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
A Song for You
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhyme
I've acted out my life in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I've treated you unkindly but darling can't you see
Darling can't you please see through me
'Cause we're alone now and I'm singin' my song to you
You taught me precious secrets of the truth, withholdin' nothin'
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better so if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody 'cause my love's in there hiding
I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for my life, 'cause you're a friend of mine
And when my life is over, remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singin' my song for you
But I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I've loved you for my life, yes, you're a friend of mine
And when my life is over, remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singin' my song for you, yes
We were alone and I was singin' this song for you, baby
We were alone and I was singin' my song
Singin' this song for you
The lyrics of Leon Russell's "A Song for You" are a poignant reflection on love between two people, even in the face of past mistakes and pain. The opening lines set the scene, with the singer reflecting on his life's journey and all of the people he's performed for. But he focuses on the present moment with his loved one, singing a song just for them.
The second verse is the most heart-wrenching, with the singer acknowledging that he's not the perfect person his loved one hopes he is. He's been unkind, but he desperately wants his loved one to see how important they are to him. He sings to them as if no one else in the world exists, drawing them into his orbit of love and intimacy.
In the final verse, the lyrics become even more otherworldly, as the singer sings about loving his partner in a place beyond space and time. They pledge to remember these moments forever, even after death. The song is a tender ode to love as an anchor in a turbulent world, and to the beauty of sharing that love with just one other person.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been so many places in my life and time
I've traveled extensively throughout my life
I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhyme
I've written and performed many songs, some of which were not well written
I've acted out my life in stages
I have lived my life on stage as a performer
With ten thousand people watching
I have had a large audience for my performances
But we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you
Now, however, I am alone with you and performing this song for you
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I am aware that you see me as who I aspire to be
I've treated you unkindly but darling can't you see
I know I have not always been kind to you, but I hope you can understand
There's no one more important to me
You are the most important person in my life
Darling can't you please see through me
I hope you can see past my flaws and understand me better
'Cause we're alone now and I'm singin' my song to you
Since we are alone, I am performing this song just for you
You taught me precious secrets of the truth, withholdin' nothin'
You have shared valuable truths with me without holding back
You came out in front and I was hiding
You took the lead while I remained in the background
But now I'm so much better so if my words don't come together
With your help, I am now better and more confident, although my words may not be perfect
Listen to the melody 'cause my love's in there hiding
Pay attention to the music, as my affection is conveyed through it
I love you in a place where there's no space or time
My love for you transcends physical limitations such as space and time
I love you for my life, 'cause you're a friend of mine
I love you because you have been a loyal friend throughout my life
And when my life is over, remember when we were together
When I pass on, I hope you will remember the time we shared together
We were alone and I was singin' my song for you
We shared a special moment where I performed this song just for you
But I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I continue to love you beyond physical limits
Yes, you're a friend of mine
You have been a cherished friend of mine
We were alone and I was singin' this song for you, baby
In that moment, we were together and I sang this song directly to you, my dear
We were alone and I was singin' my song
We shared a moment where I performed this intimate song just for you
Singin' this song for you
I performed this song as an expression of my love for you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leon Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mazzy22
One of the best songs by such a beautiful soul. RIP Leon, He really was not in any one genre. He was in the wrecking crew out of Memphis, and he was a wonderful at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL God Bless you all.
@RicG.
One of the best songs of all time. R.I.P. Leon.
@jacquelinejeenmetelica2506
The Man with His Feet on the Ground. the True King to all of them..MUSICIANS.. Leon was Willie, Was Elton, Was Louie. Leon was EVERY MAN for Every Woman.
@tomcooley3778
Oh yeah !
@elkigirl123
True
@palirvin1871
I could not believe it. I'd never heard this version by Leon. I enjoyed it immensely because it was not only great but it just demonstrates what a stylists he could be not only with this mastery of the piano but his voice back when it was still in good shape. Leon was in incredibly hard working musician for the first 20+ years of his career and when he hit it big he was no longer young man, he was Leon Russell, Master of Space and Time. As a songwriter Leon worked for years to learn to write songs and he devoted his energy in search of writing 'standards', songs that other musicians would want to perform and record, songs that would live beyond a single high point on the charts for a few weeks. A Song For You, was his masterpiece in that capacity and the statistics and covers by other artists, prove the provenance of that song. Jackson Browne, says it's his favorite song, truly. Thanks a heck of an endorsement. There are other artists who had more hits but there was one and only one Leon Russell. He made a mark a foot wide on music history.
@peggybreit
For you Mama and Daddy ❤️. This will always be your song. He was singing this song for you ❤️🫂💕🥰
@rhondalong942
Can you imagine being friends with Leon - he seems like such an amazing guy - he would have been a wonderful friend - just sitting around making beautiful music.
@marvingoodman7381
A songwriter, a musician, a singer, AN ICON!!! Gone BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN...
@jacquelinejeenmetelica2506
OOo I see His Lonliness of Spirit. How I love You, Leon. You do for Me, Now what you could not do then...Master Needed me.