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
Manhattan Island Serenade
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking of you again
Guess I'll have to hitch hike to the station
With every step I will see your face
Like a mirror looking back at me
Saing you're the only one
Making me feel I could survive
Am so glad to be alive
Messed up inside and it's been rainging all day
Since you ran away
Manhattan ISland Serenade
Sitting on a highway in a broken van
Thinking of you again
Guess I'll have to hitch hike down the highway
With every step i'll see your face
Like a mirror looking back at me
Saying you're the only one
Making me feel I could survive
Am so glad to be alive
Nowhere to run and not a guitar to play
MEssed up inside and it's been raining all day
Since you went away
Manhattan Island Serenade
Since you went away
Manhattan Island Serenade
The lyrics to Leon Russell's song Manhattan Island Serenade are filled with longing and heartbreak. The singer is stuck on a highway in a broken van, thinking about the person they love. They know they have to leave and can't stay where they are, but they don't have the means to leave. Despite the difficult circumstances, they can't help but think of this person and how much they mean to them. Every step they take, they see their face in their mind, and it's like a mirror looking back at them, telling them that this person is the only thing that makes them feel like they could survive. They're glad to be alive, but without this person, they feel like they're messed up inside. The rain is pouring down on them, and they're all alone, wishing they could be with the one they love.
The theme of unrequited love is prominent in Manhattan Island Serenade. The singer is clearly still in love with this person, but they've gone away, leaving them alone and hurting. They're stuck in a broken van, with nowhere to go and nothing to do but think about this person. Despite their situation, they're still grateful to be alive, and they are just trying to survive without the one they love. The lyrics are filled with sadness, but also a sense of hope. The singer knows that they have to keep going, even without this person, but they are still holding onto the hope that someday they might be reunited.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting on a highway in a broken van
I am stranded on a deserted highway in a dysfunctional van.
Thinking of you again
My mind is preoccupied with thoughts of you once more.
Guess I'll have to hitch hike to the station
It looks like I have to hitchhike to the nearest station since my van cannot take me there.
With every step I will see your face
Your image will appear before my eyes with each step I take towards the station.
Like a mirror looking back at me
Your reflection is like a mirror that follows me wherever I go.
Saying you're the only one
The reflection of your visage reminds me that there is no one like you in my life.
Making me feel I could survive
Your existence makes me feel like I can endure any hardship or obstacle.
Am so glad to be alive
I am grateful for my life despite my current circumstances.
No where to run and not a guitar to play
I have nowhere to turn to and nothing to distract me, such as a musical instrument to play.
Messed up inside and it's been rainging all day
I am emotionally confused and it has been raining continuously throughout the day.
Since you ran away
Ever since you left, my life has been a mess.
Manhattan ISland Serenade
This song is a tribute to the city of Manhattan, where I initially felt strong emotions for you.
Since you went away
This song continues to be a reminder of the pain I feel after your departure.
Writer(s): Leon Russell
Contributed by Max R. 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.