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
Big Lips
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were so sexy, I was all alone
Even though I had my hands full
I had to come, you're so delectable
When I found you in the bowling room
Your marveled lips, they were in full bloom
It was so hard, I had to unzip
Girl, I gotta say, you got big lips
And when you touch me with your fingertips
You make me wanna see the sweet hips
And just get a taste of those sweet lips
I couldn't eat, get you off my mind
Spent every dollar I could ever find
To give you pleasure on the telephone
I had to take it to the end zone
When I finally really got you home
You carbonized my chromosomes
We went to town and really let it rip
I just had to get to those big lips
Girl, I gotta say, you got big lips
And when you touch me with your fingertips
You make me wanna see the sweet hips
And just get a taste of those sweet lips x2
When I first heard you on the telephone
You were so sexy, I was all alone
Even though I had my hands full
I had to come, you're so delectable
When I found you in the bowling room
Your marveled lips, they were in full bloom
It was so hard, I had to unzip
And just get a taste of those big lips
Girl, I gotta say, you got big lips
And when you touch me with your fingertips
You make me wanna see the sweet hips
And just get a taste of those sweet lips
Leon Russell's song "Big Lips" is a playful ode to physical attraction and desire. The singer becomes enamored with a mysterious woman he meets on the telephone, and later encounters in a bowling alley. He describes her lips as "marveled" and compares their taste to a delectable treat.
Through the lyrics, the singer also reveals his immense infatuation with this woman, as he spends all his money to have phone conversations with her, and eventually takes her home to satisfy his longing. It's a familiar tale of a person overcome with passion and desire, and Russell delivers it through a blend of playful lyrics and upbeat music.
Overall, the song is a fun celebration of physical attraction, and serves as a reminder of the magnetism that can be sparked by someone's lips.
Line by Line Meaning
When I first heard you on the telephone
I was intrigued by your voice when I spoke to you on the phone
You were so sexy, I was all alone
Your voice was so alluring that I was enticed even though I was alone
Even though I had my hands full
Despite being busy, I couldn't resist talking to you
I had to come, you're so delectable
I was drawn to you and couldn't resist seeing you in person
When I found you in the bowling room
When I saw you at the bowling alley
Your marveled lips, they were in full bloom
Your lips were exceptionally beautiful
It was so hard, I had to unzip
I was aroused and had to take off my pants
And just get a taste of those big lips
I couldn't resist and had to kiss your luscious lips
Girl, I gotta say, you got big lips
I can't help but comment on the size of your lips, which I find appealing
And when you touch me with your fingertips
When we touch skin to skin
You make me wanna see the sweet hips
You arouse me and make me want to explore your body
And just get a taste of those sweet lips
I am drawn to your lips and want to kiss you
I couldn't eat, get you off my mind
I was so fixated on you that I couldn't focus on anything else
Spent every dollar I could ever find
I spent all my money on you to please you
To give you pleasure on the telephone
I tried to satisfy you through phone conversations
I had to take it to the end zone
I had to go all the way to make sure you were satisfied
When I finally really got you home
When we finally got together intimately
You carbonized my chromosomes
You aroused me so deeply that my body reacted physically
We went to town and really let it rip
We had wild and passionate sex
I just had to get to those big lips
I was driven to kiss your luscious lips once again
And just get a taste of those sweet lips x2
I couldn't get enough of your lips and had to kiss them again and again
Contributed by Daniel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gogoyubari366
One of my favorite Leon Russel songs!
@cosmicbuffalo
I got to see Leon Russell in Alburqurque NM in 95 at a place called the "Dingo Bar". It was almost the size of a large tool shed from Sears, very intimate. He played through with no breaks, there was a show on cable he was intent on seeing. After the show I went over to the coach, didn't get to see him but shouted inside,"Leon I love you man" out of the coach came in that easy to know voice, "I love you more man.".
Ever since then when someone tells they love me I say back, "I love you more man" And man oh man do I love me some Leon Russell.
@rainbowglo6303
This song and video are about as cute as a bug's ear! :-) Right on, Leon, still a sassy boy at 72! Congrats on the fabulous Life Journey CD, and a slightly belated Happy Birthday!
One would think there might be some credits at the end, who made the video?
@deepfreezevideo
Possibly the same people who work for Steve Ripley (The Tractors) so it wouldn't do any harm to wander over to Ripley's page and ask the man.
But I am betting that's who did it.
@ginaharwich
Great song
@MrTriggerluke
All time great. Good ole boy, leon 4ever.
@kerrymasterson2848
My complete thank you's LeonRussellVEVO good job well done
@babycat9899
若いときハンサムだったね。あれからずっと好きだわ〰️❗
@richcarlson7466
The REAL question is does Leon sound like Dr. John or does Dr. John sound like Leon? Who cares they both sound great - though I'm partial to this Oklahoma fellow!
@kathleenb1947
Chair dancin'.. great video... thanks!