Leon Russel is one of my favorite performers from the 70's. His Shelter People and Carney albums were so spectacular! I couldn't get enough of them. And as everyone above pointed out, he was such a multi-talent who wrote for, produced, and played along with so many other influential musicians, it's certainly one of the biggest oversights of the RRHF committee to not have Leon Russel voted in. Get on it, you morons....Jeez, I'd like to slap some sense into y'all. Now git'r done! Don't make me come over there and start swingin!!

Claude Russell Bridges (born April 2, 1942), known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist.

Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, Russell attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and began his musical career as a session musician, quickly gaining experience and becoming a high-end keyboardist in demand to notable artists from the 1960s to the present.

By the late 1960s, Russell branched out, first to writing songs, and then working his way from gigs as a sideman to joining bands as a full member. Eventually, he moved into a solo recording position, although he never gave up all his previous roles within the music industry.

legend

As far as i am concerned there is NO Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without Leon Russell! This man is not only multi-talented (and extremely sexy!) but is a ledgend in his time! His talent is incredible and his concerts are great! Still! 50 years he has been giving to us and he is so unrecognized! What a shame! whats the hold up?? INDUCT Leon today in the RRHOF! He is ROCK & ROLL! Leon Lifer!!

Leon Russell is and always has been a composer's composer, a musician's musician, a performer's performer and a producer's producer. He has a life's history of involvement and outstanding contribution in more genres and styles than the casual listener even has any memory of hearing. Very little thought is required, much less debate, as to whether Russell belongs in the Hall of Fame. The only mystery to it is why he isn't already there.

Leon's genius has touched so many and enriched the lives of so many music lovers. It is an absolute crying shame that he has not been inducted into the RRHOF.

Song 4 You

Saw Leon in Lancaster Ca last, he was good in his day, but those days have past, a waste of $80. Lead guitarist was good but could sing! Bass player was chewing gum the whole concert??? Looked stupid. Dummer and organist were great.

If anyone in music should be in the R&R hall of fame, Leon is the guy. It makes a mockery of the hall of fame that he is not. In addition to his solo career he has played and arranged the sound of a ton of other groups from Gary Lewis to the Byrds, Joe Cocker etc.

Leon Russell should have been in the RRHOF a long time ago!! his credits are ENDLESS,Leon is the man.

Leon rocks...enuf said

Leon played with Rick Nelson, The Wall Of Sound, produced Jan & Dean, Garry Lewis, The GAP Band, Tom Petty, Freddy King, J.J. Cale, Joe Cocker,

Leon Russell should have been one of the very first in the RRHOF.

there are simply not enough words in the English language to describe how much Leon deserves to be in the RRHOF.......I first listened him in the early 70's and continue to listen to him today...he can perform and write any type of music, has helped influence/enhance the careers of too many artists to name, and continues to tour and bring his music to his fans across the country today, some 35 years later....now if this isnt enough justification then I dont know what is.........Rock on Leon we love ya and our kids love ya and so on and so on......:)

To put it as "Sweet Emily" put it.. Leon doesn't just deserve to be in the RRHOF, Leon deserves a "Whole Wing' in the RRHOF! If his true fans, (Leonlifers) have their way, they'll build it for him! Rock On Leon! BobK

What more could the RRHOF require of an inductee than Leon Russell. Session player for the Wrecking Crew and countless others. Producer and arranger on many of of rock'n rolls great songs. Leader of the Shindogs on TV's Shindig. The musical genius behind the Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. Major particiapant for the Concert for Bangla Desh. Billboard's #1 touring rock'n roll act in 1973. Written over 1000 songs. Multiple Grammies. Stellar solo career. Longevity, continues to tour constantly after 40+ years in the business. Played alongside a virtual who's who of rock'n roll music. I could go on and on......

I believe that Leon Russell should have been in the Rock& Roll Hall of Fame years ago.....I think that the fact that that TWO of the most monumental Concerts in the history of Rock & Roll have just been released here in the USA on DVD & CD in the past TWO weeks - AND I believe if you watch either or both of these DVD's - it SHOWS how vital Leon's influence has been on rock & roll music for decades. From session man to front man on so many different levels. Take the time to watch or listen to "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" Or "Concert For Bangladesh" and you'll understand why Leon has been referred to as the "Master Of Space & Time" The MOSAT definitely belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame!!

There should be more stars for Leon. He has been overlooked WAY too long! What a contribution he has been throughout the years. It's time Leon is inducted!

Without Leon, rock and roll itself would be lessened. He is the master of time and space.

Leon has done it all! arranger, producer, studio and backup musician. He as worked with some of the greatest artists ever known, From Sinatra and Aretha Franklin, to The Byrds, Joe Cocker and members of The Beatles. He has recorded almost every genre of music from country, rock and gospel flavored soul all while maintaining his own unique high spirited style.

There ARE NOT enough STARS here to rate Leon Russell's deserving place in the R&R Hall of uh, FAME. He's been deserving of this for many, many years, and the people that have gotten in in the last few years is shameful when an artist so deserving has been overlooked. JD

his influence is beyond belief, his credentials are incomparable, who else has this kind of resume. I've been a r& roll fan all my life & for whatever reason he is the genuine legend the overlooked icon for the real music lovers not just the ones that want to be noticed, until he gets in I can't consider the R & R hall of fame legitimate.

You folks are derelick in your duties. This has gone on for way TOO long now. Do the RIGHT thing. He has more firsts beside his name than anyone I can thing of. The first artist in MUSIC HISTORY to have the #1 song on Jazz, Pop and R & B. I quote a friend - Leon Russell played on, produced, arranged, and wrote some of rock and roll's most successful and important records. George Benson's cover of This Masquerade written by Leon was the first song in music history to occupy the number one spot on the jazz, pop, and R&B charts. This Masquerade also Record of the Year and a Grammy in 1976. He released four Gold Albums and had a hand in many other chart hits including Superstar, and a A Song For You.. Leon was instrumental in some of Joe Cocker's biggest hits, including, perhaps, the defining song of Joe Cocker's career, Delta Lady, written by Leon. The Carpenters struck gold with Leon's song Superstar, Ray Charles covered A Song For You, and B.B. King covered Hummingbird. Leon Russell is pop music's most anonymous big shot. Born in 1942, Leon began as a night club piano player in Oklahoma at the age of 14. Leon backed touring artists when they came to town. He and his band were hired to back Jerry Lee Lewis at Cain's ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Lewis was so impressed that he hired Leon's band for two years of road tours. Relocating to Los Angeles just before its rise to prominence as rock's capital in the 1960's, Leon became part of the Wrecking Crew, an elite group of studio musicians which included Glen Campbell and Hal Blaine. Leon eventually produced and played on sessions with Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike and Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, The Ventures, Bobby Darin, Wayne Newton, Sam Cooke, Johnny Mathis and many records with Herb Albert and Tijuana Brass. Leon can be heard playing piano on Jan and Dean's Surf City, Bobby Boris Pickett's Monster Mash LP, and The Beach Boys California Girls and Pet Sounds among others. Leon played on most of Phil Spector's landmark records. According to Jack Nitzsche, noted producer, writer and arranger, Leon was there for the solos and the fancy stuff, Jack was the band leader for those sessions. George Harrison's guitar playing on Leon's first album led to his participation in the first rock and roll benefit concerts, the Concert for Bangladesh. Leon played piano, guitar, and bass guitar. His duet with George Harrison on Beware of Darkness, and his performance of Youngblood and Jumpin' Jack Flash are legendary. These performances were subsequently included in the film and platinum album Concert for Bangladesh. The all star lineup included: George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman, Badfinger, and Ravi Shankar, along with Leon's band members Don Preston, Carl Radle, and Claudia Linnear with friends Jim Horn, Jim Keltner, and Jesse Ed Davis. Leon's career was well underway at the time of the Concert for Bangladesh. Three of Leon's solo albums, 1971's Leon Russell and The Shelter People, 1972's Carney (which went to number two on the pop album chart), and 1973's three album set Leon Live were certified gold. These albums were released on Shelter Records, owned by Leon and producer Denny Cordell, along with early albums by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Phoebe Snow and The Gap Band, also three albums that Leon produced and played on for the great blues guitarist, Freddie King. In the 1970's Leon was established as a major live performer and was reported by Billboard Magazine to be the top concert attraction in the world by 1973. Many different performers opened for Leon in this period including Elton John, ZZ Top, Willie Nelson and Charlie Daniels. Leon and the Shelter People, along with Memphis blues singer Furry Lewis, taped a fan favorite special that aired on PBS. Miss Emily Smith was featured dancing while baking a pie. Leon shocked everyone and became the toast of Nashville, Tennessee, when he recorded his first Hank Wilson country record. This was at the peak of his popularity as a rock performer. Popular artists of the time played it safe with their careers by restricting themselves to a single genre of music. Leon became known as a musical ChameLeon, delighting his fans

GREAT because there's no higher rating available!

Rock, Country, Gospel, and the roots of most music that is recorded today. Musical Director for Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour in the 1970's. Founder of Shelter Records, also Paradise records. Russell, who has worked in every genre of music for almost six decades, is one of the most prolific studio musicians, songwriters and record producers in the world. Along with a fruitful solo career, he has collaborated with Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike and Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, the Byrds, Wayne Newton, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, Phil Spector, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra,Willie Nelson, George Harrison, Marvin Gaye, and so many more artists that it is very hard to find one artist today whose music hasn't been influenced in some way by the Master of Space and Time. Leon Russell is probably the most underappreciated and most anonymous big shot in the entire music industry, and it is high time that he got the respect that he is due.

I dont know much about Leon Russell. I recall that a bunch of blue haired old bags used to call the radio station I work for and request tightrope.

uh... no. You put Mellencamp and Chicago in first and then you can have Leon Russell.

Leon Russell should have been in the RRHOF a long time ago. It's only because he walks to the beat of a different drummer that he's not there already. Leon has played with almost all the people in rock and roll. He was a sideman, he is a solo performer, he is a lyracist, arranger and an all around artist. He has helped more people in music than anyone seems to know about, because he doesn't toot his own horn. Leon continues to write and put out cd's on a regular basis. They are sold on his website and at his shows. He and his band tour the country roughly 250 days a year. His concerts are sold out wherever he goes. Not putting Leon in the RRHOF would only be a disservice to the music industry.

Leon Russell is known as the *MOSAT* Master Of Space And Time! His musical record speaks for itself the world over! He's met all requirements to be inducted into the RRHOF and continues to give of himself musically in our world today! Leon Russell is a TRUE Legend in his time.

With all the people Leon helped and played with, he should definitely be in the hall of fame for goodness sakes.

No one has contributed more to rock and roll than Leon. The Hall is meaningless without him in it!