Leon Russell
1942 – 2016

Leon Russell

American singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and session musician

pop musicianmandolinistguitaristbandleadermusician
Born
1942-04-02, Lawton
Died
2016-11-13
Birthplace state
Oklahoma

Biography

Leon Russell was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1942 and worked as a musician, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, mandolinist, singer, bandleader, and record producer across rock and roll, country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, southern rock, blues rock, folk, surf, and the Tulsa sound. His recordings earned six gold records and he received two Grammy Awards from seven nominations. In 1973 Billboard named Russell the "Top Concert Attraction in the World". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011 and died in 2016.

Occupation

Leon Russell is recorded as a pop musician, a mandolinist, a guitarist, a bandleader, a musician, a singer-songwriter, a pianist, a record producer and a singer, born in Oklahoma (1942–2016).

Connections to Oklahoma

Leon Russell was born in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1942. Explore other notable figures from Oklahoma, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from OklahomaOklahomahistory ›Historic sites in Oklahoma
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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Leon Russell

Who was Leon Russell?
Leon Russell was American singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and session musician, born in Oklahoma (1942 – 2016).
When and where was Leon Russell born?
Leon Russell was born on 1942-04-02 in Lawton.
When did Leon Russell die?
Leon died on 2016-11-13.
What was Leon Russell known for?
Leon Russell is recorded as a pop musician, a mandolinist, a guitarist, a bandleader, a musician, a singer-songwriter, a pianist, a record producer and a singer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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