Leon Russell

The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock & Roll History

By: Bill Janovitz

Narrated by: Bill Janovitz, Jason Culp

Length: 24 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The definitive biography of legendary musician, composer, and performer Leon Russell, a profound influence on countless artists, including George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and the world of music as a whole.

Leon Russell is an icon, but somehow is still an underappreciated artist. He is spoken of in tones reserved not just for the most talented musicians, but also for the most complex and fascinating. His career is like a roadmap of music history, often intersecting with rock royalty like Bob Dylan, the Stones, and the Beatles. He started in the Fifties as a teenager touring with Jerry Lee Lewis, going on to play piano on records by such giants as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and Phil Spector, and on hundreds of classic songs with major recording artists. Leon was Elton John’s idol, and Elton inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Leon also gets credit for altering Willie Nelson’s career, giving us the long-haired, pot-friendly Willie we all know and love today.

In his prime, Leon filled stadiums on solo tours, and was an organizer/performer on both Joe Cocker’s revolutionary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh. Leon also founded Shelter Records in 1969 with producer Denny Cordell, discovering and releasing the debut albums of Tom Petty, the Gap Band, Phoebe Snow, and J.J. Cale. Leon always assembled wildly diverse bands and performances, fostering creative and free atmospheres for musicians to live and work together. He brazenly challenged musical and social barriers. However, Russell also struggled with his demons, including substance abuse, severe depression, and a crippling stage fright that wreaked havoc on his psyche over the long haul and at times seemed to will himself into obscurity. Now, acclaimed author and founding member of Buffalo Tom, Bill Janovitz shines the spotlight on one of the most important music makers of the twentieth century.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Bill Janovitz (P)2023 Hachette Books

Critic reviews

"An eccentric, contrary genius, Leon Russell is one of the most compelling, misunderstood, and neglected figures in rock history. Bill Janovitz has unraveled the riddle of the rock n'roll sphinx in this masterful, majestic book. His love and admiration for Russell bleeds from every paragraph, yet he pulls no punches when it comes to Leon's life or his work. Janovitz brings the circus of characters surrounding Russell to life in vivid, sometimes hilarious detail. His research is impeccable, unerring; his deeply considered opinions of Russell's music unimpeachable. This is a biography for the ages, as thrilling an inspired as any piano solo from Leon himself. You really want to know what it's like to be a flawed superstar in the fabulous world of rock? Here it is, on a fiery platter."—Jimmy McDonough, New York Times bestselling author of Shakey: Neil Young's Biography

Epitaph of Genius

As an Oklahoman, I have long been waiting on this book and it was SO worth it. The reading was spectacular as the narrator assumed varied personas, but the story was amazing. Leon is and was the Master of Space and Time!!

VERY SPECIAL... 😎👍

Words fail to express how well loved and admired is Leon Russell. I am now 75 years old and grew up as a drummer playing in Gin Mills six nights a week for nearly two decades. At that time there was no internet. there was no Google. there was no real access to the personages and scenarios in and behind that explosive creative era. There were only album jacket liner notes that we devoured and committed to memory. This spectacular biographical presentation filled a void from my past and enabled me a detailed time capsuled View of everything that underlined the burgeoning sounds of the '60s 70s 80s and Beyond. The Wrecking Crew, Muscle Shoals, the Tulsa sound. the Southern Soul Funk Blues Gospel foot stomping can't sit down songs of love and loss and going home. There are so many details of all the musicians friends and family named ( I learned there were at least 137 interviews) encompassing Leon's career from 4 years old until he was 74.. I absolutely will listen to this again to fully understand how exceptional and Broad his influence and talents truly are. Speaking of Google, it was great while listening and learning of a person or a song and wanting more info I could just stop and take a little side trip. what a fabulous ride this is and the sheer volume of his work his life and his legacy is truly astonishing. if you ever tapped your foot to a Leon Russell tune you must go through this book. LOVE YOU LEON Iand thank you Mr janovitz for sharing this with us 😎👍😎👍

A masterpiece

Leon Russell was a gift to the world of music. So interesting to hear all the stories of rise fall and resurgence

If you wanted to know, now you do.

I really enjoyed this book, and if you love learning about musicians and the music industry you'll love this book. It seemed to be very comprehensive and the performance was really quite great. I love the subtle nuances in the accents when switching perspectives. The only thing that would make this better is if you could splice in clips from all the music. But I Imagine that would be a legal logistic nightmare.

I've been a Leon fan for a long time. (Not as long as most lifers, as I'm under the age of 40. But still for over half my life.) I was introduced to Leon through two older relatives and i can't thank them enough.

I've been waiting for a deep dive on Leon since before he passed and this book really hit the spot. It really seems to cover anything you'd want to know about his career and more. I could have probably done without some of the personal stuff that brings down the veil of stardom. But life is messing. Why would Leon's have been any different.

Now I'm just waiting for a Cameron Crowe/Richard Linklater style travel concert biopic based around the Mad Dogs tour. Please universe make this happen!

Leon Forever!!

I loved this book! Listened to it and then read it twice. Great job Bill.

Epic journey through an epic life…

This was more than I ever could have hoped for. Recommend this book on every level… for those who love Leon and for those who are interested in the complicated world of the music business. It was thoroughly and carefully researched, for which I am so grateful. Thank you, Bill Janovitz, for this lovely gift of a book about a very special artist and musician—and who was so much more.

Exhaustive

I lived in Tulsa during the time Leon was in his hay day. So this book was of some interest to me. I think anyone who was a big Russell fan would like this book but to the casual listener, it was too long and exhaustive. I really didn’t care to hear about each time Leon smoked a joint or was out with a new woman. On the audio side, which is how I read the book, it was 24 hours long. The first 1/3 and the last 1/3 were the most interesting to me. Leon was an absolute genius and should’ve stayed a session musician. The fact that he was bipolar helped me understand some of his demons. He just didn’t manage his money or his life very well. From historical perspective, this book leaves no rock unturned. if you loved Leon, you will love this book. If Leon was just one of your mini fascinating interests in the rock genre, I think you’ll find it a little too long. 

Really amazing life.

Well written and entertaining. Growing up in Tulsa he was a local celebrity and after reading this book I learned how much he impacted the contemporary music industry. Great book!

A long awaited bio of Leon

An easy listen. I couldn’t wait to listen each day. Leon was part of the legendary Wrecking Crew. He had solo success afterward. A great book.

Passing time with the Master

Great narrative about the Man. Well thought through. Captures a balanced sense of the man.