Oklahomans Pay Tribute To Rock Legend Leon Russell

Oklahomans are paying tribute to a rock legend.

Leon Russell passed away in his sleep Saturday night at the age of 74, according to his wife. 

A friend who worked closely with Russell said the Tulsa native was an innovator in everything he did.              

"You never knew, some of his arrangements were gonna come out... you didn't know from one measure of music to the next sometimes had surprises in it...musical surprises that were delightful," said David Teegarden, a friend of Russell's.

11/13/2016 Related Story: Musicians, Fans Mourn Loss Of Leon Russell

Leon Russell's sound changed the music scene.

Gospel, infused with rock and blues.

"He just had such an amazing, amazing mind...creative mind that he was continually creating something, not necessarily. He had a lot of ideas, stuff he wanted to try," Teegarden said. 

Russell got his start playing in Tulsa nightclubs nearly 60 years ago when he was just 14 years-old.

"I'd get $10 and all I could drink and I'd drink all of it," Russell said during an event. 

A few years later he moved to California where the paycheck got bigger, as did Russell’s influence.  

"I met Leon through some Tulsa musicians," Teegarden said. "Invited me to come live at his house where the studio was and of course it didn't take five milliseconds to say, 'I'll be there.'

Teegarden is a Grammy award-winning musician now, but was just a Tulsa teenage drummer in the 60s when he went to work and live with Russell in LA .

"He met me at the airport and he had a Cadillac, one big, black Cadillac and he had painted a sign that said 'Welcome to Hollywood, Mr. Teabag,' which was my nickname," Teegarden said. 

Teegarden said that experience launched his own career in the music industry.

"Just to be around such genius...such a musical genius. You're always wondering what he's thinking right now," Teegarden said. "He's such an inspiration as a musician and just the way he thinks."

The list of musicians influenced by Russell is endless and his accomplishments so great, we can barely begin to scratch the surface.

He wrote, produced and played with Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Joe Cocker and the Rolling Stones, just to name a few. 

Elton John calls Russell his mentor and inspiration, pegging him as "The Master."

Elton John took to Twitter to express his feelings: "An American legend, an American Icon... Leon Russell"

Russell was a Grammy award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer...known by his fans as the Master of Space and Time.

And remembered by those who knew him personally as a friend with a striking sense of humor. 

"I called him Leon Patty because a friend of ours used to call him that and he looked around he said, "Teabag, ya old pooper head,'" Teegarden said about the last time he saw Russell earlier in the year.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett shared his memories of Russell.  

"I have known Leon Russell for decades and his loss ends an era of some of the most celebrated music in history.  It was Leon who worked with the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elton John, The Stones, Phil Specter and I could go on and on," Bartlett said. "Leon brought the national spotlight to “The Tulsa Sound” and the tremendous influence it enjoys today upon all facets of music, whether it is rock ’n roll, blues, country, boogie, folk, jazz or soul. All of these genres are still relevant today because of their roots in Leon’s musical creations that came from “The Tulsa Sound”. Thank you, our dear friend.“

Fans have flowers at the Church Studio to honor Leon Russell. 

Russell used to operate that studio back in the 70s but sold it years ago.  

The Circle Cinema is also honoring Russell by putting up a marquee that reads: "Tulsa Loves You."

Leon’s wife, Jan Bridges, released the following statement:

“We thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this very, very difficult time. My husband passed in his sleep in our Nashville home. He was recovering from heart surgery in July and looked forward to getting back on the road in January. We appreciate everyone’s love and support."

Leon's last Tulsa performance was in June of this year at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. His last performance was July 10 in Nashville.