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
Jambalaya
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me gotta' go pole the pirogue down the buyou
My yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun, on the buyou
Jumbalaya, and a crawfish pie, and a filé gumbo
Cause' tonight I'm gonna' see my Machez a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar, and be gay-oh
Thibodeaux, fontainbleau, the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see yvonne by the dozen
Dress in style, go hog wild, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Jumbalaya, and a crawfish pie, and a filé gumbo
Cause' tonight I'm gonna' see my Machez a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar, and be gay- oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun, on the buyou
Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie and-a filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
The song Jambalaya by Leon Russell is a classic Cajun tune about a man named Joe who is leaving his home in Louisiana to go down the bayou to meet his sweetheart, Yvonne. The lyrics describe their journey, the food they will eat, and the festivities they will partake in upon their arrival. The song is upbeat and very catchy, with a lively tune that reflects the joy and excitement of the characters in the song.
The first verse sets the scene for the rest of the song, with Joe saying goodbye to his home and Yvonne, who is described as "the sweetest one." The second verse is a celebration of the food they will eat, including jambalaya, crawfish pie, and filé gumbo. Joe also mentions he's going to see his "Machez a mio," which is a term of endearment similar to "my darling" or "my beloved." The third verse describes the excitement and anticipation of Joe's arrival, with people dressing up and having a good time.
This song is a celebration of Cajun culture and the joys of life in Louisiana. The lyrics are full of regional references, like Thibodeaux and fontainbleau, which help to create a sense of place and add to the overall atmosphere of the song. The use of the French language and Cajun dialect in the lyrics also help to create a unique and authentic feel to the song. Overall, Jambalaya is a classic tune that embodies the spirit of Cajun culture and the joy of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye Joe, me gotta' go, me oh my oh
I am bidding farewell to Joe, I must leave now, oh my
Me gotta' go pole the pirogue down the buyou
I need to move the boat down the bayou using a pole
My yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh
Yvonne is my sweetest companion, oh my
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun, on the buyou
We will have an amazing time on the bayou
Jumbalaya, and a crawfish pie, and a filé gumbo
We will eat jambalaya, crawfish pie, and filé gumbo
Cause' tonight I'm gonna' see my Machez a mio
Because tonight I will meet my Machéz a Mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar, and be gay-oh
We will play guitar, fill our fruit jars, and be joyous
Thibodeaux, fontainbleau, the place is buzzin'
Thibodeaux and Fontainbleau are bustling with activity
Kinfolk come to see yvonne by the dozen
Family members arrive in dozens to meet Yvonne
Dress in style, go hog wild, me oh my oh
We will dress in style and have a wild time, oh my
Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie and-a filé gumbo
We will have jambalaya, crawfish pie, and filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez a mio
I will meet my Machéz a Mio tonight
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh
We will play guitar, fill our fruit jars, and have a joyous time
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
We will have a great time on the bayou
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
We will have a great time on the bayou
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
We will have a great time on the bayou
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@barrysmith8920
@@MissDaisyDuke01 Dunno where it went!
😢😔😣
Insanely great performance.
Best “Diggy Diggy Lo” ever.
He took off his shirt for the encore 🥳
Yeah, OBS was incredible.
Doug’s style is all his own.
He plays double stops all up and down I’ve never heard from a fiddle.
His intonation is so amazing considering how far he stretches phrasing and embellishments.
Leon was so cool, totally drunk 🥴, messing with Doug, putting his hat on his head while he was trying to play, it falling in his eyes.
@timp8472
I worked in the studio with Leon. What a joy! He was auditioning Black Grass for the Carney tour at January Music & Sound in Dallas. All had gone next door for a beer. I had to tear down the studio mics and headsets, rewind the tape and shut down for the night. Leon had stayed behind to sit at the Yamaha Baby Grand to tinker with a tune he'd been working on. With all away except we two, I asked him to please play A Song For You and he did. I was an audience of one. It really brought tears to my eyes. He was so sincere and looked my way as he sang. WOW.
Everyone came back, hugged and went home. I cried again when I realized I could have recorded it but had just shut everything down! What a gentleman he was. And what an influence on American Music. Tim
@terrylcorbin5310
Lucky Tim, sounds awesome. Way back when, had a moment with James Taylor, still remember like it was yesterday😊
@brianlarson1952
Haurndess
@adbl.d6324
so many here miss the point when they try to paint Leon’s reaction to Waylon as either green eyed jealous or slammed drunk..Leon, the master of time & space, was looking on in happy awe & quiet ecstasy at the collection of spirits that were singing & playing together right then/right there/right now.
@YetisRreal
Yes
@Steelers2116
If you noticed, he actually waved him onstage. Leon was 100% class, even when shitfaced! LOL
@elissafox3265
I have seen Leon Russell three times in my life once in 1970 second time was in 1973 and the last time was in 1994, and one more time was in 9 2013. So it was four times. I have never seen him drunk before. He is definitely three sheets to the wind. But he was with his buddies there, he was just really drunk. And you look at Willie Nelson and he's laughing, because they're just no denying it he was three sheets to the wind. Leon Russell is and will always be the master of space and time.
@darrelljohnson5764
Is no one going to mention the fact that Waylon’s eyes look like a cocaine road map . Everyone of them were buzzed up on the music and the extracurricular activities. Great Times.
@christinaomalie429
The point is, there is no point
@philipbohannon1369
Betcha never thought country/western music could be Punk rock! Ain't nothin' more punk rock than Willie, Waylon and Leon. That fiddler is shredding too btw!