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
Dixie Lullaby
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About that sweet magnolia thyme
The black eyed Susan made some catfish stew
And papa brought some homemade wine
Now, all the southern children like to rock 'n' roll
The TV mamas tell you why
They got it on the boat from Africa
And blind Willie Time, he had a dime shoe shine
Stand down on Beale Street
And Willie would stop and say "Hello"
To all the shoes he'd meet
"Why are you so happy?" said the clean white buck
"You got no reason to be happy Mr. Time"
But Willie just smiled and he dropped his rag
And sang a Dixie lullaby
Now you heard the story of my southern home
With a honeysuckle wine
Anytime you think that you might come yourself
You ought to keep this thought in mind
All you easy riders better watch your step
If you're walkin' down below the line
That Louisiana man is gonna get you, yet
With his Dixie lullaby
He's got a Dixie lullaby
Ohh, it's a Dixie lullaby, bye
The song "Dixie Lullaby" talks about the sweet and soulful charm of southern life in America. It invites people to come together and enjoy the magnolia and black-eyed Susan (flowers) while listening to music and eating homemade meals. The lyrics describe the happiness that this way of life brings to people. The song also mentions how southern children love rock and roll music, which according to the TV mamas, is a sound that originated in Africa and is called Dixie lullaby. The song also shares the story of Blind Willie Time, who shines shoes on Beale Street in Memphis, a street with a rich musical heritage. The white buck shoes shopper, who doesn't understand why Willie is so happy, is told by him that it's because he sings the Dixie lullaby. The story of the southern home is shared, with honeysuckle wine being a popular drink among the southern people. The song advises the listeners to watch their step if they find themselves in Louisiana since they might be lulled by the Dixie lullaby.
The lyrics of "Dixie Lullaby" reflect on the charm of the southern way of life, the music, and the food that brings people together, creating a sense of community. The rock and roll music is painted as a bridge between cultures, connecting Africa and the Southern states. Besides, the story of Blind Willie Time shines a light on the fact that people don't need material possessions to find happiness: singing and enjoying the moments is what truly matters. The song also has a warning for those who are not from the south, to be mindful of the impact of the southern charm that can easily seduce them and make them forget their previous life.
Line by Line Meaning
Gather round me people, got a song to sing
Come closer, I have a story to tell
About that sweet magnolia thyme
It's about the good old days in the South
The black eyed Susan made some catfish stew
We had a wonderful meal together
And papa brought some homemade wine
And we had some homemade wine to go with it
Now, all the southern children like to rock 'n' roll
Young people in the South enjoy dancing to modern music
The TV mamas tell you why
Television commentators try to explain its origins
They got it on the boat from Africa
But it really came from African culture
It's that Dixie lullaby
This song captures the spirit of the South
And blind Willie Time, he had a dime shoe shine
There was a man named Willie who shined shoes for a living
Stand down on Beale Street
He worked on a street in Memphis
And Willie would stop and say 'Hello'
Willie was friendly and liked to chat
To all the shoes he'd meet
Even to the shoes he was shining
'Why are you so happy?' said the clean white buck
A customer asked why he seemed so happy
'You got no reason to be happy Mr. Time'
He thought being a shoe shiner was not a happy life
But Willie just smiled and he dropped his rag
But Willie was always optimistic and relaxed
And sang a Dixie lullaby
And he sang a song that reminded him of home
Now you heard the story of my southern home
I've shared my experiences of life in the South
With a honeysuckle wine
Where we enjoyed sweet and flavorful home-made wine
Anytime you think that you might come yourself
If you come visit us yourself
You ought to keep this thought in mind
Remember to be careful
All you easy riders better watch your step
If you're care-free, be cautious
If you're walkin' down below the line
If you're not careful, you might venture into danger
That Louisiana man is gonna get you, yet
A Louisiana man will harm you with his charming song
With his Dixie lullaby
He has a song that he plays to lure you into his trap
He's got a Dixie lullaby
He sings a song that sounds enticing
Ohh, it's a Dixie lullaby, bye
It's a song that will put you to sleep, and you will not wake up again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leon Russell, Chris Stainton
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.