Leon Russell, the white bearded piano rocker who sang, wrote and produced some of rock `n’ roll’s top records, and recently toured arenas with Elton John in 2010 has died. He was 74.
An email from Leon Russell Records to The Associated Press says Russell died in Nashville on Saturday night. The email cites Russell’s wife as the source of the information. Russell had heart bypass surgery in July and was recovering from that at the time of his death. He had been planning on resuming touring in January, the email said.
Russell wrote Joe Cocker’s “Delta Lady” and in 1969 put together Cocker’s “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour, which spawned a documentary film and a hit double album. Russell produced and played on recording sessions for Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike and Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones and many others.He recorded hit songs himself like “Tight Rope” and “Lady Blue” and participated in “The Concert for Bangladesh.” John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison played on his first album, “Leon Russell.” Russell was about to kick off a tour in December and still found himself a large following even at this late stage in his career. Watch Russell perform “A Song For You” from his 1971 “Homewood Sessions”
