Leon Russell has passed

[eddie]

Sadly Leon has passed away at the age of 74. His wife says he died during the night at home. Rest in peace Leon, you will be missed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/arts/music/leon-russell-hit-maker-and-musicians-musician-dies-at-74.html?_r=0

[Jimbuna]

Very underrated IMHO and someone who wrote many excellent songs for other singing stars.

RIP Sir

In Tribute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms_oQHkyFEM

[GoldenRivet]

My mother and I are both huge fans of Leon Russell, when i learned that she had always wanted to see him in concert but never had, i immediately sought to rectify that injustice.

June 18th, 2016 I drove my mother to the Granada Theater in Dallas where we watched an amazing performance. Leon slowly walked out on stage, you could hear a pin drop, he sat in his chair at the piano, dropped his cane to the floor beside him, adjusted himself... and the piano exploded into a frenzy of sound. I was instantly floored by what he was able to make his instrument do. every few songs, Leon would take a couple of minutes to tell a story about where he got an idea for a song, or talk about his first time playing with various musicians and bands. I remember the laughter from the audience when he played his last song he turned to the audience and said "This is the part of the concert where its over, and i walk off the stage and you guys chant my name and raise a bunch of hell and demand an encore so i walk back out here and play one more song... but those of you who know me... know i'm not a big fan of walkin' these days, so we're all gonna pretend that i left, and you all raised a bunch of hell, and now im back."

Mom and i had a great time together, dinner before the show, drinks during the show, enjoying the performance of a legend, and in the two hours it took us to drive home we had a lot of laughs talking about a lot of topics important to us both.

a month later, Leon suffered from a heart attack. The performance at the Granada we had the privilege of witnessing, would be one of Leon's last.

Leon did a lot of things with his life, he wrote a lot of great songs, he inspired a lot of great musicians... but the best thing Leon Russell ever did IMHO was gave me a night with my mother that i will never forget for as long as i live.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15032148_681300598694703_3993865961434753569_n.jpg ?oh=157d386b3703aa1d6e68d6dc3a545cf1&oe=589359E6

[Jimbuna]

^ That is so cool John :sunny:

[Commander Wallace]

A very talented musician and songwriter. I admit I wasn't as familiar with his music as some here in the forum. Leon obviously brought a lot of joy and happiness to music fans like John ( Golden Rivet ) and his mom. Real music has many powers including the ability to make lasting memories for those so in-tune to it.

Rest in peace Leon.