On Friday, November 9, Little Feat and Leon Russell will play the Hammerstein Ballroom as part of their "What's Not to Like?" tour.
Time has loved these musical heros, as have legions of fans and countless fellow musicians. In 40 years of touring, concert-goers have been continually mesmerized by six exceptional musicians who tear it up collectively and individually, with both verve and instrumental prowess night after night. Their songs cross many genres: rock, the blues; jazz fusion; and a unique brand of southern rock with simmering acoustic interludes and a healthy dash of Cajun funk thrown in. This has all been stirred into a rich gumbo of danceable music, including hits such as “Willin,’" “Dixie Chicken,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub,” and “Oh Atlanta.”
Little Feat is known for creating one of the greatest live albums of all time, Waiting for Columbus in 1978. Throughout the years, the band remained so accomplished that they survived the loss of founding members Lowell George and Richie Hayward, and just this past summer put out their best-received CD in decades, Rooster Rag. Little Feat remains a viable force in rock, touring regularly, mixing it up nightly and continuing to produce new and vital music. This band still harnesses the passion, creativity and excitement that embodies its definitive works and remains the quintessential rock band it has always been.
Leon Russell is a music legend and one of the most accomplished and versatile musicians in the history of rock 'n roll. In his distinguished and unique 50 year career, he has played on, arranged, written and/or produced some of the best records in popular music. Leon has played on pop, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, standards, gospel, and surf records. As a session musician, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, record company owner, bandleader, and touring musician, he has collaborated with hundreds of artists.
Leon left Tulsa at age 17 to hit the road with Jerry Lee Lewis, played on many hit records of the ‘60s in Hollywood and in the house band of the Shindig! program on ABC. He also assembled the band for Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour in 1970, then anchored George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh in 1971. Since then he’s worked with Willie Nelson, Bruce Hornsby (who named a son after him), Elton John, T. Bone Burnett, and Earl Scruggs, among many others. He’s written some of the greatest rock songs ever, including “Delta Lady,” “Tightrope,” and “A Song to You.” He is, after all, the Master of Space and Time.
