Leon Russell Pictures at Nashville's Mercy Lounge

Leon Russell
Born: Claude Russell
Bridges, April 2, 1942
Lawton Oklahoma

Songs:
A Song For You
Lady Blue
Tight Rope
Bluebird
This Masquerade
Delta Lady
Roll Away To Stone
Beware Of Darkness
Hummingbird
Out In The Woods

Biography:
Leon Russell has
been described as
one of rock's most
influential forces: a
veritable musician's
musician who has
repeatedly
demonstrated his
abilities as an
outstanding
performing artist and
songwriter. With his
unique singing style
and keyboard
wizardry, he has
formulated his
piano-oriented gospel
style into one of the
more original and
timeless sounds, with
elements of Rock 'n'
Roll, Blues,
streamlined gospel
and Country &
Western sprinkled
throughout.

Session Musician:
Long known as a
session musician,
having worked for
everyone from
Jerry Lee Lewis and
Phil Spector
to Joe Cocker,
Bob Dylan and
the Rolling Stones.
He played on nearly all
of Phil Spectors's 60s
hit sessions including
many classic hits
including:
Bob Lind's "Elusive
Butterfly",
Herb Albert's
"A Taste Of Honey,"
The Byrd's "Mr
Tambourine Man"
Gary Lewis & The
Playboys "This Diamond
Ring".
He also appeared on
the TV rock show
Shindig in
the Shindig Band

Joe Cocker band:
In 1970 Leon Russell
organized the backing
band for the Joe
Cocker "Mad Dogs
and Englisman" Tour,
an event and film that
eventually made him
as much of a star as
Cocker.

Bangladesh DVD:
Leon appears on
the newly released
2-DVD set of
George Harrison
& Friends,
Bangladesh
Concert
featuring
Ringo Starr,
Eric Clapton,
Badfinger,
Bob Dylan
and others.

The 1970s:
In, 1971 Leon's
"Leon Russell & the
Shelter People" (#17)
went gold, while
1972's Carney (#2)
also went gold on the
strength
of it's top twenty single
"Tight Rope".
"Leon Live" also went
gold, and in 1976,
Russell's
"This Masquerade"
(as performed by
George Benson)
won a Grammy Award.

Bill Anderson
Born: Nov. 1, 1937
in Columbia S.C.

Biography:
A country music
singer and songwriter
nicknamed
"Whispering Bill.
In 1975, Bill Anderson
was inducted into the
Nashville Songwriters
Hall OF Fame. In 2001
he was inducted into the
Country Music Hall Of
Fame. He has also been
a game show host and
occasionally appeared
on the soap opera
"One Life To Live"