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
Goodnight Irene
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodnight Irene good night
Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a good notion
Irene good night
Goodnight Irene good night
Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
[ harmonica ]
And sometimes I live up in Tulsa
I take a little trip down to Nashville too
If there's only one thing I get through to you in this life
It's just that I want to make love to you
Irene good night
Goodnight Irene good night
Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
The song "Goodnight Irene" is a classic folk song that has been covered by many artists over the years, including Leon Russell. The song is a lamentation from the perspective of a man who is saying goodnight to Irene, who may be his lover or someone he cares deeply about. The song conveys a sense of longing, as the singer wishes Irene a good night and promises to see her in his dreams. The repetition of the phrase "Goodnight Irene" serves to emphasize the singer's deep feelings for Irene and his reluctance to say goodbye.
The first two verses of the song describe the singer's life and his sometimes contradictory desires. He says that sometimes he lives in the country and sometimes in town, which suggests that he is a wanderer or a drifter. He also mentions his desire to jump in the river and drown, which could be interpreted as a desire to escape from his problems or a suicidal impulse. The third verse describes the singer's travels to different places, including Tulsa and Nashville. He expresses his desire to make love to Irene, which suggests that their relationship may be sexual in nature.
Overall, "Goodnight Irene" is a haunting and melancholic song that captures the feelings of love, longing, and loss. The repetition of the phrase "Goodnight Irene" creates a hypnotic effect and emphasizes the singer's attachment to Irene. The song has been interpreted in many different ways over the years, but it remains a classic of the folk genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Irene good night
Leon Russell bids farewell to his romantic interest, Irene
Goodnight Irene good night
Leon Russell repeats his farewell to Irene with emphasis
Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene
Leon Russell once again repeats his goodbye to Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Leon Russell promises Irene that he'll dream about her
Sometimes I live in the country
Leon Russell describes how his place of living varies
Sometimes I live in town
Leon Russell reveals that he also alternates living in the city
Sometimes I take a good notion
Leon Russell admits to having impulsive streaks
I'm going to jump in the river and drown
Leon Russell expresses a dark thought resulting from his unpredictable behavior
And sometimes I live up in Tulsa
Leon Russell shares that he sometimes resides in Tulsa
I take a little trip down to Nashville too
Leon Russell divulges that he also occasionally visits Nashville
If there's only one thing I get through to you in this life
Leon Russell stresses the importance of his upcoming message
It's just that I want to make love to you
Leon Russell confesses his desire to have romantic relations with Irene
Contributed by Hudson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.