Claude Bridges was actually his real name. Passed away in Nashville in his sleep. A songwriter and performer whose career and music spanned the entire last half of the twentieth century.
Most of Eric Clapton's "Derek & The Dominoes" album, including the hit "Tulsa Time" was recorded at Bridge's private recording studio at his house in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Bridges was born and raised. He adopted the name "Hank Wilson" for a number of country western albums late in his career. He was quoted as saying it was a way to "get back his Okie twang". A "twang" he spent a lifetime defending.
Most of the rest of the world knew him as Leon Russell. RIP Claude.
Great musician.
Saw him many times in the NYC area way back when at the Filmore East, Central Park etc.
But one of the best shows that I ever saw in my life was in the 70s at the Warehouse in New Orleans on a very hot and steamy night. The Warehouse was an old cotton warehouse on Tchoupitoulas St along the river that the concert palace of New Orleans. There was no AC and was cloud of smoke inside despite the fire marshals flipping out. Again one of the best concerts that I ever attended.
Leon had a great band and put on quite a show. Pure R&B aka Ray Charles. Even down to his back up singers.
No country music that night.
He was also a elite producer and studio musician. His list of credits is astonishing.
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A number of years back Leon was known to frequent small bars with live music there in Tulsa when he was at home. Although everybody knew him he rarely drew enough of a crowd to be a problem. A great performer, Leon was also an accomplished and noted studio musician and song writer. Hate to hear he's gone. He was on a local daytime talk show not long ago pitching his up-coming tour. Guess that's been cancelled.
Remember him as a full fledged entertainer that could perform multiple genre of music and shows and input his personal style into everyone of them.
RIP
Weird as I had mad dogs and englishmen playing in the background all day friday at work. Remember dad used to wear out the "hank wilson's back" album in the shop- as a kid I couldn't figure out why a guy named leon would call himself hank. read somewhere he and j.j. cale were buddies as teeneagers and had a band for a bit in high school. Bet they ruffled some 50's feathers in tulsa.
