Leon Russell’s story has been put to web page. A brand new biography, arriving in early spring, will chronicle the enigmatic music grasp’s life and legacy.
Titled Leon Russell: The Grasp of House and Time’s Journey By way of Rock & Roll Historical past, the guide will likely be a definitive information via the person, the parable, and the music. His never-before-told story, informed with the help of Russell’s property, comes from creator, musician, and founding member of Buffalo Tom, Invoice Janovitz.
The practically 600-page guide defines Russell as “a genre-defying, multi-talented artist whose wildly numerous physique of labor has affirmed him as a one-of-a-kind Rock & Roll Corridor of Famer and actually legendary determine in American music.” The composer of highly-covered rock requirements corresponding to “Delta Woman,” “A Track for You,” and “This Masquerade,” Russell noticed acclaim all through his 60-year profession.
“Leon all the time assembled wildly numerous bands and performances, fostering artistic and free atmospheres for musicians to dwell and work collectively,” the biography’s synopsis particulars. “He overtly challenged musical and social boundaries.”
Nevertheless, Russell was not with out his fair proportion of lows, the outline continues. “[He] additionally struggled along with his demons, together with substance abuse, extreme melancholy, and a crippling stage fright that wreaked havoc on his psyche over the lengthy haul and at occasions appeared to will himself into obscurity.”
Whereas Russell was a profound affect on numerous artists, together with George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Willie Nelson, the biography’s synopsis goes on to name him “an under-appreciated artist.”
“His profession is sort of a roadmap of music historical past, usually intersecting with rock royalty like Bob Dylan, the Stones, and the Beatles.”
Leon Russell: The Grasp of House and Time’s Journey By way of Rock & Roll Historical past is ready to be launched on March 14 via Hatchett Books. It’s accessible for pre-order now.
(Picture by Robert Knight Archive/Redferns)