University of Virginia Library

Leon Russell At U Hall:
Contagion Of Excitement

By WAYNE MOXLEY

Circle K will present Leon
Russell and the Shelter People
along with bluesmaster Freddie
King in concert at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday in University Hall.

Leon Russell, the singer,
musician, composer, arranger, and
producer, had never owned a record
player or tape recorder mainly
because he didn't like most of the
music being produced. Now, in his
early thirties, Russell has put
together a $65,000 recording studio
in his home.

In that studio the
Knickerbockers made their one big
hit, "Lies". Joe Cocker recorded
"Delta Lady", a song written by
Russell. A host of others have
played there including Delaney and
Bonnie and Friends, Billy Preston,
Steve Cropper, and Booker T and
the MG's.

Presently Russell is Shelter
Record Company vice president.
The company was launched this
summer to provide "shelter" for
musicians who found it hard to
communicate with the large record
companies. Denny Cordell, its
president and former producer for
Procul Harem and the Moody
Blues, met Russell when he was
working with Joe Cocker.

Never Bragged

On Russell's first Shelter album
in which he wrote most of the
songs not only does he sing the
blues, but he plays the piano,
guitar, and does most of the drums.
Accompanying Russell were Ringo
Starr, George Harrison, and Eric
Clapton. Much of the material
sounds like the Beatles and a few
cuts even sound like the Rolling
Stones.

People are often quite amazed
upon meeting Leon Russell in
person. As a performer he is so
electrifying in appearance and so
completely captivating on stage
that it is hard to imagine how quiet
and soft-spoken he really is. It has
been said that he even looks
surprised when someone
compliments him, and that he
probably has never bragged in his
life.

Oklahoma-born Russell played
classical piano for 10 years
beginning at age three. At fourteen
he was playing the trumpet for his
own band in Tulsa night clubs.
There they often played with a
group now called The Band. It was
then that they met Jerry Lee Lewis
who took them on tour with him.

Studio Man

Later, after working some years
in Los Angeles night clubs, Russell
met James Burton, guitarist for
Ricky Nelson, who taught him
most of what he knows about the
guitar. In no time Russell was in the
studios recording with Dorsey
Brunette and Glen Campbell.

At age 21 Russell became
Hollywood's most popular studio
man for five years. He played "He's
a Rebel" for the Crystals, "Lost
that Lovin' Feeling" for the
Righteous Brothers, "Taste of
Honey" for Herb Alpert, "Elusive
Butterfly" for Bob Lind, and "Mr.
Tambourine Man" for the Byrds.

Before Russell quit everything
to relax for two years he met
Delaney Bramlett then one of the
Shindogs on ABC's Shindig. So in
1969 he became one of Delaney
and Bonnie's friends playing the
piano and handling the
arrangements for their first album.

In 1970 Russell starred with Joe
Cocker in "Mad Dogs and
Englishmen" for which he did most
of the arrangements and wrote
many of the songs including the
title song. He has also written
"Hello, Little Friend", "Give Peace
a Chance" and "Superstar" which
was recently recorded by the
Carpenters.

Presently Russell tours with the
Shelter People, one of the best and
most professional rock and roll
shows on the road. It is composed
of some of Derek's Dominoes,
Delaney and Bonnie's' Friends, and
Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and
Englishmen.

Contagious

Every show staged by Leon
Russell and the Shelter People has
brought the audience to its feet
dancing with that contagious
enthusiasm which exudes only from
the likes of the Shelter People.
Their concerts are such exalting
experiences that it is long before it
fades from ones memory.

Tickets can be purchased at the
usual locations for $3.25 in advance
and $3.75 at the door.

Leon Russell: An Exalting Experience