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The Great Depression Ends
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Japan Bombs the U.S. Military Base at Pearl Harbor
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Leon Russell is Born
Birth Place Lawton, OK -
U.S. Drops Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
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Korean War
The Korean War begins its three year conflict when troops of North Korea, backed with Soviet weaponry, invade South Korea. This act leads to U.S. involvement when two days later, the United States Air Force and Navy are ordered by President Truman to the peninsula. -
Highschool
Leons family moved to Tulsa and attended Will Rogers High School where he played in the band. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
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Music Career Begins
At the age of 14 Leon played at Tulsa nightclubs. -
Sputnik Launches
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Move to Los Angeles
Leon moves to Los Angeles and studies guitar with James Burton -
Russell Records
Leon received the opportunity to finally record a few of his own records with Chess Records. -
Alaska and Hawaii Become States
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Civil Rights Act of 1960
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U.S. Breaks Diplomatic Relations with Cuba
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MLK March
Martin Luther King led thousands of nonviolent demonstrators to the steps of the capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Becomes Musical Director
Russell served as Joe Cocker’s musical director, organizing a massive, 43-member Rock/R&B ensemble to back Cocker on his tour of the US. -
Shelter Records Established
Leon Russell established Shelter Records with Denny Cordel. Established locations in both L.A. and Tulsa -
First Man Walks on Moon
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Debut Album
Leon Russell releases his self-titled debut record. -
Rolling Stones Magazine Interview
Leon Russel was interview with by the Rolling Stones Magazine -
Apollo 13 Fails
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Top 20 Hit
Leon releases top 20 hit Leon Russell and the Shelter People -
Best Selling Gold Album Released
He released his best-selling album ever, which reached Gold with containing the songs Tightrope and This Masquerade -
Church Studio
Leon Russell purchased the Church Studio located on the corner of 3rd Street and Trenton in Tulsa, Oklahoma. -
Watergate Scandal
major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974 that led to Nixon's resignation. -
Grammy Winning Song
Leon's song Masquerade won a Grammy -
Vietnam War Draft Evaders Pardon
President of the United States Jimmy Carter pardons nearly all United States or American Vietnam War draft evaders, some of whom had emigrated to Canada. -
Heartbreak Hotel hits #1 on Billboards Country Music Charts
Leon Russell's and Willie Nelson's song Heartbreak Hotel hits #1 on Billboards Country Music Charts -
Moscow Summer Olympic Boycott
The United States Olympic Committee, responding to the request of President Jimmy Carter on March 21, votes to withdraw its athletes from participation in the Moscow Summer Olympic Games due to the continued involvement of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. -
Challenger Space Shuttle Explodes
The Challenger Space Shuttle explodes after lift off at Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing seven people, including Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire school teacher. -
Los Angeles Riots
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24k Gold Disc Album Released
Paradise Records releases the Leon Russell 24k Gold Disc album. -
Leon Russell Records is Started
Russell starts an independent record label -
The album Retorspective is released
This album contained 18 of Russell's all-time best-selling songs -
Iraq Liberation Act
U.S. presidential election, 2000: Initial result inconclusive and the result in Florida is disputed. George W. Bush is certified president after a Supreme Court ruling. -
Presidential Election Recount
George W. Bush, son of the former President, and Vice President Al Gore dispute vote in Florida holding off the naming of the winner of the Presidential Election until the Supreme Court of the United States voted in favor of Bush on December 12. -
World Trade Center Attack (9/11)
Islamic fundamentalist terrorists hijack four U.S. airliners and crash them into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in New York City. -
War on Terror first Attack
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Inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Leon Russell was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame -
U.S. Embassy reports on Iraq
A report by the U.S. embassy in Iraq states that 15 of the 18 goals set for the Iraqi government have been met. The increase of 21,500 United States troops, commonly known as the surge, reduced violence and restored order to the nation. -
The Union was Released
Elton John sought Leon's help in creating the album The Union -
Barrack Obama becomes President
Barack Obama takes the oath of office for President of the United States, becoming the first African-American president in the history of the nation. -
Global Pandemic
The H1N1 virus, named the Swine Flu, is deemed a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. -
Hospitalized for Health Issues
Leon Russal was hospitalized and underwent surgery for a brain fluid leak, as well as treatment for heart failure and pneumonia -
BP Oil Spill
A British Petroleum deep water oil rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, causing the largest oil spill in the history of the United States, killing eleven workers, and devastating the environment. -
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Leon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songrwriters Hall of Fame -
Osama Bin Laden death occurs
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CMT Crossroads Broadcast
Leon Russell performed on the CMT crossroads Broadcast with Willie Nelson and many other notable artists. -
Cuba Diplomatic Relations are Reestablished
Full diplomatic relations are reestablished between the United States and Cuba for the first time in fifty-four years. -
Russell Passes
Russell passes away peacefully in Nashville, Tennesse. -
Donald Trump wins Presidential Election
Donald Trump, billionaire businessman with no political or military experience, wins election over Democratic challenger and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton