'He was central to music history': the forgotten legacy of Leon Russell | Music | The Guardian

'He was central to music history': the forgotten legacy of Leon Russell | Music | The Guardian

"By 1969, Russell had become a musical octopus with tentacles spreading to his own record company (Shelter Records), a duo he formed called the Asylum Choir, and, most importantly, key contributions to albums by Delaney & Bonnie, the only white act signed to Stax. Their rollicking second album, Accept No Substitute, didn't sell well yet it became, in Janovitz's words, 'a secret handshake. It was the album where all the major musicians said to each other, "You have to hear this."'

"The buzz on Delaney & Bonnie's record was so intense, it inspired Eric Clapton, Dave Mason and George Harrison to join the group - which also included Rita Coolidge - for a UK tour. A then unknown Elton John found himself equally besotted. 'Elton once said to me, "I would not be where I am today without Leon Russell and Delaney & Bonnie, and the music you all made,"' Coolidge said."