In keeping with his enigmatic facade — long white hair, Gandalf beard, sunglasses — Leon Russell has long been a behind-the-scenes guy. But there’s no disguising his imprimatur on popular music in the last 50 years. Russell has done session work for Sinatra and the Stones (among countless other greats) and launched the careers of Tom Petty and J.J. Cale through his label, Shelter Records. He has also earned a few gold records for his solo work, a well-earned stew of gospel, blues, rock and country.
— David Hudnall