Tag Archives: !970s music

More Leon Russell, This Time With JJ Cale

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I love it when someone sends pictures of Leon that I hadn’t previously seen. These photos were taken in Detroit; the one on the left was at the Eastown Theater (1970) and on the right, Cobo Arena in 1972.

Ron Domilici  Cobo Arena photo by Charlie Auringer.·Magic bag

One of the most truly amazing live performances took place at Leon’s Paradise Studios in 1979. All the musicians are incredible, but it features Leon’s long-time friend and colleague, JJ Cale. The sole female guitarist is Christine Lakeland Cale, JJ’s wife.

Grammy winner, legendary singer, songwriter, and musician J.J. Cale (born John Weldon Cale,1938–2013) was one of the originators of the distinctive Tulsa Sound. He is most famous for writing songs popularized by others, including Eric Clapton’s hits “Cocaine” and “After Midnight” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Call Me the Breeze”. Known for his laid-back, blues-rock style, Cale also pioneered the use of drum machines and produced his own records, engineering his own distinctive sound. He was also one of Leon Russell’s engineers in the 1960s.

Check out Leon on the drums!

PS There’s an album/dvd of that session but I haven’t found it available for purchase. JJ. Cale featuring Leon Russell – In Session at the Paradise Studios, L.A. 1979 [DVD] If anybody has one, please let me know! I’d love to own it.

International Leon Russell Day

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How did I miss this???

International Leon Russell Day is celebrated on June 25th, coinciding with National Leon Day. 

It’s a day to honor the visionary, legendary musician Leon Russell with events like special performances and tribute album release parties. 

I had another one of my accidental mishaps and was totally incapacitated for a brief period of time. No surgery necessary, but I was in recovery mode yet again…that’s the only reason I can think of to explain how I missed a day to honor the Master of Space and Time.

I was there on June 26,1971…

Early Leon performing Hi-Heel Sneakers from the Shindig TV show. He was only 22 years old. S1E7, October 28, 1964. Leon starts at 2:25.

And a decade later, Strangers in a Strange Land:

And many, many years later, he’s still the Master of Space and Time. All you need is Leon and his piano…his version is so nuanced and poignant, it brings tears.

Happy International Leon Russell Day!