Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Leon Russell, Was Born Claude Russell
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Leon Russell, was born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942 in Lawton, Oklahoma and died November 13, 2016 at his home in Hermitage, TN. A birth inJury to his vertebrae caused a slight paralysis on his right side that would shape his distinct musical style. His family moved upstate to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1953, where within a few years he began to play with various local bands and develop his musical skills that would eventually make him an in-demand session player in Hollywood and eventual rock and roll superstar. In 1960, Russell made the trek from Oklahoma to Los Angeles to try and make it in the thriving music business. Too young to Join the musician’s union which was required to play the union recording sessions, Russell worked the clubs up and down Los Angeles, along with Tulsa bandmates David Gates, who later formed the group Bread, and drummer Chuck Blackwell. On occasion the three would play live shows on the weekends with various recording artists, including an occasional gig with Country Music Hall of Famer George Morgan, father of country music singer Lorrie Morgan. Russell eventually got into the local musician’s union, where as a Hollywood session player Russell played on dozens of hit records, including “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett, “Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds, “Surf City” by Jan & Dean, “Birds & The Bees” by Jewel Akens, “Day After Day” by Badfinger, “Help Me Rhonda” by The Beach Boys, “This Diamond Ring” by Gary Lewis & The Playboys, “Danke Schoen” by Wayne Newton, “A Taste of Honey” by Herb Alpert, and scores of others.
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