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Leon Russell
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Badfinger
Badfinger was a rock band formed in Swansea, Wales in the early 1960s who became one of the earliest representatives of the post-'60s power pop genre. During the early 1970s the band was at times tagged as the heir apparent to The Beatles, partly because of their close working relationship with them and partly because of their similar sound. The band had four consecutive worldwide hit songs and contributed "Without You," a No. 1 Billboard hit for Harry Nilsson which was covered by hundreds of artists. Badfinger's two principally-known singers and songwriters, Pete Ham and Tom Evans, committed suicide in 1975 and 1983, respectively.
http://wn.com/Badfinger -
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin (born 22 May 1950) is an English lyricist, singer, songwriter and poet, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs.
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Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has been a major figure in music for six decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was at first an informal chronicler, and later an apparently reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of his songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'" became anthems for the American civil rights and anti-war movements. His early lyrics incorporated a variety of political, social and philosophical, as well as literary influences. They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed hugely to the then burgeoning counterculture. Initially inspired by the songs of Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, and the performance style of Little Richard, Dylan has both amplified and personalized musical genres, exploring numerous distinct traditions in American song—from folk, blues and country to gospel, rock and roll, and rockabilly, to English, Scottish, and Irish folk music, embracing even jazz and swing.
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Bobby Russell
Bobby Russell (19 April 1940, Nashville, Tennessee — 19 November 1992) was an American singer and songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he charted five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts, including the crossover pop hit "Saturday Morning Confusion." Russell was also married to singer and actress Vicki Lawrence from 1972 to 1974.
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Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett (born '''Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell'''; November 8, 1944) is an American singer and sometime actress known for her distinctive vocals in rock and pop music. This began in the mid 1960s as a backing singer, forming the husband-and-wife team of Delaney & Bonnie, and continuing to the present day as a solo artist.
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Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland (born November 12, 1943, Woodhaven, Queens, New York) is an American pop recording artist who was particularly successful during the early 1960s. He continued recording into the 1970s. Allmusic journalist Jason Ankeny states, "Hyland's puppy-love pop virtually defined the sound and sensibility of bubblegum during the pre-Beatles era." Although his status as a teen idol faded, he went on to release several country-influenced albums and had further chart hits later in his career.
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Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera ( in English; born December 18, 1980) is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection" for the film Mulan.
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Dave Mason
David Thomas "Dave" Mason (born 10 May 1946) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. In his long career, Mason has played and recorded with many of the era's most notable musicians, including Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Fleetwood Mac and Cass Elliot. Mason's best known song is "Feelin' Alright", recorded by Traffic in 1968 and covered by dozens of artists, including Joe Cocker, who had a major hit with the song in 1969. For Traffic, he also wrote "Hole in My Shoe", a kind of psychedelic satire that became a classic in its own right. "We Just Disagree", Mason's 1977 solo hit written by Jim Krueger, has become a staple of Oldies and Adult Contemporary radio playlists.
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Delaney Bramlett
Delaney Bramlett (July 1, 1939, Pontotoc, Mississippi – December 27, 2008) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Bramlett's four decade career reached peaks in creativity, performance, and notoriety in partnership with his then wife Bonnie Bramlett, in a revolving troupe of professional musicians and Rock superstars dubbed Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.
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Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American soul musician.
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Doris Day
Doris Day (born April 3, 1922) is an American actress and singer, and has been an outspoken animal rights activist since her retirement from show business. Day's entertainment career began in her late teens as a big band singer. In 1945 she had her first hit recording , "Sentimental Journey", and, in 1948, appeared in her first film, Romance on the High Seas. During her entertainment career, she has appeared in thirty-nine films, recorded more than six-hundred-fifty songs, received an Academy Award nomination, won a Golden Globe and a Grammy Award, and, in 1989, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures.
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Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette (December 28, 1932, Memphis, Tennessee - August 19, 1979, Canoga Park, California) was an early Rockabilly singer. With his younger brother, Johnny Burnette, and a friend named Paul Burlison, he was a founder member of The Rock and Roll Trio.
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Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist. He has worked with his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.
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Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945) is an English blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only person who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times; as a solo performer, as well as a member of rock bands the Yardbirds and Cream. Throughout his career, Clapton has been viewed by critics and fans alike as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time, Clapton was ranked fourth in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #53 on their list of the "Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In 2010, Clapton was ranked #4 on ''Gibson's'' Top 50 Guitarists of All Time.
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Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor.
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Freddie King
Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976), thought to have born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert King and B.B. King.
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George Benson
George Benson (born March 22, 1943) is a multi Grammy Award winning American musician, whose recording career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist. He is also known as a pop, R&B;, and scat singer. This one-time child prodigy topped the Billboard 200 in 1976 with the triple-platinum album, Breezin'. He was also a major live attraction in the UK during the 1980s. Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt.
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George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English rock guitarist, singer-songwriter and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian mysticism, and helped broaden the horizons of the other Beatles, as well as those of their Western audience. Following the band's break-up, he had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys, and also as a film and record producer. Harrison is listed at number 21 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
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Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy (born October 25, 1941) is an Australian-born singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Three of those fifteen songs reached #1, including her signature hit "I Am Woman."
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Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, '''Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass or TJB'''. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M; Records (a recording label he and business partner Jerry Moss founded and eventually sold).
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Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an American rock and roll and country music singer and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, his career faltered after Lewis married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a transition to country music.
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Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE (born 20 May 1944, Sheffield, England) is an English rock/blues musician, composer and actor who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles. He is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his song "Up Where We Belong", a duet which he performed with Jennifer Warnes. He was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers list.
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Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American R&B; and soul singer-songwriter, and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy Awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance with My Father", co-written with Richard Marx.
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Marc Benno
Marc Benno is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Dallas, Texas, United States[http://www.marcbenno.com/bio.html]. He grew up immersed in popular music, because his father managed the Texas State Fair's Music Hall Garden. Backstage he was able to meet stars like Sam Cooke, Laverne Baker, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, The Drifters, and Lloyd Price. His first entree into the blues came when he heard and became fascinated with the album ''Lightnin' In New York'' by Lightnin Hopkins. He would later get the opportunity to work with Lightnin Hopkins, along with several other top musicians, including Leon Russell, The Doors, Eric Clapton, Rita Coolidge, Mance Lipscomb, Bill Wyman, and Georgie Fame.
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Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer and actress in a career spanning nearly seven decades. From her beginnings as a vocalist on local radio, to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she was forging her own sophisticated persona, Lee evolved into a multi-faceted artist and performer. She wrote music for films, acted, and created conceptual record albums—encompassing poetry, jazz, chamber pop, art songs, and other genres.
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Phil Spector
Harvey Philip Spector (born December 26, 1939) is an American record producer and songwriter. The originator of the "Wall of Sound" production technique, Spector was a pioneer of the 1960s girl group sound and produced over 25 Top 40 hits between 1960 and 1965 alone. After this initial success, Spector later worked with artists including Ike and Tina Turner, John Lennon, George Harrison, and the Ramones with similar acclaim.
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Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. Ray was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm & blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company.
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Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940), better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr belonged to another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became the Beatles' drummer in 1962, taking over from Pete Best. In addition to his contribution as drummer, Starr featured as lead singer on a number of successful Beatles songs (in particular, "With a Little Help from My Friends", "Yellow Submarine", and the Beatles version of "Act Naturally") and as songwriter with the songs "Don't Pass Me By", "What Goes On" and "Octopus's Garden".
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Snuff Garrett
Snuff Garrett (born Thomas Lesslie Garrett on July 5, 1939, in Dallas, Texas) is a retired American record producer whose most famous work was during the 1960s and 1970s. His nickname is a play on Garrett's Snuff, a brand of smokeless tobacco.
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Steve Ripley
Steve Ripley (born Paul Steven Ripley on January 1, 1950 in Boise, Idaho)[http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid;=154674315] is a singer, songwriter, studio engineer, guitarist, and inventor. He has been active in the music business since 1977. He is also the leader/producer of country rock band The Tractors.
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T-Bone Burnett
Joseph Henry Burnett (born January 14, 1948), widely known as T-Bone Burnett, is an American musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer.
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The Tractors
The Tractors is an American country rock band composed of a loosely associated group of musicians, headed by guitarist Steve Ripley. Under the band's original lineup, The Tractors was signed to Arista Records in 1994, releasing their self-titled debut album that year; the album went on to become the top-selling album of 1994, even though it only produced one Top 40 hit on the Billboard country charts. To date, the band has followed up with five more albums.
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Tijuana Brass
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Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (born August 9, 1963) is an American R&B;/Pop singer, actress, and former fashion model. A relative of several soul singers, including her mother Cissy Houston, cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and close family friend Aretha Franklin, Houston began singing at her New Jersey church as a member of a junior gospel choir at age eleven. After she began performing alongside her mother at night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis. Houston has released studio albums and movie soundtrack albums throughout her career, all of which have had diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, or gold certification.
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Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American country singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor and activist. He reached his greatest fame during the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, and remains iconic, especially in American popular culture.
http://wn.com/Willie_Nelson
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Lawton, Oklahoma
The city of Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, near the Wichita Mountains, it is the principal city of the Lawton Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census, Lawton's population was 92,757 making it the fourth largest city in the state.
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Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; , Spanish for "The Angels") is the second most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of California and the western United States, with a population of 3.83 million within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Los Angeles extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of over 14.8 million and it is the 14th largest urban area in the world, affording it megacity status. The metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is home to nearly 12.9 million residents while the broader Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside combined statistical area (CSA) contains nearly 17.8 million people. Los Angeles is also the seat of Los Angeles County, the most populated and one of the most multicultural counties in the United States. The city's inhabitants are referred to as "Angelenos" ().
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Oklahoma
Oklahoma () is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,687,050 residents in 2009 and a land area of 68,667 square miles (177,847 km²), Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state. The state's name is derived from the Choctaw words okla and humma, meaning "red people", and is known informally by its nickname, The Sooner State. Formed by the combination of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory on November 16, 1907, Oklahoma was the 46th state to enter the union. Its residents are known as Oklahomans, and its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City.
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Tulsa
http://wn.com/Tulsa -
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-largest city in the United States. With an estimated population of 389,625 in 2009, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 929,015 (2009) residents in the MSA and 979,721 (2009) in the CSA Tulsa's CSA is projected to reach one million between 2010 and 2012. The city serves as the county seat of Tulsa County, the most densely populated county in Oklahoma, and extends into Osage, Rogers, and Wagoner counties.
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United States
The United States of America (also referred to as the United States, the U.S., the USA, or America) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Caribbean and Pacific.
http://wn.com/United_States
- Asylum Choir II
- Badfinger
- Bass Guitar
- Bernie Taupin
- Beware of Darkness
- Billboard (magazine)
- Billboard 200
- Billboard Hot 100
- blues
- Bob Dylan
- Bobby Russell
- Bonnie Bramlett
- Brian Hyland
- Capitol Records
- Christina Aguilera
- concert tour
- Country music
- cover version
- Dave Mason
- Day After Day (song)
- Delaney Bramlett
- Donny Hathaway
- Doris Day
- Dorsey Burnette
- Elton John
- Eric Clapton
- Folk music
- folk rock
- Frank Sinatra
- Freddie King
- George Benson
- George Harrison
- Glen Campbell
- gospel music
- Guitar
- Hammond Organ
- Heartbreak Hotel
- Helen Reddy
- Herb Alpert
- Hot Country Songs
- J.J. Cale
- James Burton
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Joe Cocker
- Jumpin' Jack Flash
- Lawton, Oklahoma
- Leon Russell (album)
- Long Beach Arena
- Los Angeles
- Luther Vandross
- Marc Benno
- Musician
- Nashville Symphony
- New Grass Revival
- Oklahoma
- Peggy Lee
- Phil Spector
- Piano
- Ray Charles
- rhythm and blues
- Ringo Starr
- Rita Coolidge
- rock and roll
- Rock music
- Saturday Night Live
- session musician
- Shelter Records
- sideman
- Singing
- Snuff Garrett
- Songwriter
- Sonic Youth
- Steve Ripley
- Straight Up (album)
- T-Bone Burnett
- The Band
- The Beach Boys
- The Beatles
- The Byrds
- The Carpenters
- The Rolling Stones
- The Temptations
- The Tractors
- the Tulsa Sound
- The Union (album)
- This Masquerade
- Tijuana Brass
- Top Country Albums
- Tulsa
- Tulsa World
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- United States
- Wabash Cannonball
- Whitney Houston
- Willie Nelson
- Young Blood
Russell, Leon Filmography
- Truth and Betrayal (2004)
- Bob & Ray, Jane, Laraine & Gilda (1981)
- When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? (1979)
- Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration (1979)
- A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
- Son of Dracula (1974)
- The Concert for Bangladesh (1972)
- Mad Dogs & Englishmen (1971)
- The T.A.M.I. Show (1964)
RELEASE
ALBUMS
Wedding Album
(Released 2007)
- Rainbow in Your Eyes
- Like a Dream Come Ture
- Love's Supposed to Be That Way
- Fantasy
- Satisfy You
- You Are on My Mind
- Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)
- Quiet Nights
- Windsong
- Daylight
Rhythm & Bluegrass: Hank Wilson, Volume 4
(Released 2001)
- I've Just Seen a Face
- Footprints in the Snow
- Columbus Stockade Blues
- I Believe to My Soul
- Rough and Rocky Road
- Mystery Train
- When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold
- In the Pines
- Open Up the Door
- Bluebirds Are Singing for Me
- Rhythm and Bluegrass
- Pilgrim Land
The Best Of
(Released 2001)
- Tightrope
- Shoot Out at the Plantation
- Delta Lady
- Alcatraz
- This Masquerade
- Queen of the Roller Derby
- Roll Away the Stone
- A Song for You
- Love Minus Zero/No Limit
- Stranger in a Strange Land
Guitar Blues
(Released 2001)
- Ways of a Woman
- House of Blues
- Rip Van Winkle
- This Love I Have for You
- Lost Inside the Blues
- Dark Carousel
- It's Impossible
- My Hard Times
- Strange Power of Love
- Make Everything Alright
- The Same Old Song
- End of the Road
Face in the Crowd
(Released 1999)
- Love Is a Battlefield
- Dr Love
- Down in the Flood
- So Hard to Say Goodbye
- Betty Ann
- This Heart of Mine
- Message From My Baby
- Blue Eyes and a Black Heart
- What Will I Do Without You
- Mean and Evil
- The Devil Started Talking
- Don't Bring the Blues to Bed
Retrospective
(Released 1997)
- A Song for You
- A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
- The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen
- Delta Lady
- Roll Away the Stone
- Tightrope
- Out in the Woods
- Shootout on the Plantation
- Stranger in a Strange Land
- Hummingbird
- Lady Blue
- This Masquerade
- Back to the Island
- Magic Mirror
- Crystal Closet Queen
- Bluebird
- Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
- Queen of the Roller Derby
Leon Russell and the Shelter People
(Released 1995)
- Stranger in a Strange Land
- Of Thee I Sing
- It's a Hard Rain Gonna Fall
- Crystal Closet Queen
- Home Sweet Oklahoma
- Alcatraz
- The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen
- It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
- She Smiles Like a River
- Sweet Emily
- Beware of Darkness
- It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
- Love Minus Zero/No Limit
- She Belongs To Me
Life and Love
(Released 1979)
- One More Love Song
- You Girl
- Struck by Lightning
- Strange Love
- Life and Love
- On the First Day
- High Horse
- Sweet Mystery
- On the Borderline
Best of Leon Russell
(Released 1976)
- Roll Away the Stone
- Delta Lady
- Tight Rope
- Out in the Woods
- Shoot Out on the Plantation
- Stranger in a Strange Land
- Hummingbird
- A Song for You
- Lady Blue
- This Masquerade
- Bluebird
- Back to the Island
Carney
(Released 1972)
- Tight Rope
- Out in the Woods
- Me and Baby Jane
- Manhattan Island Serenade
- Cajun Love Song
- Roller Derby
- Carney
- Acid Annapolis
- If the Shoe Fits
- My Cricket
- This Masquerade
- Magic Mirror
Asylum Chior II
(Released 1971)
- Sweet Home Chicago
- Down on the Base
- Hello Little Friend
- Salty Candy
- Tryin' to Stay Alive
- Intro to Rita
- Straight Brother
- Learn How to Boogie
- Ballad for a Soldier
- When You Wish Upon a Fag
- Lady in Waiting
- If It Wasn't for Bad
- Eight Hundred Dollar Shoes
- Hey Ahab
- Gone to Shiloh
- Jimmie Rodgers' Dream
- There's No Tomorrow
- Monkey Suit
- The Best Part of the Day
- A Dream Come True
- When Love Is Dying
- I Should Have Sent Roses
- Hearts Have Turned to Stone
- Never Too Old (to Hold Somebody)
- In the Hands of Angels
- A Song For You
- Dixie Lullaby
- I Put a Spell on You
- Shoot Out On The Plantation
- Hummingbird
- Delta Lady
- Prince Of Peace
- Give Peace A Chance
- Hurtsome Body
- Pisces Apple Lady
- Roll Away The Stone
- Masters Of War
- Shoot Out On The Plantation (solo version)
- Rock and Roll Part of My Heart
- Lost Love
- All the Love Is on the Radio
- There's No Understanding the Heart
- Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
- Rescue My Heart
- To See You Again
- New Kind of Fire
- Like a Thief in the Night
- If You Do Away
- Sweet Home Chicago
- Down On The Base
- Hello Little Friend
- Salty Candy
- Tryin' To Stay Alive
- Intro To Rita
- Straight Brother
- Learn How To Boogie
- Ballad For A Soldier
- When You Wish Upon A Fag
- This Masquerade
- Lady Blue
- The Bluebird
- Delta Lady
- Anything Can Happen
- Black Halos
- No Man's Land
- Too Much Monkey Business
- Angel Ways
- Life Of The Party
- Stranded On Easy Street
- Jezebel
- Love Slave
- Faces Of The Children
- If I Were a Carpenter
- Smashed
- Leaving Whipporwhil
- Spanish Harlem
- Streaker's Ball
- Working Girl
- Time for Love
- The Ballad of Hollis Brown
- Mona Lisa Please
- Stop All That Jazz
- Wild Horses
- Wabash Cannonball
- Sweet Home Chicago
- Down on the Base
- Hello Little Friend
- Salty Candy
- Tryin' to Stay Alive
- ...Intro to Rita...
- Straight Brother
- Learn How to Boogie
- Ballad for a Soldier
- When You Wish Upon a Fag
- Lady in Waiting
- Welcome to Hollywood
- Death of the Flowers
- Icicle Star Tree
- Mr. Henri the Clown
- Soul Food
- Sixteen Tons
- Night Life
- Act Naturally
- Sweet Dreams
- Daddy Sang Bass
- He Stopped Loving Her Today
- Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grown Up to Be Cowboys
- Funny How Time Slips Away
- Okie From Muskogee
- Crazy
- Love's Gonna Live Here
- He'll Have to Go
- Legend in My Time
- Will o' the Wisp
- Little Hideaway
- Make You Feel Good
- Can't Get Over Losing You
- My Father's Shoes
- Stay Away From Sad Songs
- Back to the Island
- Down on Deep River
- Bluebird
- Laying Right Here in Heaven
- Lady Blue
- Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
- She Thinks I Still Care
- I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
- I'll Sail My Ship Alone
- Jambalya
- A Six Pack to Go
- The Battle of New Orleans
- Uncle Pen
- Am I That Easy to Forget?
- Truck Drivin' Man
- The Window Up Above
- Lost Highway
- Goodnight Irene
- Hey Good Lookin'
- In the Jailhouse Now
- Hello Little Friend
- Sweet Home Chicago
- Tryin' To Stay Alive
- Ballad for a Soldier
- A Song for You
- Dixie Lullaby
- Hummingbird
- Delta Lady
- Pisces Apple Lady
- Old Masters (Masters of War)
- Stranger in a Strange Land
- Crystal Closet Queen
- Home Sweet Oklahoma
- She Smiles Like a Lady
- Beware of Darkness
- Tight Rope
- Me & Baby Jane
- Manhattan Island Serenade
- Magic Mirror
- This Masquerade
- Detour
- I Saw the Light
- Heartbreak Hotel
- Let the Rest of the World Go By
- Trouble in Mind (feat. Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt)
- Don't Fence Me In
- The Wild Side of Life
- Ridin' Down the Canyon
- Sioux City Sue
- You Are My Sunshine
- Danny Boy
- Always
- Summertime
- Because of You
- Am I Blue
- Tenderly
- Far Away Places
- That Lucky Old Sun
- Stormy Weather
- One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)
- A Song for You
- Lady Blue
- Tight Rope
- Bluebird
- This Masquerade
- Roll Away the Stone
- Beware of Darkness
- Crystal Closet Queen
- Delta Lady
- Back to the Island
- Stranger in a Strange Land
- Hummingbird
- Queen of the Roller Derby
- Of Thee I Sing
- Streaker's Ball
- Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
- Magic Mirror
- A Song for You (2001 Version)
- Magic Mirror (2001 Version)
- This Masquerade (2001 Version)
- One More Love Song (2001 Version)
- Tightrope (2001 Version)
- Stranger in a Strange Land (2001 Version)
- Hummingbird (2001 Version)
- Back To the Island (2001 Version)
- Out in the Woods (2001 Version)
- Lady Blue (2001 Version)
- Delta Lady (2001 Version)
- Gospel Harp
- Greenfields
- Virginia
- Our Winter Love
- Cotton Fields
- Cherry Beat
- Man With the Golden Gun
- Tender and Fair
- Greenback Dollar
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A SONG FOR YOU - Leon Russell & Friends (1971)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:31
- Published: 24 Sep 2009
- Uploaded: 03 Jan 2012
- Author: MemphisMemories
Another excerpt from the 1971 "Homewood Sessions" featuring Leon Russell and a few good friends such as Don Nix and Furry Lewis. Furry can be seen several times throughout the video. This song is, in many people's opinion, one of the finest ballads ever written. I agree! From the video, Leon Russell & Friends - "Homewood Sessions" Live at Vine Street Theater, Hollywood, California, USA. -or- "Vine Street Theater presents Homewood" Originally aired in 1971 on PBS, actually KCET in Los Angeles at the Vine Street Theater on Hollywood and Vine, a theater with a little studio in the back part of the building, which is not there anymore. They shot 6 hours, but only broadcast 1 hour, unscripted and unrehearsed. It was the first national "stereo" rock-and-roll TV broadcast - that's why Leon agreed to do it. Billed as "Session - Leon Russell with a Few of His Friends": Don Nix Chuck Blackwell Joey Cooper Don Preston Carl Radle Kathi McDonald Claudia Linnear John Gallie Jim Horn Furry Lewis and, of course, Sweet Emily Video/Audio restoration services by AnotherGulliverProduction.com
http://wn.com/A_SONG_FOR_YOU__Leon_Russell_Friends_1971
Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood - Leon Russell (Concert For Bangladesh)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:23
- Published: 31 Jan 2009
- Uploaded: 03 Jan 2012
- Author: LowDeath23
George Harrison and friends Performing in Concert For Bangladesh "Jumpin Jack Flash" and "Young Blood". All the legends in 1 stage: George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Jim Keltner, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan , Leon Russell and alot more
http://wn.com/Jumpin'_Jack_Flash/Young_Blood__Leon_Russell_Concert_For_Bangladesh
"Stranger In The Strange Land" - Leon Russell (Live 1972)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:47
- Published: 13 Sep 2011
- Uploaded: 01 Jan 2012
- Author: ma01302250sa
"Stranger In The Strange Land" - Leon Russell (Live 1972 from Swedish TV) Leon Russell & Shelter People Live in 1972 Leon Russell Carl Radle Don Preston Joey Cooper Chuck Blackwell John Gallie
http://wn.com/Stranger_In_The_Strange_Land__Leon_Russell_Live_1972
Tight Rope / Leon Russell
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:20
- Published: 02 Mar 2008
- Uploaded: 02 Jan 2012
- Author: ceeceerider
From The album "Carney" released 1972
http://wn.com/Tight_Rope_/_Leon_Russell
Leon Russell - 06 Delta Lady
In this episode from 1970, Emily bakes a cake! Meanwhile, Tulsa meets Hollywood. Hollywood is never the same again! Okies rock the house and mayhem ensues.
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell__06_Delta_Lady
Leon Russell / A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:11
- Published: 04 Jul 2008
- Uploaded: 03 Jan 2012
- Author: ceeceerider
From Leon Russell & The Shelter People, released 1971. Classic Dylan cover.
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell_/_A_Hard_Rain's_A-Gonna_Fall
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - LEON RUSSELL (11/18/1964) HQ
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:28
- Published: 05 Feb 2009
- Uploaded: 03 Jan 2012
- Author: missantropica
A 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, It is one of the most widely covered songs in popular music. This is LEON RUSSELL in SHINDIG! (season 1, episode 14, November/18/1964) ABC TeleVision **lyrics** Im gonna write a little letter, Gonna mail it to my local dj. Its a rockin rhythm record I want my jockey to play. Roll over beethoven, I gotta hear it again today. You know, my temperatures risin And the jukebox blows a fuse. My hearts beatin rhythm And my soul keeps on singin the blues. Roll over beethoven and tell tschaikowsky the news. Well, if you feel you like it Go get your lover, then reel and rock it. Roll it over and move on up just A trifle further and reel and rock it, Roll it over, Roll over beethoven rockin in two by two. Well, early in the mornin Im a-givin you a warnin Dont you step on my blue suede shoes. Hey diddle diddle, I am playin my fiddle, Aint got nothin to lose. Roll over beethoven and tell tschaikowsky the news. Roll over beethoven, Roll over beethoven, Roll over beethoven, Roll over beethoven, Roll over beethoven and dig these rhythm and blues.
http://wn.com/ROLL_OVER_BEETHOVEN__LEON_RUSSELL_11/18/1964_HQ
Leon Russell - A Song For You (1970)
Studio Version. Lyrics. pics. www.leonrussellrecords.com Written by Leon Russell...performed by many. I've been so many places In my life and times I've sung a lot of songs I've made some bad rhymes I've acted out my love on stages With ten thousand people watching But we're alone now And I'm singing this song to you And I know your image of me Is what I hope to be I treated you unkindly But darling, can't you see? There's no one more important to me Darling, can't you please see through me? Because we're alone now And I'm singing this song to you You taught me precious secrets Of a truth, withholding nothing You came out in front And I was hiding But now I'm so much better And if my words dont come together Listen to the melody Because my love is there, hiding I love you in a place Where there's no space and time I love you for my life You are a friend of mine And when my life is over Remember when we were together We were alone And I was singing this song to you But I love you in a place Where there's no space and time I love you for my life You are a friend of mine And when my life is over Remember when we were together We were alone And I was singing this song for you We were alone And I was singing this song for you We were alone And I was singing my song Singing this song for you
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell__A_Song_For_You_1970
Leon Russell and John Mayer "A Song For You"
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:40
- Published: 08 Apr 2011
- Uploaded: 03 Jan 2012
- Author: mayermusic
From the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. (Thanks to Fuse for the video.)
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell_and_John_Mayer_A_Song_For_You
THIS MASQUERADE / LEON RUSSELL
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:24
- Published: 28 Apr 2008
- Uploaded: 02 Jan 2012
- Author: sunnychopper82
This Masquerade - Leon Russell from his album "CARNEY" in 1972
http://wn.com/THIS_MASQUERADE_/_LEON_RUSSELL
Elton John and Leon Russell - If It Wasn't For Bad (LIVE) - Beacon Theatre, NYC
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:54
- Published: 20 Oct 2010
- Uploaded: 03 Jan 2012
- Author: mikemoonbeam
Elton John and Leon Russell performing If It Wasn't For Bad at the Beacon Theatre in NYC on Good Morning America - Oct. 20, 2010. If It Wasn't For Bad is a track from the album The Union which was released on Oct. 19, 2010.
http://wn.com/Elton_John_and_Leon_Russell__If_It_Wasn't_For_Bad_LIVE__Beacon_Theatre,_NYC
Leon Russell lady blue
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:34
- Published: 15 Jul 2008
- Uploaded: 04 Jan 2012
- Author: darkstar153
leon russell
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell_lady_blue
Leon Russell - Hummingbird
'96 CD Gimme Shelter - Best of Leon Russell, Hummingbird
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell__Hummingbird
Leon Russell -- Back to the Island
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:29
- Published: 22 May 2008
- Uploaded: 03 Jan 2012
- Author: Thespadecaller
Paintings by Alexandre Cabanel, Gauguin, Homer, Matisse, and Toulouse-Laurtrec set the tropical backdrop for Leon Russell's hit, "Back to the Island." A Spadecaler video presentation.
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell_-_Back_to_the_Island
Leon Russell-"Stranger In A Strange Land"
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:23
- Published: 18 Jun 2006
- Uploaded: 04 Jan 2012
- Author: deepfreezevideo
deepfreezevideo.com COMING SOON The UPDATED and UPGRADED DVD.
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell-Stranger_In_A_Strange_Land
Leon Russell - The Ballad Of Hollis Brown
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:16
- Published: 22 Aug 2011
- Uploaded: 02 Jan 2012
- Author: mptsliakos35
Track 28 from the compilation album A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble Exploding In Your Mind vol.3 "The 3rd Ear" by Amorphous Androgynous. Song The Ballad Of Hollis Brown by Leon Russell
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell__The_Ballad_Of_Hollis_Brown
LEON RUSSELL's Induction into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2011
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:26
- Published: 21 Mar 2011
- Uploaded: 30 Dec 2011
- Author: revolvertonyd
LEON RUSSELL's Induction into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2011 Elton John inducts Leon Russell into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2011 (3/14/11) aired on 3/20/11
http://wn.com/LEON_RUSSELL's_Induction_into_The_Rock_Roll_Hall_Of_Fame_2011
Leon Russell - Goodnight Irene
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:45
- Published: 06 Jun 2011
- Uploaded: 29 Dec 2011
- Author: 4boophin2bandit0
Hank Wilson's Back!
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell__Goodnight_Irene
Joe Cocker / Leon Russell "The Letter"
1970. From "Mad Dogs and Englishmen". Cocker sings, Leon on piano.
http://wn.com/Joe_Cocker_/_Leon_Russell_The_Letter
Leon Russell Roll Away The Stone
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:12
- Published: 16 Sep 2011
- Uploaded: 31 Dec 2011
- Author: TheCowboy4411
..Song by Leon Russell..Video by Thecowboy4411@Youtube
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell_Roll_Away_The_Stone
LEON RUSSELL (Live 80s) - LADY BLUE (w/ lyrics)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:50
- Published: 26 Nov 2011
- Uploaded: 01 Jan 2012
- Author: luckysmusic
With Edgar Winter on sax.....LYRICS: Well, you're showing me a different sign, Even ask you if the flame's a dyin', You'll get used to me baby, You just wait and see lady, Cause I've been in love before, And I love you a whole lot more. If you want it to be real good to ya, When I'm layin' here making love to ya, Listen real close to me lady, Even when I sing Cause I'm lovin' you more and more and more Lady Blue Oh I'm saying little baby, love you, blue lady Well I just want you to know, that I'm lovin' you More and more and more and more. So if you want it to be real good to you, When I'm layin' here makin' love to ypu, Listen real close to me baby, You just wait and see, I've got a whole lotta love to give you, A whole life to spend if you'll Just let me sing a sweet love song For Lady Blue, oh I'll sing a love song For Lady Blue.
http://wn.com/LEON_RUSSELL_Live_80s__LADY_BLUE_w/_lyrics
Leon Russell - Elvis And Marilyn
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:06
- Published: 18 Dec 2011
- Uploaded: 20 Dec 2011
- Author: rickicliffe
MUSIC - LEON RUSSELL 1978 Paradise Records -- PDS 8667 Images & Video produced by RICKSTER DEISGN
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell__Elvis_And_Marilyn
Leon Russell - A Song For You "Live" - Songwriters Circle BBC
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:06
- Published: 10 Oct 2011
- Uploaded: 03 Nov 2011
- Author: Rareighties
Live performance shown as part of "Songwriters Circle" on the BBC
http://wn.com/Leon_Russell__A_Song_For_You_Live__Songwriters_Circle_BBC
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![Max Brand Synthesizer (1968) [11], also known as “Moogtonium” [12], is a custom made Mixtur-Trautonium version of Moog modular](http://web.archive.org./web/20120127164125/http://cdn3.wn.com/pd/d4/e8/1a232c2c5cf865e3310f807daed1_medium.jpg "Max Brand Synthesizer (1968) [11], also known as “Moogtonium” [12], is a custom made Mixtur-Trautonium version of Moog modular")
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Tulsa World
Tickets are now on sale for the Tulsa Sound's biggest annual gala. Leon Russell's birthday bash will be 7 p.m. April 14 at the Brady Theater. It's the 26th consecutive year the legendary pianoman's celebrated his birthday in Green Country. Opening act will be Glen Templeton. Russell turns 70 this...
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The Examiner
Below is a listing of Leon Russell's TV appearances through February 7, 2012. All times are Eastern. Please check your local listings for the broadcast time and channel specifics in your area. The Union is here! Catch Cameron Crowe's tribute to the collaboration between...
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IMDb
Cameron Crowe's "The Union," which premiered at Tribeca 2011, will have its television debut exclusively...
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Leon Russell 2012 Tour Schedule
12 Jan 2012
The Examiner
Roch and Roll Hall of Fame member Leon Russell has booked a number of concert dates for the new year, including a worldwind tour of Europe in March. Russell, 69, is still touring and the list of 2012 dates below are confirmed by his website and/or the venues at which he will perform. This year,...
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Hot tickets: Leon Russell, Trey Songz, more
05 Jan 2012
Lexington Herald-Leader
Tickets on sale now: Leon Russell. 8 p.m. April 29. Buster's Billiards...
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The Oklahoman
K.C. Clifford performing Leon Russell's "Superstar" live in studio Oklahoman Comments...
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size: 4.7Kb
Leon Russell at Rochester's German House Theater
20 Nov 2011
Leon Russell to Rock Roc City!
18 Nov 2011
The Examiner
That’s right Roc City rock fans! Rock & roll hall of fame inductee Leon Russell and special guests This is a Fully Show, will be performing on Sunday November 20th at the German House Theater. Tickets are $30.50 per person and if you haven’t gotten yours already you are in...
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Tulsa World
Zac Brown Band guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter Coy Bowles remembers the band's early shows here in Oklahoma. Not so many years ago, the band played dark honky-tonks like Oklahoma City's Wormy Dog Saloon. These days, the Grammy-winning country act is playing larger venues. Much larger venues....
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| name | Leon Russell |
|---|---|
| landscape | Yes |
| background | solo_singer |
| birth name | Claude Russell Bridges |
| born | April 02, 1942Lawton, OklahomaUnited States |
| instrument | Vocals, Piano, Hammond B-3 Organ, Guitar, Bass Guitar |
| genre | Country, rock, folk, rhythm and blues, folk rock |
| Occupation | Musician, Songwriter |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Label | Capitol, Shelter Records, Paradise Records |
| Associated acts | }} |
Claude Russell Bridges (born April 2, 1942), known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music.
Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, he began playing piano at the age of four. Russell attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At this time he was already performing at Tulsa nightclubs. After moving to Los Angeles, he became a session musician, working as a pianist on the recordings of many notable musical artists since the 1960s. By the late 1960s, Russell diversified, becoming successful as an arranger and wrote/co-wrote songs. As a musician, he worked his way from gigs as a sideman to well known performer. By 1970 he had graduated to solo recording artist, although he never ended all his previous roles within the music industry.
Russell was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, March 14, 2011, at a black-tie dinner at The Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan.
Career
Russell began his musical career at the age of 14 in the nightclubs of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and his group The Starlighters, which included J.J. Cale, Chuck Blackwell and Johnny Williams, were instrumental in creating the style of music known as the Tulsa Sound. After settling in Los Angeles, he studied guitar with James Burton. Known mostly as a session musician early in his career, as a solo artist he has crossed genres to include rock and roll, blues, and gospel music, playing with artists as varied as Jerry Lee Lewis, George Harrison, Delaney Bramlett, Ringo Starr, Doris Day, Elton John, Eric Clapton, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, Tijuana Brass, Frank Sinatra, The Band, Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, and The Rolling Stones.As a member of Phil Spector's studio group, Russell played on many of the most popular songs of the 1960s, including some by The Byrds, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, and Herb Alpert. He can be seen in 1964's "The T.A.M.I. Show", playing piano with "The Wrecking Crew" (an informal name for the top L.A. session musicians of the 1960s), sporting short, dark, slicked-back hair, in contrast to his later look. Soon after, he was hired as Snuff Garrett's assistant/creative developer, playing on numerous #1 singles, including "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. He played xylophone and bells on the 1966 single "The Joker Went Wild", sung by Brian Hyland and penned by Bobby Russell (no relation to Leon). He also worked sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell on Campbell's 1967 album ''Gentle on My Mind'', where he was credited as "Russell Bridges" on piano.
Russell's first commercial success as a songwriter came when Joe Cocker recorded the song "Delta Lady" for his 1969 album, ''Joe Cocker!'' The album, produced and arranged by Russell, reached #11 on the ''Billboard 200''. Russell went on to organize and perform in the tour supporting Cocker's album, ''Mad Dogs and Englishmen''. "Superstar", co-written by Delaney Bramlett and Bonnie Bramlett, was sung by Rita Coolidge on that tour and later proved a success for The Carpenters, Luther Vandross, Sonic Youth and other performers.
Soon after the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour, Shelter Records released his 1970 eponymous solo album ''Leon Russell'', which included the first recording of "A Song for You". This has become one of his best-known songs, with cover versions released by more than 40 different artists including Ray Charles, Peggy Lee, Helen Reddy, Whitney Houston, Donny Hathaway, and Christina Aguilera. Both The Carpenters and The Temptations named an album after the song. Also in 1970, Russell played piano on Dave Mason's album, ''Alone Together'', most notably on the song "Sad and Deep as You".
During the 1960s and '70s, Russell owned the Church Recording Studio on 3rd Street in Tulsa, which is now owned by Glen Mitchell and one-time Russell studio engineer Steve Ripley of the country band The Tractors. Russell still records there frequently, while his former home on Grand Lake, in northeast Oklahoma, still contains the dining room table and chairs made from church pews from his Church Studio. On the property stands a private recording studio that has hosted many musicians, including members of The Beatles.
During the summer of 1971, at the invitation of George Harrison, Russell played piano on Badfinger's third album, ''Straight Up''. The piano part complemented Pete Ham and George Harrison's dual slide guitars on Badfinger's "Day After Day". The ''Straight Up'' sessions were interrupted when many of the musicians left for New York City to participate in the Concert For Bangladesh, at which Russell performed a medley of the songs "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Young Blood" and sang a verse on Harrison's "Beware of Darkness." Russell (on bass guitar) and Harrison (on electric guitar and vocals) also played on a number of Bob Dylan's hits.
A busy year for Russell, 1971 also brought the Shelter release of (''Leon Russell And The Shelter People'' and ''Asylum Choir II'' (which was co-produced by Marc Benno). That same year, Russell played on recording sessions with B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan.
Russell helped blues guitarist Freddie King to revive his career by collaborating with him on three of his albums for Shelter during the early 1970s.
1972 was highlighted by a large-scale concert tour by Russell and his "Shelter People" entourage. A live performance was recorded in California at the Long Beach Arena on August 28, 1972, and was released as the ''Leon Live'' album. In November 1972, ''Billboard'' cited Russell as a top concert draw and reported the '72 tour gross at almost $3 million.
Russell's song, "This Masquerade", the B-side of his 1972 hit single "Tight Rope", went on to be recorded by numerous artists, including Helen Reddy and The Carpenters. George Benson's version of the song reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.
In 1979, Russell and Willie Nelson had a number-one hit on the ''Billboard'' country music chart with their duet of "Heartbreak Hotel". Russell spent the next two years touring with the New Grass Revival, and released two more albums with Paradise before the label folded.
During November 2009, he wrote many songs with Elton John and Bernie Taupin for ''The Union'', a double album record credited equally to both Russell and John. Recorded in February 2010 and produced by T-Bone Burnett, the CD was released on October 19, 2010. On April 2, 2011, Russell and John performed together as the musical guests on ''Saturday Night Live''. A couple of months later, Leon announced plans for a solo LP, although no specifics were given.
Leon's current band line up includes long time bass player Jackie Wessell, Brandon Holder on drums, Chris Simmons on guitar, and multi-instrumentalist Beau Charron.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | ! style="width:3.5em;font-size:75%;" | CAN | CAN Country | ! style="width:3.5em;font-size:75%;" | |||||
| 1966 | ''Rhapsodies for Young Lovers'' (with [[Midnight String Quartet">Music recording sales certification | ||||||||||
| ! style="width:3.5em;font-size:75%;" | ! style="width:3.5em;font-size:75%;" | CAN | CAN Country | ! style="width:3.5em;font-size:75%;" | |||||||
| 1966 | ''Rhapsodies for Young Lovers'' (with [[Midnight String Quartet) | ||||||||||
| 1968 | ''Look Inside the Asylum Choir'' (with Marc Benno) | ||||||||||
| 1970 | |||||||||||
| ''Leon Russell And The Shelter People'' | |||||||||||
| ''Asylum Choir II'' (with Marc Benno) | |||||||||||
| 1972 | US: Gold | ||||||||||
| ''Leon Live'' | US: Gold | ||||||||||
| ''Hank Wilson's Back'' | |||||||||||
| 1974 | ''Stop All That Jazz'' | ||||||||||
| 1975 | ''Will O' the Wisp'' | US: Gold | |||||||||
| ''Best of Leon Russell'' | US: Gold | ||||||||||
| 1977 | ''Make Love to the Music'' (with Mary Russell) | ||||||||||
| 1978 | ''Americana'' | ||||||||||
| ''One For the Road'' (with Willie Nelson) | |||||||||||
| ''Life and Love'' | |||||||||||
| 1981 | ''The Live Album'' (with New Grass Revival) | ||||||||||
| ''Hank Wilson, Vol. II'' | |||||||||||
| ''Solid State'' | |||||||||||
| 1989 | ''Leon Russell'' | ||||||||||
| ''Anything Can Happen'' | |||||||||||
| ''Crazy Love'' | |||||||||||
| ''Collection'' | |||||||||||
| 1995 | ''Hymns of Christmas'' | ||||||||||
| 1996 | ''Gimme Shelter: The Best of Leon Russell'' | ||||||||||
| 1997 | ''Retrospective'' | ||||||||||
| 1998 | ''Hank Wilson, Vol. 3: Legend in My Time'' | ||||||||||
| ''Face in the Crowd'' | |||||||||||
| ''Blues: Same Old Song'' | |||||||||||
| 2000 | ''Live at Gilley's'' | ||||||||||
| ''Best of Leon Russell'' | |||||||||||
| ''Guitar Blues'' | |||||||||||
| ''Signature Songs'' | |||||||||||
| ''Rhythm & Bluegrass: Hank Wilson, Vol. 4'' (with New Grass Revival) | |||||||||||
| 2002 | ''Moonlight & Love Songs'' (with the Nashville Symphony) | ||||||||||
| ''In Your Dreams'' | |||||||||||
| ''Bad Country'' | |||||||||||
| ''Almost Piano'' | |||||||||||
| ''A Mighty Flood'' | |||||||||||
| ''Angel in Disguise'' | |||||||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||||
| ! style="width:3.5em;font-size:75%;" | ! style="width:3.5em;font-size:75%;" | CAN | CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
| 1972 | "Tight Rope" | ||||||
| "Queen of the Roller Derby" | |||||||
| "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" (as Hank Wilson) | |||||||
| "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (as Hank Wilson) | |||||||
| "A Six Pack to Go" (as Hank Wilson) | |||||||
| ''Stop All That Jazz'' | |||||||
| 1975 | "Lady Blue" | ||||||
| "Back to the Island" | |||||||
| "Rainbow in Your Eyes" | ''Wedding Album'' | ||||||
| 1978 | "Heartbreak Hotel" (w/ Willie Nelson) | ''One for the Road'' | |||||
| "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" | ''Solid State'' | ||||||
| "Wabash Cannonball" (w/ Willie Nelson, as Hank Wilson) | single only | ||||||
| "Anything Can Happen" | |||||||
| "No Man's Land" | |||||||
Music videos
| ! Year | ! Video | ! Director |
| "Anything Can Happen" | ||
| "No Man's Land" |
References
External links
Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:Songwriters from Oklahoma Category:American male singers Category:American rock musicians Category:American session musicians Category:American singer-songwriters Category:People from Tulsa, Oklahoma Category:Musicians from Oklahoma Category:People from Lawton, Oklahoma Category:Delaney & Bonnie & Friends members Category:The Wrecking Crew members Category:Grammy Award winners Category:American rock pianists Category:American rock guitarists Category:Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductees Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Elton John
ar:ليون راسل az:Leon Rassell cs:Leon Russell de:Leon Russell es:Leon Russell fr:Leon Russell ko:리온 러셀 it:Leon Russell he:ליאון ראסל nl:Leon Russell ja:レオン・ラッセル no:Leon Russell pt:Leon Russell ru:Леон Расселл fi:Leon Russell sv:Leon Russell uk:Леон РасселлThis text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
| name | John Mayer |
|---|---|
| landscape | yes |
| background | solo_singer |
| birth name | John Clayton Mayer |
| birth date | October 16, 1977 |
| birth place | Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. |
| origin | Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S. |
| instrument | Guitar, vocals, omnichord, piano, vibraphone, harmonica, percussion, flute, clarinet, violin |
| genre | Blues rock, pop rock, acoustic rock, blue-eyed soul |
| occupation | Musician, songwriter, record producer, columnist, graphic designer, photographer, comedian, television host |
| years active | –present |
| label | Arista, Aware, Columbia |
| associated acts | John Mayer Trio |
| website | |
| notable instruments | Fender StratocasterMartin GuitarsGibson Guitars }} |
Mayer began his career performing mainly acoustic rock, but gradually began a transition towards the blues genre in 2005 by collaborating with renowned blues artists such as B. B. King, Buddy Guy, and Eric Clapton, and by forming the John Mayer Trio. The blues influence can be heard on his album ''Continuum'', released in September 2006. At the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in 2007 Mayer won Best Pop Vocal Album for ''Continuum'' and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Waiting on the World to Change". He released his fourth studio album, ''Battle Studies'', in November 2009. He has sold over 10 million albums in the U.S. and 20 million albums worldwide.
Early life
John Clayton Mayer was born on October 16, 1977 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Margaret, an English teacher, and Richard, a high school principal. He grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, the second of three children.His father is Jewish, and Mayer has said that he "relat[es] to Judaism". He attended Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield although he was enrolled in the Center for Global Studies at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk for his junior year. (Then known as the Center for Japanese Studies Abroad, it is a magnet program for students wanting to learn Japanese.) During an appearance on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'', Mayer said that he had played the clarinet for a while in middle school, with minor success.After watching Michael J. Fox's guitar performance as Marty McFly in ''Back to the Future'', Mayer became fascinated with the instrument, and when he turned 13, his father rented one for him.
A neighbor gave Mayer a Stevie Ray Vaughan cassette, which cultivated Mayer's love of blues music. Mayer started taking lessons from a local guitar-shop owner, Al Ferrante, and soon became consumed with playing the instrument. His singular focus concerned his parents, and they took him twice to see a psychiatrist—but Mayer was determined to be fine. Mayer says that the contentious nature of his parents' marriage led him to "disappear and create my own world I could believe in". After two years of practice, he started playing at blues bars and other venues in the area, while he was still in high school. In addition to performing solo, he was a member of a band called Villanova Junction (named for a Jimi Hendrix song) with Tim Procaccini, Joe Beleznay, and Rich Wolf. Mayer considered skipping college to pursue his music, but the disapproval of his parents dissuaded him from doing so.
When Mayer was seventeen, he was stricken with cardiac dysrhythmia and was hospitalized for a weekend. Reflecting on the incident, Mayer said, “That was the moment the songwriter in me was born,” and he penned his first lyrics the night he got home from the hospital. Shortly thereafter, he began suffering from panic attacks, and lived with the fear of having to enter a mental institution. He continues to manage such episodes with Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug. After graduation, he worked for fifteen months at a gas station until he saved enough money to buy a 1996 Stevie Ray Vaughan signature Stratocaster.
Career
Early career
Mayer enrolled in the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, aged 19. However, at the urging of his college friend and Atlanta, Georgia native, Clay Cook, he left school after two semesters and moved with Cook to Atlanta. In Atlanta they formed a two-man band called LoFi Masters and began performing in local coffee houses and club venues such as Eddie's Attic. According to Cook, they began to experience musical differences due to Mayer’s desire to move more towards pop music. As a result, the two parted ways, and Mayer embarked on a solo career.With the help of local producer and engineer Glenn Matullo, Mayer recorded the independent EP ''Inside Wants Out''. Cook co-wrote many of the songs from the EP including Mayer's first commercial single release, "No Such Thing". The EP includes eight songs with Mayer on lead vocals and guitars. However, Cook's only contribution was backing vocals on the song “Comfortable”. For the opening track, “Back To You”, a full band was enlisted, including the EP’s co-producer David "DeLa" LaBruyere on bass guitars. Mayer and LaBruyere then began to perform throughout Georgia and nearby states.
Major label success
Mayer’s reputation began to build, and a March 2000 appearance at South by Southwest brought him to the attention of "launch" label, Aware Records. After including him in the Aware Festival concerts and having his songs included on Aware compilations, in early 2001, Aware released Mayer's internet-only album entitled, ''Room for Squares''. During this time, Aware inked a deal with Columbia Records that gave Columbia first pick in signing Aware artists, and so in September of the same year, Columbia remixed and re-released ''Room for Squares''. As part of the major label "debut", the album's artwork was updated, and the track "3x5" was added. The re-release also included reworked studio versions of the first four songs from his indie album, ''Inside Wants Out''.
By the end of 2002, ''Room for Squares'' had spawned several radio hits, including "No Such Thing," "Your Body Is a Wonderland", and ultimately, "Why Georgia". In 2003, Mayer won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Your Body Is a Wonderland." In his acceptance speech he remarked, "This is very, very fast, and I promise to catch up." He also figuratively referred to himself as being sixteen, a remark that many mistook to mean that he was only sixteen years old at the time.
In 2003, Mayer released a live CD and DVD of a concert in Birmingham, Alabama titled ''Any Given Thursday''. The concert featured songs previously not recorded, such as "Man on the Side" (co-written with Cook) and "Something's Missing", which later appeared on ''Heavier Things''. The concert also included "Covered In Rain". According to the accompanying DVD documentary, this song is "part two" of the song "City Love", which features the line "covered in rain". Commercially, the album quickly peaked at number seventeen on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. The CD/DVD received conservative, although consistent, praise, with critics torn between his pop-idol image, and (at the time) emerging guitar prowess. Erik Crawford (of Allmusic) asked "Is he the consummate guitar hero exemplified when he plays a cover of Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'Lenny', or is he the teen idol that the pubescent girls shriek for after he plays 'Your Body Is a Wonderland?'"
''Heavier Things'', Mayer's second album, was released in 2003 to generally favorable reviews. ''Rolling Stone, Allmusic'' and ''Blender'' all gave positive, although reserved, feedback. ''PopMatters'' said that it "doesn't have as many drawbacks as one might assume". The album was commercially successful, and while it did not sell as well as ''Room for Squares'', it peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Mayer earned his first number one single with the song "Daughters" as well as a 2005 Grammy for Song of the Year, beating out fellow contenders Alicia Keys and Kanye West. He dedicated the award to his grandmother, Annie Hoffman, who died in May 2004. He also won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, beating Elvis Costello, Prince, and Seal for the award. In a February 9, 2009 interview on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'', Mayer said that he thought he should not have won the Grammy for Song of the year because he thought that Alicia Keys' If I Ain't Got You was the better song. Because of this, he removed the top half of the Grammy and gave it to Keys, and kept the bottom part for himself. At the 37th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2006, Mayer was honored with the Hal David Starlight Award.
Mayer again recorded live concerts across seven nights of his U.S. tour in 2004. These recordings were released to the iTunes Store under the title ''As/Is'', indicating that the errors were included along with the good moments. A few months later, a "best of" CD was compiled from the ''As/Is'' nights. The album included a previously unreleased cover of Marvin Gaye's song "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)", featuring a solo from Mayer's support act, jazz and blues turntablist DJ Logic. All the album covers of the ''As/Is'' releases feature drawings of anthropomorphic bunnies.
With increased exposure, Mayer's talent came into demand in other areas. Steve Jobs invited Mayer to perform during the keynote address of Apple's annual Macworld Conference & Expo, in January 2004, as Jobs introduced the software application GarageBand. The gig led to Mayer becoming a fixture of the event. He rejoined Jobs on stage for a solo performance at Macworld 2007, following the announcement of the iPhone. Mayer has also done endorsements, such as a Volkswagen commercial for the Beetle's guitar outlet and for the BlackBerry Curve.
Change in musical direction
Mayer began to collaborate extensively, often working with artists outside of his own genre. He appeared on Common's song "Go!" and on Kanye West's "Bittersweet Poetry". Following these collaborations, Mayer received praise from rap heavyweights Jay-Z and Nelly. When asked about his presence in the hip hop community, Mayer said, "It's not music out there right now. That's why, to me, hip-hop is where rock used to be."It was around this time that Mayer began hinting a change in his musical interests, announcing that he was "closing up shop on acoustic sensitivity." In 2005, he began a string of collaborations with various blues artists, including Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, as well as jazz artist John Scofield. He also went on tour with legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, which included a show at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. These collaborations led to recordings with several of these artists, namely, Clapton (''Back Home'', Crossroads Guitar Festival), Guy (''Bring 'Em In)'', Scofield (''That's What I Say''), and King (''80''). Although Mayer has maintained a reputation for being a sensitive singer-songwriter, he has also gained distinction as an accomplished guitarist, influenced by the likes of the above artists, as well as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Tommy Herman, Robert Cray, and Freddie King.
John Mayer Trio
This sample features an extended electric guitar solo.}}In the spring of 2005, Mayer formed the John Mayer Trio with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, both of whom he had met through previous studio sessions. The trio played a combination of blues and rock music. In October 2005, the Trio opened for The Rolling Stones during a sold-out club tour of their own, and that November, released a live album called ''Try!'' The band took a break in mid-2006. In September 2006, Mayer announced plans for the Trio to begin work on a future studio album.
''Continuum''
Mayer's third studio album, titled ''Continuum'', was released on September 12, 2006, and was produced by Mayer and Steve Jordan. Mayer suggested the album was intended to combine his signature pop music with the feel, sound, groove, and sensibilities of the blues. In that vein, two of the tracks from his Trio release ''Try!''—"Vultures" and "Gravity"—also were included on ''Continuum''.The first single from ''Continuum'' was "Waiting on the World to Change", which debuted on ''The Ron and Fez Show''. The song was the third most downloaded song of the week on the iTunes Store following its release on July 11, 2006, and debuted at #25 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Chart.
On August 23, 2006, Mayer debuted the entire album on the Los Angeles radio station Star 98.7, giving commentary on each track. A subsequent version was released the next day on the Clear Channel Music website as a streaming sneak preview. On September 21, 2006, Mayer appeared on ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', playing "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room." The song "Gravity" was featured on the television series ''House'', in the episode "Cane & Able", and ''Numb3rs''. He recorded a session for the British program ''Live from Abbey Road'' at Abbey Road Studios on October 22, 2006.
On December 7, 2006, Mayer was nominated for five 2007 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The John Mayer Trio also received a nomination for their album, ''Try!''. He won two: Best Pop Song with Vocal for "Waiting on the World to Change" and Best Pop Album for ''Continuum''. Mayer remixed an acoustic version of his single "Waiting on the World to Change" with vocal additions from fellow musician Ben Harper. In preparation for recording ''Continuum'', Mayer had booked the Village Recorder in Los Angeles to record five demo acoustic versions of his songs with veteran musician Robbie McIntosh. These recordings became ''The Village Sessions'', an EP released on December 12, 2006. As usual, Mayer oversaw the artwork of the release.
Mayer was featured on the cover of ''Rolling Stone'' (#1020) in February 2007, along with John Frusciante and Derek Trucks. He was named as one of the "New Guitar Gods," and the cover nicknamed him "Slowhand, Jr.," a reference to Eric Clapton. Additionally, he was selected by the editors of ''Time'' magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2007 and was listed among artists and entertainers.
On November 20, 2007, the re-issue of ''Continuum'' became available online and in stores. The release contains a bonus disc of six live songs from his 2007 tour: five from ''Continuum'' and a cover of the Ray Charles song "I Don't Need No Doctor". His new single, "Say", also became available through iTunes. On December 6, 2007, "Belief" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. He accompanied Alicia Keys on guitar on her song "No One" at the ceremony.
In February 2008, Mayer hosted a three-day Caribbean cruise event that included performances with various musicians including David Ryan Harris, Brett Dennen, Colbie Caillat and Dave Barnes, among others. The event was called "The Mayercraft Carrier" and was held aboard the cruise ship known as the ''Carnival Victory''. A follow up cruise titled "Mayercraft Carrier 2" set sail from Long Beach, California from March 27–31, 2009 on the Carnival Splendor.
On July 1, 2008, Mayer released ''Where the Light Is'', a live concert film of Mayer's performance at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on December 8, 2007. The film was directed by Danny Clinch. It features an acoustic set and a set with the John Mayer Trio, followed by a set with John's band from the ''Continuum'' album. The DVD and Blu-ray bonus material includes footage of Mayer backstage and playing outside on Mulholland Drive.
Australian artist Guy Sebastian invited Mayer to collaborate on three songs from his 2009 album ''Like It Like That''. Mayer also played guitar on the title track of Crosby Loggins' debut LP, ''Time to Move'', released on July 10, 2009.
On July 7, 2009, Mayer performed an instrumental guitar version of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" at Jackson's televised memorial service.
''Battle Studies'' and ''Born and Raised''
On November 17, 2009, Mayer's fourth studio album, ''Battle Studies'', was released and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. The album consists of 11 tracks with a total time of 45 minutes. The first single from the album, "Who Says", was released on September 24, 2009 in advance of album, and was followed on October 19 by the single "Heartbreak Warfare" and the single "Half of My Heart" released on June 21, 2010. Despite the album's commercial success, critics were mixed with their praise; while some reviews were glowing, calling it his "most adventurous", others called the album "safe" and noted that "Mayer the singer-songwriter and Mayer the man about town sometimes seem disconnected, like they don’t even belong in the same body."Mayer admitted to ''Rolling Stone'' that he thought ''Battle Studies'' was not his best album.
Reports indicate that the follow-up to ''Battle Studies'' will be called ''Born and Raised'', and will be released in October 2011.
Other projects
Philanthropy and activism
In 2002, Mayer began the "Back to You" Fund, a nonprofit organization that focuses on fundraising in the areas of health care, education, the arts, and talent development. The foundation raises funds through the auction of exclusive John Mayer items, such as guitar picks, T-shirts, and signed CDs, made available on Mayer's auction site. The auctions have been successful, with some tickets selling for more than seventeen times their face value.Mayer participated at the East Rutherford, New Jersey location of the Live Earth project, a musical rally to support awareness for global warming held July 7, 2007. In the summer of 2007, the environmental advocacy group Reverb set up informational booths and helped his crew conserve energy on his tour dates. He converted his tour bus to bio-diesel fuel.
Mayer has performed at a number of benefits and telethons for charity throughout his career. In response to the Virginia Tech massacre, Mayer (along with Dave Matthews Band, Phil Vassar, and Nas) performed a free concert at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium on September 6, 2007. On December 8, 2007, Mayer hosted the first annual Charity Revue, a tradition he has continued each year. Charities who have benefited from the concerts include Toys for Tots, Inner City Arts, and the Los Angeles Mission. Both CDs and DVDs of the first concert were released under the title ''Where the Light Is'' in July 2008. It has not been announced whether the DVD proceeds will go to charity or not. Mayer appeared on ''Songs for Tibet: The Art of Peace'', a celebrity initiative to support Tibet and the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
Design
In a ''Rolling Stone'' interview, Mayer recalled that after former Columbia Records head, Don Ienner, panned ''Continuum'', he briefly considered quitting music and studying design full time. In 2003, Martin Guitars gave Mayer his own signature model acoustic guitar called the OM-28 John Mayer. The guitar was limited to a run of only 404, an Atlanta area code. This model was followed by the release of two Fender signature Stratocaster electric guitars, beginning in 2005. A third Stratocaster, finished in charcoal frost metallic paint with a racing stripe, was also a limited-release, with only 100 guitars made. In January 2006, Martin Guitars released the Martin OMJM John Mayer acoustic guitar. The guitar was intended to have many of the attributes of the Martin OM-28 John Mayer but with a more affordable price tag. In August 2006, Fender started manufacturing SERIES II John Mayer Stratocasters. The new Olympic white with mint green pickguard and cream plastics replaced the shoreline gold model.In January 2007, Two Rock collaborated with Mayer on custom-designed amps. Only 25 (all signed by Mayer himself) were made available to the public. June 2007 saw the release of the "album art" guitar, with the ''Continuum'' motif repeated on the face of the instrument, as well as a 500-run John Mayer signature Fender Stratocaster in Cypress-Mica, including the limited Cypress-Mica model was the INCSvsJM gig bag on which Mayer collaborated with Incase designs. In 2006, Mayer was estimated to have more than 200 guitars in his personal collection. In 2010, Fender announced a production model of Mayer's "The Black One" guitar.
Writing
With the June 1, 2004, issue of ''Esquire'', Mayer began a column called "Music Lessons with John Mayer". Each article featured a lesson and his (often humorous) take on various topics, both of personal and popular interest. In the August 2005 issue, he invited readers to create music for orphaned lyrics he had written. The winner was Tim Fagan of L.A., as announced in the following January's issue.Mayer has been active online, and has maintained four blogs: a Myspace page, a blog at his official site, another at Honeyee.com, one at tumblr.com, and a photoblog at StunningNikon.com. He also is one of the most-followed persons on the micro-blogging site Twitter, reaching 3 million followers in January 2010. Although his posts often deal with career-related matters, they also contain jokes, videos, photos, his convictions, and his personal activities; they sometimes overlap in content. He is noted for writing the blogs himself, and not through a publicist. On January 23, 2008, he posted a graphic that read, "Done & Dusted & Self Conscious & Back to Work." on his official blog, followed by the quote "There is danger in theoretical speculation of battle, in prejudice, in false reasoning, in pride, in braggadocio. There is one safe resource, the return to nature.."; all the previous blog entries were deleted.
In the mid-2000s he did stand-up comedy sporadically making random appearances at the famed Comedy Cellar in New York and at other venues. He stated that it helped him write better but that increased media attention made him too careful in his technique.
Television
In 2004, Mayer hosted a one-shot, half-hour comedy special on VH1 entitled ''John Mayer Has a TV Show'', with antics including wearing a bear suit while anonymously teasing concertgoers in the parking lot outside one of his concerts. The American network CBS announced on January 14, 2009 that they were in negotiations with Mayer for a variety show; it may air as a special or as a regular series. In an interview with ''Rolling Stone'', posted online on January 22, 2010, Mayer confirmed that the program, also called ''John Mayer Has a TV Show'', was still in development, and that personnel were being hired. He described the concept as "a high quality music performance show, where I could also steer it a little bit. It's about there being a bastion of artists being made to look good and sound good.".Mayer has made many appearances on talk shows and other television programs, most notably, on a ''Chappelle's Show'' comedy skit, ''Late Night with David Letterman'' and on the final episode of ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien''. Mayer made an appearance with Rob Dyrdek in the MTV show ''Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory''.
Touring
{{externalvideo | align = right | width = 320px | video1 = Where the Light Is''">Official video Mayer performing an acoustic set from his DVD ''Where the Light Is'' | }} Mayer has toured with many musical groups, including Maroon 5, Guster, Howie Day, Mat Kearney, Counting Crows, Ben Folds, The Wallflowers, Teitur, Brett Dennen, Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat, Train, Ellie Goulding, OneRepublic and Paramore. Crow and Mayer, who had just previously appeared on the ''''Cars'' Soundtrack'' together, co-headlined a tour that ran from August to October 2006. In 2007, Mayer toured Europe, hoping to reach the popularity abroad that he enjoys in North America. The initial North American ''Continuum'' tour ended on February 28, 2007, with a show at Madison Square Garden, a performance which the ''New York Post'' described as "career-defining." In 2010, Mayer and Keith Urban performed at a CMT Crossroads concert which saw Mayer and Urban performing a medley of their own songs together and a rendition of George Michael's single, "Faith". This performance was led to Urban and Mayer teaming up again for future performances, including at the 2010 CMT Music Awards.Mayer allows audio taping at most of his live performances, and he also allows for the non-commercial trading of those recordings. He does this to give fans the opportunity to recreate the live experience, and to encourage fan interaction.
Mayer often shows up at small venues unannounced (or with little advance notice) for surprise concerts—occasionally for free or without accepting the performance fee. He has made appearances throughout the Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York areas, including shows at The Laugh Factory, Eddie's Attic, and the Village Underground. His latest surprise appearace was on January 8, 2011 at Hotel Cafe where he played seven new unreleased songs.
Touring band members
;Current members;Former members
Personal life
Mayer has followed the discipline of Krav Maga.He hosts an annual Interfaith Baking Contest, in which he judges his favorite from pictures of baked goods sent in by his fans during the end-of-year, holiday season.
Mayer has a number of tattoos. These include: "Home" and "Life" (from the song title) on the back of his left and right arms respectively, "77" (his year of birth) on the left side of his chest, and a koi-like fish on his right shoulder. His entire left arm is covered in a sleeve tattoo that he acquired gradually, ending in April 2008; it includes: "SRV" (for his idol, Stevie Ray Vaughan) on his shoulder, a decorated rectangle on his biceps, a dragon-like figure on his inner arm, and various other floral designs. In 2003, he got a tattoo of three squares on his right forearm, which, he has explained, he will fill in gradually. As of 2011, two are filled.
He is an avid collector of watches and owns timepieces worth tens of thousands of dollars. Mayer also has an extensive collection of sneakers, estimated () at more than 200 pairs.
Mayer's parents concluded an uncontested divorce on May 27, 2009. After the divorce, Mayer moved his (82-year-old) father to an assisted-living facility in Los Angeles.
Mayer sold his home in the Los Angeles suburbs in 2011. He currently lives in his apartment in the New York City neighborhood of SoHo.
Dating and relationship with the media
Mayer dated Jennifer Love Hewitt briefly in 2002. In a comedy routine at the Hollywood Laugh Factory in May 2006, he said that they never consummated their relationship; he later said that he immediately apologized to her for the raunchy routine. Mayer dated Jessica Simpson for about nine months, beginning in the middle of 2006. Rumors started in August of that year with a ''People'' magazine article, but kicked into high gear when Mayer and Simpson spent New Year's holiday together in New York City, both attending Christina Aguilera's New Year's Eve party. When Ryan Seacrest asked Mayer on the red carpet of the 2007 Grammy Awards, about his relationship with Simpson, Mayer responded in Japanese. Despite some initially conflicting translations, he said, "Jessica is a lovely woman, and I'm glad to be with her." However, the couple split in May 2007. He began dating actress Minka Kelly in September 2007, but they split up before the year's end. Mayer began dating actress Jennifer Aniston in April 2008, but Mayer broke it off the following August. They resumed dating in October 2008 and split up again in March 2009. His relationships with high-profile celebrities has led to his having a reputation as a "womanizer." Taylor Swift recently wrote a few songs about her relationship with Mayer, "Dear John". Mayer's relationship with Jessica Simpson coincided with some personal behavior changes that served to significantly increase his tabloid exposure. Previously, Mayer had expressed his resolve to completely avoid drugs, alcohol, clubbing, "red-carpet" events, dating celebrities and anything else that he felt would detract from his focus on his music. In interviews, however, Mayer has alluded to experiencing an extreme "anxiety bender" episode in his twenties that motivated him to be less reclusive. He later said he realized that, "If I wanted to see Jessica more, I had to grow up," and not be afraid to be without his guitar. He called his relationship with her "sexual napalm" and said she had the power to "change [his] values." He began making appearances at clubs in Los Angeles and New York (where he would stage pranks for the paparazzi), and in a ''Rolling Stone'' interview from 2006, he first mentioned that he had begun using marijuana. Mayer joined Aniston at the 81st Academy Awards in February 2009, where she was a presenter.Mayer's relationship with the media has drawn controversy. He has been called long-winded and self-aware, stemming from his style as an interviewee. Mayer's discourse with the tabloid media (including hosting a TMZ segment and getting in Twitter battles with Perez Hilton) culminated in an impromptu press conference outside of his gym in New York, where he explained why he had broken-up with Aniston. The fall-out was unfavorable, and he was branded a "douchebag" for "saving face"; Mayer later said, "It was one of the worst times of my life," and maintains he did it to take responsibility for hurting her.
Controversies and allegations of racism
Despite assertions that he would not be doing any more press, an interview with ''Playboy'' magazine (posted to their website on February 10, 2010) set off accusations in the media and on Twitter of his being a misogynist, kiss-and-tell ex-boyfriend, and racist. He apologized via Twitter for his use of the word "nigger," saying, "It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize...a word that is so emotionally charged." He also tearfully apologized to his band and fans at his concert in Nashville later that night.
Solo discography
Awards
Grammy Awards
Mayer has won seven awards from eighteen nominations.| Year | ! Awardee | ! Category | ! Result | |
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Others awards and nominations
| Year | ! Award | ! Category | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards | * Best New Artist in a Video for "No Such Thing" – nominated | |||
| Orville H. Gibson Guitar Awards | * Les Paul Horizon Award (Most Promising Up and Coming Guitarist) | |||
| VH1 Big in 2002 Awards | * Can't Get You Out of My Head Award for "No Such Thing" | |||
| Pollstar Concert Industry Awards | * Best New Artist Tour | |||
| 20th Annual ASCAP Awards | * ASCAP Pop Award – "No Such Thing" (shared with Clay Cook)Awarded to songwriters and publishers of the most performed songs in the ASCAP repertory for the award period. | |||
| 31st Annual American Music Awards | * Favorite Male Artist – Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music | |||
| 15th Annual Boston Music Awards | * Act of the Year | * Male Vocalist of the Year | * Song of the Year for "Your Body Is a Wonderland" | |
| MTV Video Music Awards | * Best Male Video | |||
| Radio Music Awards | * Modern Adult Contemporary Radio Artist of the Year | * Best Hook-Up Song for "Your Body Is a Wonderland" | ||
| Teen People Awards | * Choice Music – Male Artist | * Choice Music – Album for ''Any Given Thursday'' | ||
| Danish Music Awards | * Best New Artist | |||
| BDS Certified Spin AwardsMarch 2004 recipients | * Reached 100,000 spins for "Why Georgia" | |||
| 33rd annual American Music Awards | * Adult Contemporary: Favorite Artist | |||
| World Music Awards | * World's Best Selling Rock Act | |||
| People's Choice Awards | * Favorite Male Artist | |||
| 35th Annual American Music Awards | * Adult Contemporary Music — nominated | |||
| 23rd Annual TEC Awards | * Tour Sound Production (for the Continuum Tour) | * Record Production/Single or Track (for production on "Waiting on the World to Change") | * Record Production/Album (from production on ''Continuum'') |
See also
Notes
Footnotes
References
External links
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| Name | Sir Elton JohnCBE |
|---|---|
| Background | solo_singer |
| Birth name | Reginald Kenneth Dwight |
| Birth date | March 25, 1947 |
| Birth place | Pinner, Middlesex, England |
| Instrument | |
| Occupation | Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, composer |
| Years active | 1964–68 (Bluesology)1969–present (Solo) |
| Genre | |
| Label | DJM, Uni, MCA, Geffen, Rocket/Island, Universal, Interscope, Mercury, UMG |
| Associated acts | Bernie Taupin, Tim Rice, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Kiki Dee, Billy Joel, George Michael, Eminem, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick,Neil Sedaka |
| Website | }} |
In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in ''Billboard'' history. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked him Number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Having been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998.
He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s. In 1992, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation and a year later began hosting the annual Academy Award Party, which has since become one of the most high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. Since its inception, the foundation has raised over $200 million.
John entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005 and continues to be a champion for LGBT social movements. In 2008, ''Billboard'' magazine ranked him as the most successful male solo artist on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists" (third overall, behind only The Beatles and Madonna).
Life and career
Early life
John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947, the eldest child of Stanley and only child of Sheila Eileen Dwight (née Harris) and was raised in Pinner, Middlesex in a council house of his maternal grandparents. His parents did not marry until he was 6 years old, when the family moved to a nearby semi-detached house. He was educated at Pinner Wood Junior School, Reddiford School and Pinner County Grammar School, until age 17, when he left just prior to his A Level examinations to pursue a career in the music industry.When John began to seriously consider a career in music, his father, who served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, tried to steer him toward a more conventional career, such as banking. John has stated that his wild stage costumes and performances were his way of letting go after such a restrictive childhood. Both of John's parents were musically inclined, his father having been a trumpet player with the Bob Millar Band, a semi-professional big band that played at military dances. The Dwights were keen record buyers, exposing John to the popular singers and musicians of the day, and John remembers being immediately hooked on rock and roll when his mother brought home records by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley & His Comets in 1956.
John started playing the piano at the age of 3, and within a year, his mother heard him picking out Winifred Atwell's "The Skater's Waltz" by ear. After performing at parties and family gatherings, at the age of 7 he took up formal piano lessons. He showed musical aptitude at school, including the ability to compose melodies, and gained some notoriety by playing like Jerry Lee Lewis at school functions. At the age of 11, he won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. According to one of his instructors, John promptly played back, like a "gramophone record", a four-page piece by Handel that he heard for the first time.
For the next five years he attended Saturday classes at the Academy in central London, and has stated that he enjoyed playing Chopin and Bach and singing in the choir during Saturday classes, but that he was not otherwise a diligent classical student. "I kind of resented going to the Academy", he says. "I was one of those children who could just about get away without practicing and still pass, scrape through the grades." He even claims that he would sometimes skip classes and just ride around on the Tube. However, several instructors have testified that he was a "model student", and during the last few years he was taking lessons from a private tutor in addition to his classes at the Academy.
John's mother, though also strict with her son, was more vivacious than her husband, and something of a free spirit. With Stanley Dwight uninterested in his son and often physically absent, John was raised primarily by his mother and maternal grandmother. When his father was home, the Dwights would have terrible arguments that greatly distressed their son. When John was 14, they divorced. His mother then married a local painter, Fred Farebrother, a caring and supportive stepfather whom John affectionately referred to as "Derf", his first name in reverse. They moved into flat No. 1A in an eight-unit apartment building called Frome Court, not far from both previous homes. It was there that John would write the songs that would launch his career as a rock star; he would live there until he had four albums simultaneously in the American Top 40.
Pub pianist to staff songwriter (1962–1969)
At the age of 15, with the help of his mother and stepfather, Reginald Dwight became a weekend pianist at a nearby pub, the Northwood Hills Hotel, playing Thursday to Sunday nights for £35 a week and tips. Known simply as "Reggie", he played a range of popular standards, including songs by Jim Reeves and Ray Charles, as well as songs he had written himself. A stint with a short-lived group called the Corvettes rounded out his time.
In 1964, Dwight and his friends formed a band called Bluesology. By day, he ran errands for a music publishing company; he divided his nights between solo gigs at a London hotel bar and working with Bluesology. By the mid-1960s, Bluesology was backing touring American soul and R&B; musicians like The Isley Brothers, Major Lance, Billy Stewart, Doris Troy and Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles. In 1966, the band became musician Long John Baldry's supporting band and played 16 times at The Marquee Club.
After failing lead vocalist auditions for King Crimson and Gentle Giant, Dwight answered an advertisement in the ''New Musical Express'' placed by Ray Williams, then the A&R; manager for Liberty Records. At their first meeting, Williams gave Dwight a stack of lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, who had answered the same ad. Dwight wrote music for the lyrics, and then mailed it to Taupin, beginning a partnership that {{as of |2010 |alt=still continues }}. In 1967, what would become the first Elton John/Bernie Taupin song, "Scarecrow", was recorded; when the two first met, six months later, Dwight was going by the name "Elton John", in homage to Bluesology saxophonist ''Elton'' Dean and Long ''John'' Baldry.
The team of John and Taupin joined Dick James's DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968, and over the next two years wrote material for various artists, like Roger Cook and Lulu. Taupin would write a batch of lyrics in under an hour and give it to John, who would write music for them in half an hour, disposing of the lyrics if he couldn't come up with anything quickly. For two years, they wrote easy-listening tunes for James to peddle to singers. Their early output included a contender for the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969, for Lulu, called "Can't Go On (Living Without You)". It came sixth of six songs. In 1969, John provided piano for Roger Hodgson on his first released recording, the single "Mr. Boyd" by Argosy, a quartet that was completed by Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson.
During this period, John was also a session musician for other artists including playing piano on The Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and singing backing vocals for The Scaffold.
Debut album to ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' (1969–1973)
On the advice of music publisher Steve Brown, John and Taupin started writing more complex songs for John to record for DJM. The first was the single "I've Been Loving You" (1968), produced by Caleb Quaye, former Bluesology guitarist. In 1969, with Quaye, drummer Roger Pope, and bassist Tony Murray, John recorded another single, "Lady Samantha", and an album, ''Empty Sky''.For their follow-up album, ''Elton John'', John and Taupin enlisted Gus Dudgeon as producer and Paul Buckmaster as musical arranger. ''Elton John'' was released in April 1970 on DJM Records/Pye Records in the UK and Uni Records in the USA, and established the formula for subsequent albums; gospel-chorded rockers and poignant ballads. The first single from the album, "Border Song", made into the US Top 100, peaking at Number 92. The second single "Your Song" made the US Top Ten, peaking at number eight and becoming John's first hit single as a singer. The album soon became his first hit album, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Backed by ex-Spencer Davis Group drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray, John's first American concert took place at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in August 1970, and was a success.
The concept album ''Tumbleweed Connection'' was released in October 1970, and reached the Top Ten on the Billboard 200. The live album ''17-11-70'' (''11-17-70'' in the US) was recorded at a live show aired from A&R; Studios on WABC-FM in New York City. Sales of the live album were heavily hit in the US when an east coast bootlegger released the performance several weeks before the official album, including all 60 minutes of the aircast, not just the 40 minutes selected by Dick James Music. John and Taupin then wrote the soundtrack to the obscure film ''Friends'' and then the album ''Madman Across the Water'', the latter reaching the Top Ten and producing the hit "Levon", while the soundtrack album produced the hit "Friends". In 1972, Davey Johnstone joined the Elton John Band on guitar and backing vocals. The band released ''Honky Chateau'', which became John's first American number 1 album, spending five weeks at the top of the charts and spawning the hit singles "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)" (which is often compared to David Bowie's "Space Oddity") and "Honky Cat".
The pop album ''Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player'' came out at the start of 1973, and produced the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel"; the former became his first US Billboard Hot 100 number one hit. Both the album and "Crocodile Rock" were the first album and single, respectively on the consolidated MCA Records label in the USA, replacing MCA's other labels including Uni.
''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' gained instant critical acclaim and topped the chart on both sides of the Atlantic, remaining at Number 1 for two months. It also temporarily established John as a glam rock star. It contained the number 1 hit "Bennie and the Jets", along with the popular and praised "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Candle in the Wind", "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and "Grey Seal" (originally recorded and released in 1970 as the B-side to the UK-only single, "Rock and Roll Madonna"). There is also a VHS and DVD as part of the Classic Albums series, discussing the making, recording, and popularity of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" through concert and home video footage including interviews.
Rocket Records to ''21 at 33'' (1974–1979)
John formed his own MCA-distributed label Rocket Records and signed acts to it – notably Neil Sedaka ("Bad Blood", on which he sang background vocals) and Kiki Dee – in which he took a personal interest. Instead of releasing his own records on Rocket, he opted for $8 million offered by MCA. When the contract was signed in 1974, MCA reportedly took out a $25 million insurance policy on John's life.In 1974 a collaboration with John Lennon took place, resulting in Elton John covering The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and Lennon's "One Day at a Time", and in return Elton John and band being featured on Lennon's "Whatever Gets You thru the Night". In what would be Lennon's last live performance, the pair performed these two number 1 hits along with the Beatles classic "I Saw Her Standing There" at Madison Square Garden. Lennon made the rare stage appearance to keep the promise he made that he would appear on stage with Elton if "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" became a number 1 single.
''Caribou'' was released in 1974, and although it reached number 1, it was widely considered a lesser quality album. Reportedly recorded in a scant two weeks between live appearances, it featured "The Bitch Is Back" and the lushly orchestrated "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Pete Townshend of The Who asked John to play a character called the "Local Lad" in the film of the rock opera ''Tommy'', and to perform the song "Pinball Wizard". Drawing on power chords, John's version was recorded and used for the movie release in 1975 and the single came out in 1976 (1975 in the US). The song charted at number 7 in England. Bally subsequently released a "Captain Fantastic" pinball machine featuring an illustration of John in his movie guise.
In the 1975 autobiographical album ''Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy'', John revealed his previously ambiguous personality, with Taupin's lyrics describing their early days as struggling songwriters and musicians in London. The lyrics and accompanying photo booklet are infused with a specific sense of place and time that is otherwise rare in John's music. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was the hit single from this album and captured an early turning point in John's life.
The album's release signalled the end of the Elton John Band, as an unhappy and overworked John dismissed Olsson and Murray, two people who had contributed much of the band's signature sound and who had helped build his live following since the beginning. Johnstone and Ray Cooper were retained, Quaye and Roger Pope returned, and the new bassist was Kenny Passarelli; this rhythm section provided a heavier-sounding backbeat. James Newton-Howard joined to arrange in the studio and to play keyboards. John introduced the lineup before a crowd of 75,000 in London's Wembley Stadium. The rock-oriented ''Rock of the Westies'' entered the US albums chart at number 1 like ''Captain Fantastic'', a previously unattained feat. Elton John's stage wardrobe now included ostrich feathers, $5,000 spectacles that spelled his name in lights, and dressing up like the Statue of Liberty, Donald Duck, or Mozart, among others, at his concerts.
To celebrate five years since he first appeared at the venue, in 1975 John played a two-night, four-show stand at The Troubadour. With seating limited to under 500 per show, the chance to purchase tickets was determined by a postcard lottery, with each winner allowed two tickets. Everyone who attended the performances received a hardbound "yearbook" of the band's history. That year he also played piano on Kevin Ayers' ''Sweet Deceiver'', and was among the first and few white artists to appear on the black music series ''Soul Train'' on American television. On August 9, 1975, John was named the outstanding rock personality of the year at the first annual Rock Music Awards at ceremonies held in Santa Monica, California.
In 1976, the live album ''Here and There'' was released in May, followed by the ''Blue Moves'' album in October, which contained the single "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". His biggest success in 1976 was "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", a duet with Kiki Dee that topped both the American and British charts. Finally, in an interview with ''Rolling Stone'' that year entitled "Elton's Frank Talk", John stated that he was bisexual.
Besides being the most commercially successful period, 1970–1976 is also held in the most regard critically. Within only a three year span, between 1972 and 1975 John saw seven consecutive albums reach Number 1 in the charts, which had not been accomplished before. Of the six Elton John albums to make the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in ''Rolling Stone'''in 2003, all are from this period, with ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' ranked highest at number 91; similarly, the three Elton John albums given five stars by Allmusic (''Tumbleweed Connection'', ''Honky Château'', and ''Captain Fantastic'') are all from this period too.
During the same period, John made a guest appearance on the popular ''Morecambe and Wise Show'' on the BBC. The two comics spent the episode pointing him in the direction of everywhere except the stage in order to prevent him singing.
In November 1977 John announced he was retiring from performing; Taupin began collaborating with others. Now only producing one album a year, John issued ''A Single Man'' in 1978, employing a new lyricist, Gary Osborne; the album produced no singles that made the Top 20 in the US but the two singles from the album released in the UK, Part-Time Love and Song for Guy, both made the Top 20 in the UK with the latter reaching the Top 5. In 1979, accompanied by Ray Cooper, John became one of the first Western solo artists to tour the Soviet Union (as well as one of the first in Israel), then mounted a two-man comeback tour of the US in small halls. John returned to the singles chart with "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (number 9, 1979), a song originally rejected in 1977 by MCA before being released, recorded in 1977 with Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell. Elton reported that Thom Bell was the first person to give him voice lessons; Bell encouraged John to sing in a lower register. A disco-influenced album, ''Victim of Love'', was poorly received. In 1979, John and Taupin reunited, though they did not collaborate on a full album until 1983's ''Too Low For Zero''. ''21 at 33'', released the following year, was a significant career boost, aided by his biggest hit in four years, "Little Jeannie" (number 3 US), although the lyrics were written by Gary Osborne.
The 80s:''The Fox'' to ''Sleeping with the Past'' (1981–1989)
His 1981 album, ''The Fox'', was recorded in part during the same sessions as ''21 at 33'', and also included collaborations with Tom Robinson and Judie Tzuke. On 13 September 1980, John, with Olsson and Murray back in the Elton John Band, performed a free concert to an estimated 400,000 fans on The Great Lawn in Central Park in New York City. His 1982 hit "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", came from his ''Jump Up!'' album, his second under a new US recording contract with Geffen Records.
He married his close friend and sound engineer, Renate Blauel on Valentine's Day 1984 - the marriage lasted three years. The Biography Channel Special detailed the loss of Elton's voice in 1986 while on tour in Australia. Shortly thereafter he underwent throat surgery, which permanently altered his voice. Several non-cancerous polyps were removed from his vocal cords, resulting in a change in his singing voice. In 1987 he won a libel case against ''The Sun'' which published allegations of sex with rent boys.
With original band members Johnstone, Murray and Olsson together again, John was able to return to the charts with the 1983 hit album ''Too Low for Zero'', which included "I'm Still Standing" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", the latter of which featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica and reached number 4 in the US, giving John his biggest hit there since "Little Jeannie". He placed hits in the US Top Ten throughout the 1980s – "Little Jeannie" (number 3, 1980), "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (number 5, 1984), "Nikita" boosted by a mini-movie pop video directed by Ken Russell (number 7, 1986), a live orchestral version of "Candle in the Wind" (number 6, 1987), and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (number 2, 1988). His highest-charting single was a collaboration with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder on "That's What Friends Are For" (number 1, 1985); credited as Dionne and Friends, the song raised funds for AIDS research. His albums continued to sell, but of the six released in the latter half of the 1980s, only ''Reg Strikes Back'' (number 16, 1988) placed in the Top 20 in the United States.
In 1985, Elton John was one of the many performers at Live Aid held at Wembley Stadium. John played "Bennie and the Jets" and "Rocket Man"; then "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee for the first time in years; and introduced his friend George Michael, still then of Wham!, to sing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". He enlisted Michael to sing backing vocals on his single "Wrap Her Up", and also recruited teen idol Nik Kershaw as an instrumentalist on "Nikita". John also recorded material with Millie Jackson in 1985. In 1986, he played the piano on two tracks on the heavy metal band Saxon's album ''Rock the Nations''.
In 1988, he performed five sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden, giving him 26 for his career. Netting over $20 million, 2,000 items of John's memorabilia were auctioned off at Sotheby's in London.
The 90s: "Sacrifice" to ''Aida'' (1990–1999)
In 1990, John finally achieved his first UK number one hit on his own, with "Sacrifice" (coupled with "Healing Hands") from the previous year's album ''Sleeping with the Past''; it would stay at the top spot for six weeks. The following year, John's "Basque" won the Grammy for Best Instrumental, and a guest concert appearance he had made on George Michael's cover of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released as a single and topped the charts in both the US and UK. At the 1991 Brit Awards in London, Elton John won the award for Best British Male.In 1992 he released the US number 8 album ''The One'', featuring the hit song "The One". John and Taupin then signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music for an estimated $39 million over 12 years, giving them the largest cash advance in music publishing history. In April 1992, John appeared at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium, performing "The Show Must Go On" with the remaining members of Queen, and "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses and Queen. In September, John performed "The One" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, and also closed the ceremony performing "November Rain" with Guns N' Roses. The following year, he released ''Duets'', a collaboration with 15 artists including Tammy Wynette and RuPaul. This also included a new collaboration with Kiki Dee, entitled "True Love", which reached the Top 10 of the UK charts.
Along with Tim Rice, Elton John wrote the songs for the 1994 Disney animated film ''The Lion King'', which became the 3rd highest-grossing animated feature of all time. At the 67th Academy Awards ceremony, ''The Lion King'' provided three of the five nominees for the Academy Award for Best Song, which John won with "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Both that and "Circle of Life" became hit songs for John. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" would also win Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards. After the release of the ''The Lion King'' soundtrack, the album remained at the top of ''Billboard'''s charts for nine weeks. On 10 November 1999, the RIAA certified ''The Lion King'' "Diamond" for selling 15 million copies.
In 1995 John released ''Made in England'' (number 3, 1995), which featured the single "Believe". John performed "Believe" at the 1995 Brit Awards, and picked up the prize for Outstanding Contribution to Music. A compilation called ''Love Songs'' was released in 1996.
Early in 1997 John held a 50th birthday party, costumed as Louis XIV, for 500 friends. John also performed with the surviving members of Queen in Paris at the opening night (17 January 1997) of ''Le Presbytère N'a Rien Perdu De Son Charme Ni Le Jardin De Son Éclat'', a work by French ballet legend Maurice Béjart which draws upon AIDS and the deaths of Freddie Mercury and the company's principal dancer Jorge Donn. Later in 1997, two close friends died: designer Gianni Versace was murdered; Diana, Princess of Wales died in a Paris car crash on 31 August. In early September, John contacted his writing partner Bernie Taupin, asking him to revise the lyrics of his 1973 song "Candle in the Wind" to honour Diana, and Taupin rewrote the song accordingly. On 6 September 1997, John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in Westminster Abbey. The song became the fastest, and biggest-selling single of all time, eventually selling over 33 million copies worldwide. The best-selling single in UK Chart history, it sold 4.86 million copies in the UK. The best-selling single in ''Billboard'' history, and the only single ever certified Diamond in the United States, the single sold over 11 million copies in the U.S. The song proceeds of approximately £55 million were donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. It would win John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1998. John has publicly performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" only once, at Diana's funeral, vowing never to perform it again unless asked by Diana's sons.
In the musical theatre world, in addition to a 1998 adaptation of ''The Lion King'' for Broadway, John also composed music for a Disney production of ''Aida'' in 1999 with lyricist Tim Rice, for which they received the Tony Award for Best Original Score at the 54th Tony Awards, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards. The musical was given its world premiere in the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. It went on to Chicago and eventually Broadway. He also released a live compilation album called ''Elton John One Night Only - The Greatest Hits'' from the show he did at Madison Square Garden in New York City that same year.
2000 to present
In 2000, John and Tim Rice teamed again to create songs for DreamWorks' animated film ''The Road to El Dorado''. In August 2003, John scored his fifth UK number one single when "Are You Ready for Love" topped the UK Charts. Returning again to musical theatre, John composed music for a West End Theatre production of ''Billy Elliot the Musical'' in 2005 with playwright Lee Hall. John's only theatrical project with Bernie Taupin so far is ''Lestat: The Musical'', based on the Anne Rice vampire novels. However it was slammed by the critics and closed in May 2006 after 39 performances.John was named a Disney Legend for his numerous outstanding contributions to Disney's films and theatrical works on 9 October 2006, by The Walt Disney Company. In 2006 he told ''Rolling Stone'' magazine that he plans for his next record to be in the R&B;/hip-hop genre. "I want to work with Pharrell {Williams}, Timbaland, Snoop {Dogg}, Kanye {West}, Eminem and just see what happens."
In March 2007 he performed at Madison Square Garden for a record breaking 60th time for his 60th birthday, the concert was broadcast live and a DVD recording was released as ''Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square Garden''; a greatest-hits compilation CD, ''Rocket Man – Number Ones'', was released in 17 different versions worldwide, including a CD/DVD combo; and his back catalogue - almost 500 songs from 32 albums - became available for legal download.
On 1 July 2007, Elton John appeared at the Concert for Diana held at Wembley Stadium in London, in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her 46th birthday. John opened the concert with "Your Song", and then closed the concert with his second performance, with "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Tiny Dancer", and "Are You Ready For Love".
In a September 2008 interview with ''GQ'' magazine, John said: "I’m going on the road again with Billy Joel again next year," referring to "Face to Face," a series of concerts featuring both musicians. The tour began in March and will continue for at least two more years.
In October 2003, John announced that he had signed an exclusive agreement to perform 75 shows over three years at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. The show, entitled ''The Red Piano'', was a multimedia concert featuring massive props and video montages created by David LaChapelle. Effectively, he and Celine Dion share performances at Caesars Palace throughout the year - while one performs, one rests. The first of these shows took place on 13 February 2004. On 21 June 2008, he performed his 200th show in Caesars Palace. A DVD/CD package of ''The Red Piano'' was released through Best Buy in November 2008. A two year global tour was sandwiched between commitments in Las Vegas, Nevada, some of the venues of which were new to John. The Red Piano Tour closed in Las Vegas in April 2009.
Elton John performed a piano duet with Lady Gaga at the 52nd Grammy Awards. On 6 June 2010, John performed at the fourth wedding of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh for a reported US$1 million fee. Eleven days later, and 17 years to the day after his last previous performance in Israel, he performed at the Ramat Gan Stadium; this was significant because of other then-recent cancellations by other performers in the fallout surrounding an Israeli raid on Gaza Flotilla the month before. In his introduction to that concert, Elton John noted he and other musicians should not "cherry-pick our conscience", in reference to Elvis Costello, who was to have performed in Israel two weeks after Elton did, but cancelled in the wake of the aforementioned raid, citing his [Costello's] conscience.
John's latest studio album is entitled ''The Union'' and was released on 19 October 2010. John says his collaboration with American singer-songwriter and sideman Leon Russell marks a new chapter in his recording career, saying: "I don't have to make pop records any more."
Elton John began his new show "The Million Dollar Piano" at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas on 28 September 2011. John will be performing the show at Caesars for the next three years. John performed his 3000th concert on Saturday 8 October 2011 at Caesars. In 2011, John performed vocals on ''Snowed in at Wheeler Street'' with Kate Bush for her ''50 Words for Snow'' album.
Artistry
Songwriting
John has written with his song-writing partner Bernie Taupin since 1967 when he answered an advertisement for talent placed in the popular UK music publication, ''New Musical Express'', by Liberty records A&R; man Ray Williams. The pair have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.The 1991 film documentary ''Two Rooms'' described the writing style that John and Taupin use, which involves Taupin writing the lyrics on his own, and John then putting them to music, with the two never in the same room during the process. Taupin would write a set of lyrics, then mail them to John, wherever he was in the world, who would then lay down the music, arrange it, and record.
Music style
John's voice was once classed as tenor, it is now baritone. His piano playing is influenced by classical and gospel music. He used Paul Buckmaster to arrange the music on his studio albums during the 1970s.
Personal life
Family
In the late 1960s, John was engaged to be married to his first lover, secretary Linda Woodrow, who is mentioned in the song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight". He married German recording engineer Renate Blauel on 14 February 1984, in Darling Point, Sydney, with speculation that the marriage was a cover for his homosexuality. John had come out as bisexual in a 1976 interview with ''Rolling Stone'', but after his divorce from Blauel in 1988 he told the magazine that he was "comfortable" being gay.In 1993, John began a relationship with David Furnish, a former advertising executive and now filmmaker. John and Furnish entered a civil partnership on 21 December 2005. They held a low-key ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall, followed by a lavish party at their Berkshire mansion, thought to have cost £1 million. Their son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born to a surrogate mother on 25 December 2010 in California. John and Furnish chose Lady Gaga, magazine editor Ingrid Sischy, and Sichy's partner Sandy Brant as Zachary's godmothers.
In September 2009, John announced his intention to adopt a 14-month-old boy, Lev, from an AIDS orphanage in Ukraine, but he was denied due to his age and marital status. Furnish stated they would continue to financially support Lev and his brother and would campaign for a change in Ukrainian law. John has ten known godchildren, including Sean Lennon, David and Victoria Beckham's sons Brooklyn and Romeo, Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian Charles, and the daughter of Seymour Stein.
Wealth
In April 2009, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated John's wealth to be £175 million (US$265 million), and ranked him as the 322nd richest person in Britain. John was estimated to have a fortune of £195 million in the ''Sunday Times Rich List'' of 2011, making him one of the 10 richest people in the British music industry. Aside from his main home "Woodside" in Old Windsor, Berkshire, John owns residences in Atlanta, Nice, London's Holland Park, and Venice. John is an art collector, and is believed to have one of the largest private photography collections in the world.
In 2000, John admitted to spending £30 million in just under two years—an average of £1.5 million a month. Between January 1996 and September 1997, he spent more than £9.6m on property and £293,000 on flowers. In June 2001 John sold 20 of his cars at Christie's, saying he didn't get the chance to drive them because he was out of the country so often. The sale, which included a 1993 Jaguar XJ220, the most expensive at £234,750, and several Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys, raised nearly £2 million. In 2003, John sold the contents of his Holland Park home—expected to fetch £800,000 at Sotheby's—in a bid to create more room for his collection of contemporary art which includes many works of art by Young British Artists such as Sam Taylor-Wood and Tracy Emin. Every year since 2004, John has opened a shop called "Elton's Closet" in which he sells his second-hand clothes.
Other
Throughout his career, John has battled addictions to alcohol and cocaine. By 1975, the pressures of stardom had begun to take a serious toll on him. During "Elton Week" in Los Angeles that year, John suffered a drug overdose. He also battled the eating disorder bulimia. In a CNN interview with Larry King in 2002, King asked if John knew of Diana, Princess of Wales' eating disorder. John replied, "Yes, I did. We were both bulimic."A longtime tennis enthusiast, John wrote the song "Philadelphia Freedom" in tribute to long-time friend Billie Jean King and her World Team Tennis franchise of the same name. John and King also co-host an annual pro-am event to benefit AIDS charities, most notably John's own Elton John AIDS Foundation, for which King is a chairwoman. John, who maintains a part-time residence in Atlanta, Georgia, became a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team when he moved there in 1991.
Watford Football Club
John became chairman and director of Watford Football Club in 1976, appointing Graham Taylor as manager and investing large sums of money as the club rose three divisions into the First Division. The pinnacle of the club's success was finishing runners up in the First Division and reaching the FA Cup Final a year later. He sold the club to Jack Petchey in 1987, but remained their life-long president. In 1997 he re-purchased the club from Petchey and once again became chairman. He stepped down in 2002 when the club needed a full-time chairman although he continued as president of the club. Although no longer the majority shareholder, he still holds a significant financial interest. In June 2005 he held a concert at Watford's Vicarage Road ground, donating the funds to the club, and another concert in May 2010. For a time he was also a part-owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League.
AIDS Foundation
John has been associated with AIDS charities since the deaths of his friends Ryan White and Freddie Mercury, raising large amounts of money and using his public profile to raise awareness of the disease. For example, in 1986 he joined with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder to record the single "That's What Friends Are For", with all profits being donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. The song won John and the others the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (as well as Song of the Year for its writers, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager). In April 1990, John performed "Skyline Pigeon" at the funeral of White, a teenage haemophiliac he had befriended.John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 as a charity to fund programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention, for the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for providing services to people living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. This cause continues to be one of his personal passions. In early 2006, John donated the smaller of two bright-red Yamaha pianos from his Las Vegas, Nevada show to auction on eBay to raise public awareness and funds for the foundation.
To raise money for his AIDS charity, John hosts annually a glamorous White Tie & Tiara Ball, to which many famous celebrities are invited. On 28 June 2007, the 9th annual White Tie & Tiara Ball took place. The menu consisted of a truffle soufflé followed by Surf and Turf (filet mignon with Maine lobster tail) and a giant Knickerbocker glory ice cream. An auction followed the dinner held by Stephen Fry. A Rolls Royce ‘Phantom’ drophead coupe and a piece of Tracey Emin's artwork both raised £800,000 for the charity fund, with the total amount raised reaching £3.5 million. Later on in the event, John sang "Delilah" with Tom Jones and "Big Spender" with Shirley Bassey. Tickets for the Ball cost £1,000 a head. The event raised £4.6 million for his AIDS Foundation in 2006.
Activism
On 1 April 2010, John joined Cyndi Lauper in the launch of her ''Give a Damn campaign'' to bring a wider awareness of discrimination of the LGBT community as part of her True Colors Fund. In the advertisement, John states: "Imagine walking down the street and wondering if this is the day you'll get beaten up, or even killed, simply because of who you are". The campaign is to bring straight people to stand up with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community and stop the discrimination. Other names included in the campaign are Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Mraz, Judith Light, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Kardashian, Clay Aiken, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, and Anna Paquin.He is an occasional columnist in the ''Guardian''.
Honours and awards
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1994. He and Bernie Taupin had previously been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. John was made a Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995. For his charitable work, John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 February 1998. In October 1975, John became the 1,662nd person to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.John received an Honorary Doctorate of Music (Hon DMus) from the University of London in 2002.
He became a recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2004, and a Disney Legends Award in 2006. In 2010, Elton John was awarded with the PRS for Music Heritage Award, which was erected, on The Namaste Lounge Pub in Watford, where Elton performed his first ever gig.
Music awards include the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King (award shared with Tim Rice); the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1994 for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King (award shared with Tim Rice); and the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2000 for Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (award shared with Tim Rice)
John has six Grammy Awards:
Elton John Band
Since 1970, John has been the pianist and lead singer, as well as writer of music of the Elton John Band. The band had multiple line-up changes. Bernie Taupin has been the band's lyricist during their classic era and also to this day. In addition, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, and Ray Cooper are the only returning members of the band's original line-up since 1970 (Olsson), and 1972 (Johnstone and Cooper). Ray Cooper is on and off with the Elton John Band because he is working with other musicians as a session and road-tour percussionist. Furthermore, Elton John has also used a number of session musicians in the time of his career.
Discography
;Studio albums;Soundtracks, scores & theatre albums
;Films
References
;Bibliography
External links
Category:1947 births Category:AIDS activists Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Category:Best Song Academy Award winning songwriters Category:Brit Award winners Category:British rhythm and blues boom musicians Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:English football chairmen and investors Category:English-language singers Category:English musical theatre composers Category:English pop pianists Category:English rock pianists Category:English singer-songwriters Category:English tenors Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:Kennedy Center honorees Category:Knights Bachelor Category:LGBT composers Category:LGBT musicians from the United Kingdom Category:LGBT people from England Category:Living people Category:Musicians from London Category:People from Old Windsor Category:People from Pinner Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics Category:Religious skeptics Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Rocket Records artists Category:Silver Clef Awards winners Category:Singers from London Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Category:Watford F.C. directors Category:MusiCares Person of the Year Category:Grammy Legend Award
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| name | Joe Cocker |
|---|---|
| background | solo_singer |
| birth name | John Robert Cocker |
| alias | Vance Arnold, "The Sheffield Soul Shouter" |
| birth date | May 20, 1944 |
| origin | Sheffield, England |
| instrument | Vocals, harmonica, guitar, drums |
| genre | Blues, rock, blues-rock, blue-eyed soul |
| occupation | Musician, composer, actor |
| years active | 1960 – present |
| label | Regal ZonophoneA&M;CapitolEMIDecca |
| associated acts | The Grease Band |
| website | www.cocker.comwww.columbia.de/joecocker/ }} |
Biography
Early life
Cocker was born on 20 May 1944 at 38 Tasker Road, Crookes, Sheffield, England. He is the youngest son of a civil servant, Harold Cocker, and Madge Cocker. According to different family stories, Cocker received his nickname of Joe either from playing a childhood game called "Cowboy Joe" or from a neighbourhood window cleaner named Joe. Cocker's main musical influences growing up were Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan. Cocker's first experience singing in public was at age 12 when his elder brother Victor invited him on stage to sing during a gig of his skiffle group. In 1960, along with three friends, Cocker formed his first group, the Cavaliers. For the group's first performance at a youth club, they were required to pay the price of admission before entering. The Cavaliers eventually broke up after a year and Cocker left school to become an apprentice gasfitter while he pursued a career in music.
Early career (1961–1966)
In 1961, under the stage name Vance Arnold, Cocker continued his career with a new group, Vance Arnold and the Avengers. The name was a combination of Vince Everett, Elvis Presley's character in ''Jailhouse Rock'', (which Cocker misheard as Vance) and country singer Eddy Arnold. The group mostly played in the pubs of Sheffield, performing covers of Chuck Berry and Ray Charles songs. In 1963 they booked their first significant gig when they supported The Rolling Stones at Sheffield City Hall. In 1964 Cocker signed a recording contract as a solo act with Decca and released his first single, a cover of the Beatles' "I'll Cry Instead" (with Jimmy Page playing backup guitar). Despite extensive promotion from Decca lauding his youth and working class roots, the record was a flop and his recording contract with Decca lapsed at the end of 1964. After Cocker recorded the single, he dropped his stage name and formed a new group, Joe Cocker's Big Blues. There is only one known recording of Joe Cocker's and Big Blues on an EP given out by Sheffield College during Rag Week and called Rag Goes Mad at the Mojo. It contained a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "I've Been Trying" and a track of "Saved".
The Grease Band (1966–1969)
In 1966, after a year-long hiatus from music, Cocker teamed up with Chris Stainton, whom he had met several years before, to form the Grease Band. The Grease Band was named after Cocker read an interview with jazz musician Jimmy Smith, where Smith described another musician as "having a lot of grease". Like the Avengers, Cocker's group mostly played in pubs in and around Sheffield. The Grease Band came to the attention of Denny Cordell, the producer of Procol Harum, the Moody Blues and Georgie Fame. Cocker recorded the single "Marjorine" without the Grease Band for Cordell in a London studio. He then moved to London with Chris Stainton, and the Grease Band was dissolved. Cordell set Cocker up with a residency at the Marquee Club in London, and a "new" Grease Band was formed with Stainton and keyboardist Tommy Eyre.After minor success in the US with the single "Marjorine", Cocker entered the big time with a groundbreaking rearrangement of "With a Little Help from My Friends", another Beatles cover, which was later used as the opening theme for ''The Wonder Years''. The recording features lead guitar from Jimmy Page, drumming by BJ Wilson, backing vocals from Sue and Sunny, and Tommy Eyre on organ. The single made the Top Ten on the British charts, remaining there for thirteen weeks and eventually reaching number one, on 9 November 1968. It also reached number 68 on the US charts.
The new touring line-up of Cocker's Grease Band featured Henry McCullough on lead guitar, who would go on to briefly play with McCartney's Wings. After touring the UK with the Who in autumn 1968 and Gene Pitney and Marmalade in early Winter 1969, the Grease Band embarked on their first tour of the US in spring 1969. Cocker's album ''With A Little Help from my Friends'' was released soon after their arrival and made number 35 on the American charts, eventually going gold. During his US tour, Cocker played at several large festivals, including the Newport Rock Festival and the Denver Pop Festival. In August, Denny Cordell heard about the planned concert in Woodstock, New York and convinced organiser Artie Kornfeld to book Cocker and the Grease Band for the Woodstock Festival. The group had to be flown into the festival by helicopter due to the large crowds. They performed several songs, including "Delta Lady", "Something's Comin' On", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "I Shall Be Released", and "With a Little Help from My Friends". Cocker would later say that the experience was "like an eclipse... it was a very special day."
Directly after Woodstock, Cocker released his second album, ''Joe Cocker!''. Impressed by his cover of "With A Little Help From my Friends", Paul McCartney and George Harrison allowed Cocker to use their songs "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" and "Something" for the album. Recorded during a break in touring in the spring and summer, the album reached number 11 on the US charts and garnered a second UK hit with the Leon Russell song, "Delta Lady".
Throughout 1969 he was featured on variety TV shows like ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' and ''This Is Tom Jones''. Onstage, he exhibited an idiosyncratic physical intensity, flailing his arms and playing air guitar, occasionally giving superfluous cues to his band. At the end of the year Cocker was unwilling to embark on another US tour, so he dissolved the Grease Band.
Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1969–1971)
Despite Cocker's reluctance to venture out on the road again, an American tour had already been booked so he had to quickly form a new band in order to fulfil his contractual obligations. It proved to be a large group of more than 30 musicians, including pianist and bandleader Leon Russell, three drummers, and backing vocalists Rita Coolidge and Claudia Lennear. The new band was christened "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" by Denny Cordell after the Noël Coward song of the same name. His music at this time evolved into a more bluesy type of rock, often compared to that of The Rolling Stones. During the ensuing Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour (later described by drummer Jim Keltner as "a big, wild party"), Cocker toured 48 cities, recorded a live album, and received very positive reviews from ''Time'' and ''Life'' for his performances. However, the pace of the tour was exhausting. Russell and Cocker had personal problems and Cocker became depressed and began drinking excessively as the tour wound down in May 1970. Meanwhile, he enjoyed several chart entries in the US with "Cry Me a River" and "Feelin' Alright" by Dave Mason. His cover of the Box Tops' hit "The Letter", which appeared on the live album and film, ''Mad Dogs and Englishmen'', became his first US Top Ten hit. After spending several months in Los Angeles, Cocker returned home to Sheffield where his family became increasingly concerned with his deteriorating physical and mental health. In the summer of 1971 the A&M; Records single release appeared in the US of "High Time We Went". This became a hit, reaching number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but was not issued on an album until November 1972 on the ''Joe Cocker'' album.
On the road (1972–1982)
In early 1972, after nearly two years away from music, Cocker went on tour with a group that Chris Stainton had formed. He opened with a performance in Madison Square Garden which was attended by about 20,000 people. After touring the US, he embarked on a European tour where he played to large audiences in Milan and Germany. He then returned to the US for another tour in autumn 1972. During these tours the group cut the songs that would be part of his newest album, ''Joe Cocker''. A mixture of live songs and studio recordings, the album peaked at number 30 on the US charts.In October 1972, when Cocker toured Australia, he and six members of his entourage were arrested in Adelaide by police for possession of marijuana. The next day in Melbourne, assault charges were laid after a brawl at the Commodore Chateau Hotel, and Cocker was given 48 hours to leave the country by the Australian Federal Police. This caused huge public outcry in Australia, as Cocker was a high-profile overseas artist and had a strong support base, especially amongst the baby boomers who were coming of age and able to vote for the first time. It sparked hefty debate about the use and legalisation of marijuana in Australia and gained Cocker the nickname of "the Mad Dog". Shortly after the Australian tour, Stainton retired from his music career to establish his own recording studio. After his friend's departure and estrangement from longtime producer Denny Cordell, Cocker sank into depression and began using heroin. In June 1973 he kicked the habit, but continued to drink heavily.
At the end of 1973, Cocker returned to the studio to record a new album, ''I Can Stand A Little Rain''. The album, released in August 1974, was number 11 on the US charts and one single, a cover of Billy Preston's ''You Are So Beautiful'', reached the number 5 slot. Despite positive reviews for the album, Cocker struggled with live performances, largely due to his problems with alcohol. In January 1975, he released a second album that had been recorded at the same time as ''I Can Stand a Little Rain'', ''Jamaica Say You Will''. To promote his new album, Cocker embarked on another tour of Australia, made possible by the country's new Labor government. In late 1975, he contributed vocals on a number of the tracks on Bo Diddley's ''The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll'' all-star album. He also recorded a new album in a Kingston, Jamaica studio, ''Stingray''. However, record sales were disappointing; the album reached only number 70 on the US charts.
In 1976, Cocker performed "Feelin' Alright" on ''Saturday Night Live''. John Belushi joined him on stage doing his famous impersonation of Cocker's stage movements. At the time, Cocker was $800,000 in debt to A&M; Records and struggling with alcoholism. Several months later, he met producer Michael Lang, who agreed to manage him on the condition that he stay sober. With a new band, Cocker embarked on a tour of New Zealand, Australia, and South America. He then recorded a new album with session work by Steve Gadd and Chuck Rainey, and a new, young bassist from Scotland, Rob Hartley. Hartley also toured briefly with Cocker's friends in 1977. In the autumn of 1978, he went on a North American tour promoting his album, ''Luxury You Can Afford''. Despite this effort, it received mixed reviews and only sold around 300,000 copies.
In 1979, Cocker joined the "Woodstock in Europe" tour, which featured musicians like Arlo Guthrie and Richie Havens who had played at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. He also performed in New York's Central Park to an audience of 20,000 people. The concert was recorded and released as the live album, ''Live in New York''. He also toured Europe and appeared on the German television recording amphitheatre, ''Rockpalast'', the first of many performances on the show. In 1982, Cocker recorded a song with jazz group the Crusaders on their album ''Standing Tall''. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award and Cocker performed it with the Crusaders at the awards ceremony. Cocker then released a new reggae-influenced album, ''Sheffield Steel'', recorded with the Compass Point All Stars, produced by Chris Blackwell and Alex Sadkin.
Later career (1982–present)
In 1982, at the behest of producer Stewart Levine, Cocker recorded the duet "Up Where We Belong" with Jennifer Warnes for the soundtrack of the 1982 film ''An Officer and a Gentleman''. The song was an international hit, reaching number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and winning a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo. The duet also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and Cocker and Warnes performed the song at the awards ceremony. Several days later, he was invited to perform "You Are So Beautiful" with Ray Charles in a television tribute to the musician. He then joined singer Ronnie Lane's 1983 tour to raise money for the London-based organisation Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis. Musicians such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Chris Stainton also participated in the tour which included a performance at Madison Square Garden. While on another tour that year, Cocker was arrested by Austrian police after refusing to perform because of inadequate sound equipment. The charges were eventually dropped and Cocker was released. Shortly after the incident, he released his ninth studio album, ''Civilized Man''. His next album ''Cocker'' was dedicated to his mother, Madge, who died when he was recording in the studio. A track from the album, "You Can Leave Your Hat On" was featured in the 1986 film ''9½ Weeks''. The album eventually went Platinum on the European charts. His 1987 album ''Unchain My Heart'' was nominated for a Grammy Award, although it did not win. ''One Night of Sin'' was also a commercial success, surpassing ''Unchain My Heart'' in sales.Throughout the 1980s, Cocker continued to tour around the world, playing to large audiences in Europe, Australia and the United States. In 1988, he performed at London's Royal Albert Hall and appeared on ''The Tonight Show''. He also performed for President George H. W. Bush at an inauguration concert in February 1989. In 1992, his version of Bryan Adams' "Feels Like Forever" made the UK Top 40.
Cocker performed the opening set at Woodstock '94 as one of the few alumni who played at the original Woodstock Festival in 1969.
In 2007, Cocker appeared playing minor characters in the film ''Across the Universe'', as the lead singer on another Beatles hit, "Come Together". Cocker was awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for services to music. To celebrate receiving his award in mid December 2007, Cocker played two concerts in London and in his home town of Sheffield.
In April and May 2009, Cocker conducted a North American tour in support of his album ''Hymn for My Soul''.
On 26 May 2010, Cocker joined Season 9's ''American Idol'' Lee DeWyze and first runner-up Crystal Bowersox, for a version of "With a Little Help From My Friends".
He sang the vocals on Little Wing for the Carlos Santana album, ''Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time'', released on 21 September 2010. In the fall of 2010, Cocker toured Europe promoting his studio album ''Hard Knocks''.
On 26 October 2010 Cocker visited Armenia for first time with his new ''Hard Knocks'' tour.
Cocker returned to Australia in 2008 and again in 2011, the latter of which featured George Thorogood and the Destroyers as an opening act.
Personal life
In 1963, Cocker began dating Eileen Webster, also a resident of Sheffield. The couple dated intermittently for the next thirteen years, separating permanently in 1976. In 1978, Cocker moved onto a ranch owned by Jane Fonda in Santa Barbara, California, United States. Pam Baker, a local summer camp director and fan of Cocker's music convinced the actress to rent the house to Cocker. Baker began dating Cocker and they eventually married on 11 October 1987. The couple currently reside on the Mad Dog Ranch in Crawford, Colorado, United States.Cocker is not related to fellow Sheffield-born musician Jarvis Cocker, despite this being a rumour (particularly in Australia, where Jarvis' father Mac Cocker was a radio DJ who allowed listeners to believe he was Joe Cocker's brother).
Discography
:''For a comprehensive list of recordings see Joe Cocker discography.''
Studio albums
Notes
References
Further reading
External links
Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:Blue-eyed soul singers Category:English film actors Category:English male singers Category:English pop singers Category:English rock singers Category:English soul singers Category:Gasfitters Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Music from Sheffield Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from Sheffield Category:Sheffield Legends Category:English expatriates in the United States
an:Joe Cocker az:Joe Cocker be:Джо Кокер be-x-old:Джо Кокер bg:Джо Кокър cs:Joe Cocker da:Joe Cocker de:Joe Cocker et:Joe Cocker es:Joe Cocker fr:Joe Cocker gl:Joe Cocker ko:조 카커 hr:Joe Cocker id:Joe Cocker it:Joe Cocker he:ג'ו קוקר kl:Joe Cocker ka:ჯო კოკერი lt:Joe Cocker hu:Joe Cocker nl:Joe Cocker ja:ジョー・コッカー no:Joe Cocker pl:Joe Cocker pt:Joe Cocker ru:Кокер, Джо simple:Joe Cocker sk:Joe Cocker sh:Joe Cocker fi:Joe Cocker sv:Joe Cocker th:โจ ค็อกเกอร์ uk:Джо КокерThis text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
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