“I studied classical music for a long time, maybe 10 years, and I realized finally I was never going to have the hands to play that stuff.”

American musician and songwriter

Leon Russell was an American musician and songwriter whose career stretched across six decades. Born in 1942 and active in a wide range of popular styles, he was known for work tied to many bestselling records and for his influence on the Tulsa sound. His recording career brought him six gold records and two Grammy Awards from seven nominations. In 1973, Billboard named him the "Top Concert Attraction in the World". He was later inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.