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Tulsa's Leon Russell Is Dead at 74

KWGS News

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and Tulsa native Leon Russell is dead. He was 74 years-old. According to Facebook, he died in his sleep while in Nashville.

Russell had a heart bypass earlier this year.

He was born Russell Bridges and  started playing Tulsa night clubs in his early teens.  He changed his name to Leon Russell after he left Tulsa for L.A. in the early 1960s.

He had several hit records on his own in the late 60s and early 70s, such as 'Tight Rope', 'Roll Away the Stone' and 'Home Sweet Oklahoma'. His piano styling can be heard on recordings from Joe Cocker, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Eric Clapton, John Lennon and Elton John.

There is no word yet on memorial  services.