a little tulsa funk for yall: Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, Claude Russell Bridges 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 from the 1960s. He and his group The Starlighters, which included J.J. Cale, Leo Feathers, 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 Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis, George Harrison, Gram Parsons, Delaney Bramlett, Ringo Starr, Doris Day, Elton John, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, The Ventures, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, Tijuana Brass, Frank Sinatra, The Band, Bob Dylan, J.J.Cale, BB King, Dave Mason, Glen Campbell, and The Rolling Stones. As a first call studio musician in Los Angeles, 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 1964s T.A.M.I. Show, playing piano with The Wrecking Crew (an informal name for the top L.A. session musicians of the 1960s). Soon after, he was hired as Snuff Garretts assistant/creative developer, playing on numerous #1 singles, including This Diamond Ring by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. He wrote or co-wrote two hit songs for Gary Lewis and Playboys: Everybody Loves a Clown and Shes Just My Style He played xylophone and bells on the 1966 single The Joker Went Wild, sung by Brian Hyland. He also worked sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell on Campbells 1967 album Gentle on My Mind, where he was credited as Russell Bridges on piano. Russells first commercial success as a songwriter came when Joe Cocker recorded the song Delta Lady for his 1969 album, Joe Cocker! Russell went on to organize and perform in the 1970 Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour in support of the album. Soon after the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, Shelter Records released his 1970 solo album Leon Russell, which included the first recording of A Song for You. from wikipedia source of all knowledge lol
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 18:29:34 +0000
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