Leon Russell In His Own Words

by Leon Russell, Steve Todoroff (Editor), John Wooley (Editor)

A fascinating treasure trove of never-before-published material, written byt the Master of Space and Time himself. Delving into an extensive file of interviews given by Leon's friends and fellow musicians, editors Steve Todoroff and John Wooley have taken Russell's remembrances and enhanced them with the words of many who were with him during those years. The result is a one-of-a-kind book that uniquely captures the kaledoscopic rock 'n' roll scenes of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, giving it all to us in the voice of a music legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer...with a little hlp from his friends!

Genres: Music

138 pages, paperback

Published July 25, 2019

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to give this 5 stars, mainly because a) it brought Leon just a tiny bit closer, b) I spent so much time going to Spotify because he reminded me of artists and songs that i just had to listen to again, c) I ended up having to purchase 2 DVD's of performances - one I knew nothing about (A Person is a Naked Poem), and d) it took me hours to read a book that in most cases would take an hour at most.

I miss Leon something fierce.

[Fensterdm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Todoroff and John Wooley have done a masterful job of presenting Russell's short manuscript of anecdotes from his early days playing Tulsa clubs to his rise to superstardom. Some readers may be surprised to discover that Russell was an erudite, witty, and super intelligent individual. And an accomplished raconteur! Highly recommended.

[Cheryl Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for my birthday in early November. I finished it today, almost three months later. Although I wanted to immediately read it, I found myself putting it off until things slowed down, and I had some uninterrupted time. The holidays came and went, and still I couldn’t pick it up--not because I had other books I wanted to read or because I had a halfhearted interest in it. No, I just didn’t want to reach the end. Did I mention LEON RUSSELL IN HIS OWN WORDS is a mere 119 pages long? An average reader could easily read it in an hour or so. It took me three weeks once I began. Because I didn’t want to reach the end, I read a chapter at a time. I then sat back and savored every single word, wanting to read more but still dreading the end. Those words I lingered over are Leon’s own words, personally typed in a Word document years ago and shared with one of the editors, Steve Todoroff.
What I love most about this book is that I can hear Leon’s voice as I read. I got to see Leon in concert many times. He always mesmerized us with his music, but in addition, he entertained us with stories, about his music, about his history, about his life. I looked forward to those stories as much as the music. That voice. I heard it as I read his words in this book. He had a somewhat dry sense of humor, and that comes through loud and clear in these pages. In the chapter “On the Road to Xanadu” he describes the beginning of his foray into drugs (happily, Leon quit drugs and alcohol later in life!) When I read, “Somewhere in the darkness of my past and quite contrary to the wishes of Nancy Reagan (who created the ‘Just Say No’ tagline . . .) I would ‘Just Say Yes.’ In fact, I practically never said no.” I heard Leon’s voice as if he were sitting in the room with me, that deadpan, serious voice making me smile even now.
More stories like these fill up the pages along with added explanatory notes where needed by the editors. They’re filled with Leon’s relationships with other musicians. From Jerry Lee Lewis to Ricky Nelson to Elvis to Sonny and Cher and all the way to The Beatles, Joe Cocker, and Waylon and Willie, Leon’s influence reached them all. So much history unfolds in these 119 pages. The last chapter, “Willie and Me,” ends abruptly with Leon’s distaste for California and his decision to move to Nashville in the 80s.
The only stories we have after that Willie chapter are those he shared verbally with family and friends or with us lucky enough to hear Leon’s voice at one of his shows. His unexpected death in 2016 quashed the hope that we would hear more.
Todoroff and John Wooley dedicate LEON RUSSELL IN HIS OWN WORDS to “the LeonLifers.” I can now say that I have a book dedicated to me.
p.s. Todoroff and Wooley also include, in the final pages, a list of the names of those who donated to the Leon Russell Monument Fund. I sobbed when I saw my name on page 118. What a gift. I am forever grateful.

[Kenwyn Whitford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since my memories of Leon began at the Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, featuring Joe Cocker, I was drawn in to what seemed to be quite a crazy world. Leon had a presence that would captivate you with a stare that came from other worlds.

Only when I found out his back history did I begin to learn of the talents he had both as a musician, working with L.A.'s famous Wrecking Crew, but also behind the board, producing such artists' as Gary Lewis & The Playboys (remember "This Diamond Ring" with Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Leon featured dramatically with "Beware Of Darkness" when he came in on the third verse after George sang in his whispering way. The crowd knew who he was and what a gift he had to share with us all.

Living now in the mid-West, I am in the state of Kansas, Oklahoma's neighbor to the North. I gave me chills to read about Leon's days playing in this area, from Woodward, OK to Kiowa, KS and to know his roots were in Tulsa, OK, which was probably more famous for being home to Oral Roberts, and his university. You had a sense that gospel music was an underlying thread.

It was a very good read and for anybody desiring to know where some of the mid-West musical magic came from, then this would be the right book for you.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short overview in Leons own words. Interspersed with a few memories from close friends. I am looking forward to the followup biography bt Leons friend who wrote the introduction to this book.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leon Russell is, hands down, one of my favorite musicians. I played his albums to death as a teenager & find that they’re still great, still hold up today. I also saw him perform live many times, both at the height of his solo career in large arenas during the early & mid ‘70s and toward the end, in casinos and small clubs. I’m fascinated with his early days as a host on “Shindig” & as a member of the LA “Wrecking Crew,” who played on many, many of the popular hits of the 60s and loved his performances in “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” and “The Concert for Bangladesh” with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr & Bob Dylan.

I’ve been waiting for a biography that offers a comprehensive discussion of this Tulsa Oklahoma musician, songwriter, and arranger-and this is not it! This slim volume is a collection of short pieces that Russell wrote but never polished or finalized. So it’s interesting to a fan like me and contains some great rock, pop & country music trivia nuggets, but I’m waiting for the comprehensive biography of the multi-talented Leon Russell.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Leon Russell fan. I had heard most of the stories but loved reading about them in this book. There are different details and things I hadn't heard or read before. A great insight into the Master of Space and time

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too short, but for real Russell fans, a must read. Mr Todoroff did his best to try to clarify some of Leon's stories...times and places. 4 stars because it's about my all time favourite artist, and I enjoyed his stories.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into his life, through his own words and words of other musicians and friends. I don’t think most people realize how talented this man was. Would love to read a full autobiography. This one just scratches the surface.

[Debbie Best · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Leon Russell as a musician and a song writer, he should stick to writing songs. This book was a horrible read, like watching paint dry. Sorry Leon, I still love you.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about a great musician mostly humorous look a Leon Russell's life written by himself. I would liked it to be longer.

[Diane O'connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A taste of a giant’s life

Russell’s stories make you wish you could track him down and hear all he had. If there’s anything wrong with the book it’s its brevity.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leon Russell In His Own Words (With a Little Help From His Friends) by Leon Russell (Edited and Annotated by Steve Todoroff and John Wooley) (Steve Todoroff Archives 2019) (Biography) (3914).

This book (Leon Russell’s autobiography) will be my last foray into the Leon Russell bookshelf. This book represents the beginning of an exhaustive tell-all which Leon started dictating as a young rock star, but he then shelved the project for many years. Editor Steve Todoroff later picked up Leon’s abandoned project and completed it.

This volume (albeit in Leon’s own words) bears little relation to the recent portrait of the artist which was published in 2023 by author Bill Janovitz in his book Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History. Janovitz’s book paints an unhappy, greedy, vindictive, unlikeable, grudge-holding rock star. Leon Russell In His Own Words (With a Little Help From His Friends) (2019) reveals nothing of the sort.

I’m in no position to judge the veracity of the two volumes, so I’ll simply add a few notes from my reading of Russell’s autobiography.

Leon acknowledged that he liked the drugs PCP (“Angel Dust”) and LSD. He loved listening to Pentecostal preachers and preaching (Billy James Hargis, Ernest Angley, J. Charles Jessup), and he loved the gospel choral music of the COGIC (Church of God in Christ) assemblies. In fact, Russell purposely incorporated elements of COGIC gospel music into his live performances in an attempt to create an ‘artificially induced religious experience’ quality to his live shows. (p.64).

I don’t know how much this book reveals about the man, but I have been a fan of Leon Russell and his music since 1973. He was truly “The Master of Space and Time.”

My rating: 7/10, finished 2/6/24 (3914).

[Steve Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct peek at genius. Leon's story is so fascinating with so many layers, this could've gone on four or five times as long and I wouldn't have minded. however, Leon tells his tales with an Oklahoman modesty--he could've filled a couple hundred pages dropping names of people he's worked with as well as his accomplishments. The stories culled for this book inform the reader of the man behind the beard and the music, Leon's sense of humor and witty prose frequently highlighted. Credit is also due to Steven Todoroff and John Wooley for stitching together such a delightful book.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting to a point-but so much missing!

Where are his wives? Inspiration behind his biggest hits? His ‘reawakening’ w Elton John? Nada! I’d like to know if he were alive would he appreciate this homage? Me think not!

[Cliff Adcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but great

I'm from Tulsa and this book really brought back some memories for me. Also shed light on some great stories and Leon Russell history. Hopefully a much more through biography will be available with more indepth detail of this amazing musical genius.

[suzanne Sturm dunkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Circuitous

I had a hard time knowing who was talking. The story line bounced around. I found Lion to be a compelling character. I would have liked to go below the surface more.