Leon Russell has Passed Away

The “Musician’s Musician,” Claude Russell Bridges aka"Leon Russell", has died in his sleep according to his website. The hitmaker was only 74-years-old when he passed away in Nashville.

Russell was known for his style, a long-haired, bearded, top hat wearing, scratchy-voiced musician, who was able to play the guitar and piano. He was a bandleader and songwriter, who was involved in many recording sessions and pumped out tons of hits on his very own.

In recent years, Russell's health had taken a turn for the worse. Back in 2010, he had a brain fluid leak for which he underwent surgery and was also treated for heart failure. Then last July, he suffered a heart attack and was supposed to have more surgery according to a news release from a historical society in his home state - Oklahoma.

He had a trademark sound, with his Oklahoma drawl and amazing talent on the piano as his fingers played two-fisted barrelhouse chords. In the early 1970s, he made his mark in the music industry, leading Joe Cocker’s band – Mad Dogs and Englishmen – and creating many hits of his own.

Leon Russell was born Claude Russell Bridges and also went by the stage name Hank Wilson. The masculine name Claude is the French version of the name Claudius, which is taken from a Roman family name that might have been derived from the Latin word claudus that means “crippled” or “lame”.

Since the Middle Ages, the name has been common because of the 7th-century saint – Claude of Besancon. Then in the 16th century, the name was imported to Britain by the aristocratic Hamilton family.