't exactly know
What's going on in the world today
Don't know what there is to say
About the way the people are treating
Each other, not like brothers
Leaders take us far away from ecology
With mythology and astrology
Has got some words to say
About the way we live today
Why can't we learn to love each other
It's time to turn a new face
To the whole world wide human race
Stop the money chase
Lay back, relax
Get back on the human track
Stop racing toward oblivion
Oh, such a sad, sad state we're in
And that's a thing
Do you recognize the bells of truth
When you hear them ring
Won't you stop and listen
To the children sing
Won't you come on and sing it children
He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
Leon Russell's song "Stranger in a Strange Land" poses deep philosophical questions about life, time, existence, and human relationships. Russell starts by contemplating the number of days he has been alive and the number of days he has left to live. He also questions his ability to make people laugh and wonders if he can only make them cry. As Russell continues, he draws a parallel between a baby and a wise man, both of whom share a simple secret about the world. He also compares himself to a stranger in a strange land, trying to make sense of the world around him.
Russell then juxtaposes the innocence of a baby, who shares his bed of hay with a burrow in the king's palace, with the complicated nature of human relationships. He argues that people are not treating each other as brothers, leaders are taking people far from ecology, and humanity is racing towards oblivion. Russell concludes by urging people to stop the money chase, relax, get back on the human track, and learn to love each other.
Overall, Russell's "Stranger in a Strange Land" is a commentary on the state of humanity and a plea for people to love each other and live in harmony.
Line by Line Meaning
How many days has it been
Reflecting on how long he has been alive
Since I was born
Wondering how much time has passed since he was born
How many days until I die
Contemplating the timeline of his own mortality
Do I know any ways
Pondering his own skillset
That I can make you laugh
Questioning whether or not he has the ability to make others happy
Or do I only know how to make you cry
Reflecting on whether or not he has always caused drama or pain in his relationships
When the baby looks around him
Observing the innocence and curiosity of a baby
It's such a sight to see
Appreciating the beauty of the world through the eyes of a child
He shares a simple secret
Noticing the simplicity of life that many adults overlook
With the wise man
Realizing that wisdom can come from anyone, regardless of age or experience
How many miles will it take
Contemplating the distance of the journey he needs to take in life
To see the sun
Metaphorically searching for direction and purpose
And how many years until it's done
Wondering how long it will take to reach his goals
Kiss my confusion away in the night
Longing for clarity and understanding
Lay by side when the morning comes
Finding comfort in the presence of a loved one during life's struggles
And the baby looks around him
Continuing to appreciate the wisdom and innocence of a young child
And shares his bed of hay
Finding joy in the simple comforts of life
With the burrow in the palace of the king
Recognizing that it's possible to find happiness regardless of one's background or social status
Well, I don't exactly know
Admitting to uncertainty and confusion about the state of the world
What's going on in the world today
Expressing concern for the state of society
Don't know what there is to say
Feeling at a loss for words to describe the current state of the world
About the way the people are treating
Commenting on humanity's general lack of empathy and compassion
Each other, not like brothers
Noting how society treats each other as enemies rather than friends
Leaders take us far away from ecology
Critiquing leaders for their failure to prioritize the environment
With mythology and astrology
Commenting on the ways in which many people turn to superstition rather than science
Has got some words to say
Having strong opinions about society's problems
About the way we live today
Commenting on the current lifestyles of individuals in society
Why can't we learn to love each other
Questioning why society can't be more compassionate and understanding
It's time to turn a new face
Believing that society needs to change its ways
To the whole world wide human race
Advocating for global compassion and understanding
Stop the money chase
Suggesting that society should stop prioritizing wealth and power above all else
Lay back, relax
Encouraging people to slow down and take care of themselves
Get back on the human track
Advocating for individuals to prioritize empathy and compassion in their daily lives
Stop racing toward oblivion
Warning against blindly pursuing success at the expense of one's own health and well-being
Oh, such a sad, sad state we're in
Expressing sadness and frustration with society's current state
And that's a thing
Concluding a thought on society's condition
Do you recognize the bells of truth
Asking individuals to recognize true, genuine moments of honesty
When you hear them ring
Inviting individuals to pay attention and listen
Won't you stop and listen
Encouraging individuals to be present and mindful
To the children sing
Suggesting that the innocent voices of children are often wise and insightful
Won't you come on and sing it children
Inviting others to join in the chorus of compassion and empathy shown by children
He's a stranger in a strange land
Recognizing that everyone feels out of place in life at times
Just a stranger in a strange land
Emphasizing that feeling lost and disconnected is a common human experience
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON J. PRESTON, LEON RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Hayes
on Roll Away The Stone
I think the meaning is very different to that posted above.
The author is Jesus.
The strange time is the period of his crucifixion and death.
She was my women (Mary Magdalene) and he was my friend (his erstwhile friend Judas).
But he was wrong about both.
He's talking to God who is putting him through this strange time and despite that he still loves God.
"Roll away the stone". He's in the cave. He's begging God to open the cave, protecting him and resurrect him for the good of those who'll be around in 2000 years ie us.
He thought God would have filled him in as to when the end of times would occur but he hasn't ("I guess you thought I knew")
He then accuses God of just trying to avoid him (Jesus) but still asks for protect and resurrection.
Mark Hayes
on Roll Away The Stone
The lyric is "She was my woman and HE was my friend". That is, he's talking about two different people.