![]() Cale, and was crucial in introducing reggae to America commenced his solo career Leon pulled together Mad Dogs & Englishmen for Joe Cocker cofounded Shelter Records, a powerhouse independent label that discovered Tom Petty, the Dwight Twilley Band, and Phoebe Snow, signed J. He was one of the most critical forces for bringing together one of America’s most underappreciated bands, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends – the band that directly changed the career trajectories of George Harrison and Eric Clapton, among others. If it pleases the court: Leon started in 1959 with Jerry Lee Lewis moved to LA and became the first-call piano player among the A-list of the so-called Wrecking Crew session musicians, backing the Beach Boys and Frank Sinatra and playing on almost all of Phil Spector’s hits. Around 2008, he started to plead for Leon’s inclusion, which just based on Leon’s career from 1959 to 1975 would seem a pretty obvious case. I mean, who do you gotta know around here?Įlton John was among a third wave of slam-dunk Hall of Famers. Geils Band, Landau – who started out as one of Rolling Stone’s earliest editors – noted, “I’m still trying to get them into the Hall of Fame, unsuccessfully. ![]() We have artists with mass appeal, and artists with a very narrow audience.” Discussing the J. Landau described the factors as “a mix of quality and influence. “The criteria were deliberately left open,” said Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen’s manager and head of the nominating committee. Nevertheless, it has become meaningful to many of the artists inducted and a bone of contention for fans of artists-and some artists themselves-who are excluded.įrom the outset, the only criterion was that an artist had to have released a record at least twenty-five years ago. Admission and inclusion in the Hall of Fame are entirely subjective, and the nominating process is mired down in biases and politics. There has been much angst about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since its inception. It really came down to the intense lobbying efforts of Elton John. The induction was a satisfying bookend to Leon Russell’s career, but it had been no easy task. And the only thing I can say is, ‘Bless your heart.’ Also, I want to say thank you very much, I appreciate it and, uh, hallelujah.” ![]() “He took me up the high stages with big audiences and treated me like a king. “About a year ago, Elton came and found me in a ditch by the side of the highway of life," Leon said, haltingly, humbly, his voice breaking with emotion. The once-lithe super-hippie rock star ambled to the stage with the help of a cane-heavyset, dark sunglasses contrasting with his pale face, all framed by his long snowy white hair and beard, looking even older than his sixty-nine years. “He was my idol,” Elton said before bringing Leon up to the podium to give his acceptance speech. ![]() Sir Elton John inducted his most important influence, Leon Russell, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. The cover of Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock and Roll History" (Courtesy of Hachette Books) Book excerpt: 'Leon Russell' Musician Bill Janovitz released a new biography titled " Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock and Roll History," which examines the influential musician's life and career. Russell had all but faded into obscurity until Elton John brought him back into the spotlight and into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He also co-founded Shelter Records, which not only put out Russell’s own music, but discovered artists like Tom Petty and Phoebe Snow. ![]()
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