Leon Russell died in his sleep today at 74 years of age. He has had health problems for a while and didn't look real healthy last time I saw him in concert. He had brain fluid and heart problems. An excellent piano player he led Joe Cocker's band, wrote hit songs, played in Phil Spector's wall of sound, as well as with Sinatra, Sam Cooke, The Monkeys, The Byrds, Beach Boys, Herb Alpert, and the Ventures as well as many others. Another one gone....
I saw him in Pittsburgh back in '72 and the cops started hassling some kid for smoking a joint or something and Leon got real upset. He stopped playing and started yelling at the cops to leave the kid alone. Then a few came out on the stage and they pulled the plug on him and brought the house lights up. He stormed off the stage and a riot almost started. He finally came back out, said a few words and continued the show. I don't know what happened to the kid. One of his best songs... http://youtu.be/XyOnK-L19TM
