Leon Russell has passed

GoldenRivet · 11-15-16, 12:29 AM

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.

Jimbuna · 11-15-16, 08:44 AM

^ That is so cool John

Commander Wallace · 11-16-16, 10:54 AM

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.

11-15-16, 12:29 AM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

11-15-16, 08:44 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,964 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	^ That is so cool John __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

11-16-16, 10:54 AM	#3
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,324 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	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.