The legendary Leon Russell will play a free show in Rockefeller Park on July 10
Rockefeller Park, Battery Park City
Wednesday, July 10, free, 7:00
www.rivertorivernyc.com
www.leonrussellrecords.com
“About a year ago, Elton came, found me in a ditch by the side of the highway of life. He took me up to the high stages, with big audiences, and treated me like a king,” Leon Russell said in his acceptance speech upon being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Elton John in 2011. John and Russell, who had played together back in the early 1970s, reunited for 2010’s The Union, which brought Russell back to prominence after nearly fading into obscurity. Over the course of his nearly fifty-year career, the Oklahoma-born musician has written and/or played on myriad classic tracks, from Phil Spector records and the Beach Boys to George Harrison, the Carpenters, Freddie King, Rita Coolidge, the Byrds, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr, Herb Alpert, Eric Clapton, and dozens and dozens of others, scoring hits with “Superstar,” “Tight Rope,” “Delta Lady,” “This Masquerade,” and his signature number, “A Song for You.” He was a standout at the Concert for Bangladesh, performing “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Young Blood,” and was a member of Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. On July 10, Russell, who underwent brain surgery in 2010 while working with John, will be playing a free show in Rockefeller Park as part of the River to River Festival, and concertgoers will most definitely be surprised when they hear plenty of songs they never knew had any relation to this legendary, long white-haired master who marvelously melds pop, rock, and folk with country and blues.